Why behind the seat!?
10-11-2010, 06:01 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
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Why behind the seat!?
So, I get in the vette to take it for a spin since it's been sitting in the driveway a little too long and needs to stretch it's legs. I go to start it and the battery's dead. Not even enough life to roll down the windows. So I figure, no biggie, I'll jump it with my truck. My truck is parked to the driver's side of the vette. I pop the hood only to see that the battery in the truck is on the driver's side.
So now I've got to get the the truck RIGHT next to the vette in order to allow the cables to reach. I now can't get in the vette through the driver's door. so I go to the passenger side and try to open the hatch to the battery compartment. It's stuck. So now I have to get a better angle on it, so I go to the driver's side, take off the t-top and lean over the closed window. I'm directly over the compartment now, pulling on the little pull loop while trying to push down on the release button. The pull loop tears off in my hand!
I finally get it open, get the cables on and am able to get the window down. It starts right up. All I wanted to do was go for a little cruise!
My question is, what was the reasoning for putting the battery behind the driver's seat???
So now I've got to get the the truck RIGHT next to the vette in order to allow the cables to reach. I now can't get in the vette through the driver's door. so I go to the passenger side and try to open the hatch to the battery compartment. It's stuck. So now I have to get a better angle on it, so I go to the driver's side, take off the t-top and lean over the closed window. I'm directly over the compartment now, pulling on the little pull loop while trying to push down on the release button. The pull loop tears off in my hand!
I finally get it open, get the cables on and am able to get the window down. It starts right up. All I wanted to do was go for a little cruise!
My question is, what was the reasoning for putting the battery behind the driver's seat???
10-11-2010, 07:48 PM
#5
Team Owner
It was put there due to lack of engine compartment space, better weight distribution, to keep it from being stolen (yes, in the 70's folks stole batteries!), and to have longer life by being protected from the weather.
Oh...the guy who proposed that change was also a little whacky
.
Oh...the guy who proposed that change was also a little whacky
.
10-11-2010, 08:52 PM
#6
Instructor
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jr73 (03-25-2017)
10-11-2010, 09:07 PM
#8
Drifting
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St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
GM designers meeting room conversation...
Exec. 1. Lets make this car impossible to work on for the average car owner, any ideas?
Exec. 2. Lets put the battery behind the driver seat in a little trap door
All Exec. HORRRAYYYYYYYYYY
And so it was.............
Exec. 1. Lets make this car impossible to work on for the average car owner, any ideas?
Exec. 2. Lets put the battery behind the driver seat in a little trap door
All Exec. HORRRAYYYYYYYYYY
And so it was.............
10-11-2010, 09:19 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
a battery booster jumper box is a necessity. used mine several times.
10-12-2010, 08:38 AM
#13
Race Director
10-12-2010, 10:25 AM
#15
Instructor
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open the trunk and put it in there...that's where the battery went for my camaro...and my vega...and my corvair...no wait, that battery was in the front....
10-12-2010, 10:33 AM
#17
Team Owner
Years ago, I didn't have a garage where I lived and rented one in another town. It was a relatively common thing in spring to get to the garage and meet a dead battery. Since I only rented one bay, I would have to jump off my DD that was outside the garage, so I bought a set of heavy duty jumper cables that were 50 feet long. Those things were very handy to have around. So handy, that someone decided they needed them more than I did, and relieved me of their ownership.
10-12-2010, 12:50 PM
#18
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I'm going to be purchasing one soon because I'm tired of pulling the battery and/or trying to get a jump box to stay connected to those damn side posts.
10-12-2010, 12:53 PM
#19
Le Mans Master
The battery behind the seat helps with the weight distribution approaching 50/50 on a small block car. C2 is under the hood and hard to get. C4 is under the hood and you have to remove a panel to get out. I think it's a pretty good place myself.
10-12-2010, 02:50 PM
#20
Safety Car
not to mention the old "ice pick" problems the C4 had. thieves would drive a screw driver through the vent slots in the side panels to pierce the battery and let it drain out, then the alarm would be of no value and the car could be broken into without any noise. the problem was so bad that several after market companies started to make metal "shields" that went around the outboard side of the battery to protect it from being punctured. behind the seat, out of the elements isn't such a bad idea. not too handy to work on, but not too bad an idea.
