Bee Jay's lightweight battery mod! 25lbs saved!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Bee Jay's lightweight battery mod! 25lbs saved!
I spent over two months losing five lbs with my hood, and almost two weeks losing seven pounds with my MC. I needed a quick and easy weight loss mod. This took me two hours. First I ordered a Deka ETX20L battery from amazon. The Costco battery I had in the car weighs 40lbs. This lightweight AGM battery weighs 15lbs. You can see how I mounted my side mount cables. I think I will just lay the battery down on it's side and figure a way to secure it.
I saved 25lbs!!!. That was too easy. The car started right up. I need to spend a day with it. Aluminum radiator or Rack and Pinion next.
Bee Jay
I saved 25lbs!!!. That was too easy. The car started right up. I need to spend a day with it. Aluminum radiator or Rack and Pinion next.
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Jan 31, 2012 at 01:26 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I think we are witnessing the first documented case of "auto anorexia" here. Is there some underlying purpose to this weight-loss marathon, or has it developed into its own 'purpose'?
I know that serious road racers try to get their cars as light as is allowed by their rules; but those folks don't seem to care about others knowing how much they 'lost'.
But, if it hasn't become a compulsion [yet], I guess you should "do whatever makes you happy"....
I know that serious road racers try to get their cars as light as is allowed by their rules; but those folks don't seem to care about others knowing how much they 'lost'.
But, if it hasn't become a compulsion [yet], I guess you should "do whatever makes you happy"....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 7
From: Adelaide South Australia
CCA appears to be 310A on the label....
Beejay... It looks to be a Lead / Acid battery, and as such I doubt it should be laid on its side.
It states it is non-spillable, but during charging there is the possibility of acid leakage due to pressure build up in the cells. Keep an eye on it.
Beejay... It looks to be a Lead / Acid battery, and as such I doubt it should be laid on its side.
It states it is non-spillable, but during charging there is the possibility of acid leakage due to pressure build up in the cells. Keep an eye on it.
Last edited by OzzyTom; Jan 31, 2012 at 05:51 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
Move the battery.
Bee Jay,
Have you weighed the battery cables? They probably now weigh more than your battery.
Seriously, if you could move your battery to where the AC unit used to be, or tuck it into the front fender near the starter motor, then you could run a much shorter positive cable. That would save a few pounds.
A friend just wired up a twin electric fan for my truck, and used wire that looked too thin. He works full time for a company that makes wiring looms for V8 Supercars, Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon based racing cars, and they all use this very thin wiring. They run electric fans on what looks to be 20 gauge wire and it is all due to the type of wire they use.
This modern wire is expensive, but it will handle current that would melt a C3 Corvette's wiring loom. I'm sure they make heavier duty cable for starter motors, and with the short distance from the battery to the starter as I mentioned above, you could even downsize the diameter of those battery cables to save even more weight.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Have you weighed the battery cables? They probably now weigh more than your battery.
Seriously, if you could move your battery to where the AC unit used to be, or tuck it into the front fender near the starter motor, then you could run a much shorter positive cable. That would save a few pounds.A friend just wired up a twin electric fan for my truck, and used wire that looked too thin. He works full time for a company that makes wiring looms for V8 Supercars, Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon based racing cars, and they all use this very thin wiring. They run electric fans on what looks to be 20 gauge wire and it is all due to the type of wire they use.
This modern wire is expensive, but it will handle current that would melt a C3 Corvette's wiring loom. I'm sure they make heavier duty cable for starter motors, and with the short distance from the battery to the starter as I mentioned above, you could even downsize the diameter of those battery cables to save even more weight.
Regards from Down Under.
aussiejohn
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,116
Likes: 5
From: Livonia MI
You're maybe wanting to check the Shorai battery site as have a 36 ah motorsports battery that only weighs 5 lbs. Guy in the C6 ZO6 section is using one of these, and quite happy with it. $350 bucks though, but "batterystuff.com" has it for the bargain price of $315.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
CCA appears to be 310A on the label....
Beejay... It looks to be a Lead / Acid battery, and as such I doubt it should be laid on its side.
It states it is non-spillable, but during charging there is the possibility of acid leakage due to pressure build up in the cells. Keep an eye on it.
Beejay... It looks to be a Lead / Acid battery, and as such I doubt it should be laid on its side.
It states it is non-spillable, but during charging there is the possibility of acid leakage due to pressure build up in the cells. Keep an eye on it.
Amazon had them for $85 shipped.
Bee Jay
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 7,353
Likes: 72
From: Graceland in a Not Correctly Restored Stingray
It all adds up. 
Actually, copper battery cables weigh enough that back in my drag racing days we would run aluminum ones (Moroso) from the trunk box to up front.
Actually, copper battery cables weigh enough that back in my drag racing days we would run aluminum ones (Moroso) from the trunk box to up front.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 2,231
Likes: 7
From: Fort Pierce Florida
I was looking at Braille batteries for my V8 Miata project. I think they weigh around 17 lb. IF it works out I'll probably replace my REALLY HEAVY POS Optima battery in the '72 with it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
Likes: 12
From: Kalispell MT
OK OK, you win the ultra light weight battery contest. 
Personally I went with the Braille Carbon Fiber cased B3121C battery. 21 lbs BUT it offers:
892 Cranking amps
550 Cold Cranking Amps
1380 (PCA) Pulse Cranking Amps
This will be my 3rd season on this Braille battery on the 555 cu in 10.3:1 motor. It has never failed me.
Bee Jay you are truely an inspiration in the "get-r-lite" world of Vettes!
Cheers
Ray Y
Personally I went with the Braille Carbon Fiber cased B3121C battery. 21 lbs BUT it offers:
892 Cranking amps
550 Cold Cranking Amps
1380 (PCA) Pulse Cranking Amps
This will be my 3rd season on this Braille battery on the 555 cu in 10.3:1 motor. It has never failed me.
Bee Jay you are truely an inspiration in the "get-r-lite" world of Vettes!
Cheers
Ray Y
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
892 Cranking amps
550 Cold Cranking Amps
1380 (PCA) Pulse Cranking Amps
550 Cold Cranking Amps
1380 (PCA) Pulse Cranking Amps
Gotta lose some weight here, too.
Scattershield added 40 lbs
Loop will add a few..keeps going.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
My buddy Paul is buying on the aluminum radiator thread, so I get his aluminum radiator. That should be another 15lbs. Stay tuned.
Bee Jay