Does anyone make a kit to relocate the batter to behind the passenger seat? That storage compartment doesn't look strong enough to me to support that much weight... Does anyone have any pictures on this install? Thanks!

 

Never seen a kit but guys are doing it. I also remember a post where someone took out the spare tire and put it back there. I will try a search and see if I can find it.

 

I've been told that the bottom of that bin is fabricated from balsa wood and fiberglass, and that it will support a man. Don't know if it's true, but I do remember reading about the C4 floor pans being made that way.

 

Just search C4 tech for battery relocate. Its there. Also read in the thread that EM had a kit for the storage compartment. Maybe they still do.

 

I wouldn't bother unless you need the space up front for something else. The c4 has 50/50 weight dist already

IIRC, the c3's had them in that location though.

 

I have a big block in my car so all of the weight I can get off of the nose is good. Actually though, the real reason was to make space for my FAST ecu and MSD box. This would clean up my engine compartment greatly.

 

Exotic Musle is the one with the kit.

 

If you remove the spare tire and carrier, there should be room for a battery. Use an Optima or other gel battery and lay it sideways. If you use heavy enough cables to the starter and ground, you should not have any problems with the extra distance.

 

I have mine back there. I'll get some pic's this weekend and be back Monday with them.

But i'll tell you how I did it.

I took the stock battery tray (1985) and cut the part that hangs down the frame with a hack saw, then used a piece of 2X4 cut to the bottom length and secured it to the floor with long bolts then reused the stock hold down. You can's see the wood spacer and it was essentially free and worked great. I tehn made 2 holes in the floor of the compartment and ran the cables through there and to the front of the car. Mine has been that way for 1.5 yrs and have had no problems, even with the 1.55 60'

 

So a regular size battery will fit in there? Which side do you put in on? Does it matter? Thanks!

 

I don't think I would put it on the side containing the ABS apparatus.

 

The passanger side is the only side I would drop it in.

 

mine (85) only fit in the pass side.

I took pic's but forgot them, tomorrow, i promise.

the MSD box fits nicley in the other side

 

I used to have mine located in the spare tire area (fabricated an aluminum box/brackets). The only problem was that it hung down pretty low, so you could see it from the rear. It didn't look bad, but looked like it didn't belong there.

I ended up moving it to the rear passenger compartment similar to how Mike described above. The only difference was that I used a plastic spacer underneith the battery and fabricated a hold-down from aluminum angle stock with threaded rod that goes down on each side of the battery.

A 'normal' size battery will fit. you have to wiggle it a bit to get it in there. I used an Optima red-top in mine.

Instead of running the positive cable all the way to the stock mounting location, you can run it straight up the C-beam to the starter. The stock cable will carry the current up to the power distribution blocks. I removed the stock ground cable and reused it in the rear. Be sure to securely fasten the positive cable to the C-beam and make sure you have god clearance from exhaust.

The biggest thing you need to be cautious of is to use heavy gauge cable (I used either 2AWG or 0/1AWG - can't recall). Also, for Ground, make sure you ground to the frame AS WELL as somewhere on the drivetrain to make sure you have proper current to run the starter. When I first did this, my ground was a little weak and I ended up killing the battery.

 

My '73 had the battery in one of the compartments behind the seats. I don't think they put it there because they wanted to. It was a PIA for jumping, etc.. D'ya think the C4 move to the engine compartment was for a good reason?

 

So, are you guys actually punching a hole in the bottom of the storage area? I envision building a bottom support of some kind that is secured to the actual floor of the storage compartment, then bolt/screw down the modified stock battery tray to the fabricated support...

Thanks for all of your responses...

 

I did, actually 2 with a 1" hole saw and ran that thick cable down through it.

 

I thought about doing this.
But then I thought.. do I want the battery inside the compartment with me? You know...all the cocern of gasses etc.
Also..I would think that the weight of all that heavy duty cable I would use would be a drawback...I'm looking to loose weight, not add it.
What do you guys think?
Matt383

 

I have a total of 3 holes in my storage compartment: two for the holddown bracket (with large aluminum washers to reinforce the fiberglass) and one large hole for the battery cables.

Matt, regarding gasses, you definitely want to use a non-vented battery. That's the biggest reason I went with the Optima.

Regarding weight, you will add about 5-10 pounds because of the additional positive cable. Everything else is basically a wash. The benefit comes in because the weight is now in the rear and also a little lower than before.

If you're not racing the car, it's really not worth the hassle. Honestly this mod isn't going to make a noticable difference in handling by itself, but it's cheap and these little things add up.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...cat/500/page/1

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/phot...cat/500/page/1