I need a new battery and would like an Optima, but with all the issues of installing in stock location, I'm planning on relocating to the right-rear compartment. I've heard that gel batteries do vent a miniscule amount of vapor, but am not planning on cutting a vent into the bin. (I would just leave the windows cracked open a little during long storage periods).

With this mod, I would like to route the cables through the interior and was planning on cutting the right front corner of the lid, then going down the behind the passenger seat under the carpet of-course, across the botton behind both seats to the drivers side, then up to the firewall below the parking brake lever. Does anyone know if this is the best interior routing? Also, is there a good place to pass the large cables through the firewall or does this necessitating cutting the firewall. I was planning on connecting to the stock cables with end-to-end connectors...is this preferred to wiring directly to the starter and ground posts?

Lastly, the following link has a ton of info that a ricer put together for a similar mod on his Eagle Talon or something like that??? He used 0 Ga. amplifer wire. Looks nice cabling, but with the amperage draw that a car starter with 11-1 compression draws will those fine wires melt down and weld together? Electrical engineers, please chime in???

http://www.stealth316.com/2-battery-move.htm

Anyhow, sorry for the long post, but this seems like a cool mod that is easily done at home BY A NOVICE!!!

 

"He used 0 Ga. amplifer wire"

Save some money on the fancy looking cable.
go to a welding supply outlet and buy welding cable.
(As in what hooks the welder to the electrode)

Comes is many sizes , up to big enough for a truck.
The fine strands are common on cables rated for high amps and easier to route than ones with more solid cores.

"then up to the firewall below the parking brake lever".

The biggest wire off your battery goes to the starter.
Why not run the positive direct to the starter
(negative/ earth can go to a bellhousing bolt pass side) , then run a smaller positive link back to the terminal block on the drv side firewall.
Direct route from battery under carpet to pass side , no crossover to other side needed.

 

What are the issues of installing in the stock location?
And what about an accident, is it safe to have a battery in the passenger compartment?

 

C3s had the bat in behind the driver seat stock. No problem.

 

Just what I'm wondering too - My husband suggested we bend a piece of aluminum to make a bracket for a racing battery mounted sideways in the stock location.

 

im planning on doing same operation as op in a couple of days when it stops raining (i hope!), and so i am also wondering about passageways through the firewall!

im running back to the stock cables, so that i can easily re-install the battery back if need be.

i was also debating on 0 gauge, or if 4 gauge (which is standard battery cable size) would be safe.

 

vetteblack and barbara-moving the battery from LF to RR will better balance the weight of the car.