It would be 20 times lighter and store the same energy...
Lightweight Battery?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,891
Likes: 1
From: NJ..."the way I saw it, everyone takes a beating sometimes."
20 pounds. That's a lot of weight... Specially on a car that is front heavy...
In fact that is so much weight that if I were to take the front battery off, and put a Braille in the trunk, my car would be lighter AND better balanced with the supercharger, than it was in stock form!
So now you understand the appeal
In fact that is so much weight that if I were to take the front battery off, and put a Braille in the trunk, my car would be lighter AND better balanced with the supercharger, than it was in stock form!
So now you understand the appeal
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 38
From: A galaxy far, far away...
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '26
My experience w/ Red Tops is that they are heavier than a more conventional battery, by several lbs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 38
From: A galaxy far, far away...
St. Jude Donor '12 thru '26
20 pounds. That's a lot of weight... Specially on a car that is front heavy...
In fact that is so much weight that if I were to take the front battery off, and put a Braille in the trunk, my car would be lighter AND better balanced with the supercharger, than it was in stock form!
So now you understand the appeal
In fact that is so much weight that if I were to take the front battery off, and put a Braille in the trunk, my car would be lighter AND better balanced with the supercharger, than it was in stock form!
So now you understand the appeal
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Plus it would make the car heavier... Its 3-5 pounds in cables and brackets to get it there...
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
I'm just curious, as I drag race & would like to save weight where ever possible... I HAVE NOT made any attempt to lighten my C6 as of now, but what other things have you done?
When I had my 96 C4 I did the following..
1. Went to Pro Star light weight wheels
2. Changed from an 11" stock converter to a 8" Vigilante (about 20 lb savings)
3. Removed the mufflers, & used muffler eliminators for the 96 saves 30 lb right there..
4. went to light weight seat.. removed the passengers when racing.. bottom line I was able to take well over 100 lb out of the car..
I was thinking of putting in a Lexon rear window that would have saved 40+ (just a guess)
Also they make lightweight front end Clamshell for the C4 .. I wonder if anyone makes light weight parts for the C6 ??
I bet you could remove 50 lb just with exhaust system etc...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
THAT is exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for...The factory battery weights 34.5lbs and I believe only has 44ah capacity... Sounds like this Odyssey is a winner!
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
-20 lbs via Headers and high flow cats
-16 lbs via 18" rims on the back and non run flat tires
-16 lbs via cro-moly flywheel and lighter clutch
Next: Battery
Next 2: 2 piece brake rotors front and back (I expect removing another 10pounds or more right there)
And of course the blower itself added approx. 55lbs to the front of the car.
Notice none of my weight reduction mods reduce comfort or useability of the car. It would be really easy to gut the hell out of it to make it light, but that doesn't go well on a DD...
-16 lbs via 18" rims on the back and non run flat tires
-16 lbs via cro-moly flywheel and lighter clutch
Next: Battery
Next 2: 2 piece brake rotors front and back (I expect removing another 10pounds or more right there)
And of course the blower itself added approx. 55lbs to the front of the car.
Notice none of my weight reduction mods reduce comfort or useability of the car. It would be really easy to gut the hell out of it to make it light, but that doesn't go well on a DD...
Your talking about saving weight by using a smaller lighter battery..and also avoiding putting it in the rear to save the weight of long battery cables..
I'm just curious, as I drag race & would like to save weight where ever possible... I HAVE NOT made any attempt to lighten my C6 as of now, but what other things have you done?
When I had my 96 C4 I did the following..
1. Went to Pro Star light weight wheels
2. Changed from an 11" stock converter to a 8" Vigilante (about 20 lb savings)
3. Removed the mufflers, & used muffler eliminators for the 96 saves 30 lb right there..
4. went to light weight seat.. removed the passengers when racing.. bottom line I was able to take well over 100 lb out of the car..
I was thinking of putting in a Lexon rear window that would have saved 40+ (just a guess)
Also they make lightweight front end Clamshell for the C4 .. I wonder if anyone makes light weight parts for the C6 ??
I bet you could remove 50 lb just with exhaust system etc...
I'm just curious, as I drag race & would like to save weight where ever possible... I HAVE NOT made any attempt to lighten my C6 as of now, but what other things have you done?
When I had my 96 C4 I did the following..
1. Went to Pro Star light weight wheels
2. Changed from an 11" stock converter to a 8" Vigilante (about 20 lb savings)
3. Removed the mufflers, & used muffler eliminators for the 96 saves 30 lb right there..
4. went to light weight seat.. removed the passengers when racing.. bottom line I was able to take well over 100 lb out of the car..
I was thinking of putting in a Lexon rear window that would have saved 40+ (just a guess)
Also they make lightweight front end Clamshell for the C4 .. I wonder if anyone makes light weight parts for the C6 ??
I bet you could remove 50 lb just with exhaust system etc...
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
Group Number: D51 (9071-167)
YellowTop®; Deep Cycle Battery; BOXED; Grp. D51; Cold Crank Amp 450; Crank Amp 575; Res. Capacity 66; Amp Hour 38; Top Terminal; L-9 5/16 in.; W-5 1/16 in.; H- 8 15/16 in.;
San
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 406
From: Florida
I tried a Genesis because I had good results with those on my RX-7s. Same concept / weight / power as the Brailles (and possibly made by the same mfr). Anyway, I quickly returned the battery because it would clearly be unreliable in this application - it just did not have enough cranking power or reserve power.
I ended up with an Optima Blue Top (marine deep cycle) mounted in the left rear cubby. This seems to work very well so far with no issues, and at least I know the heat won't kill it. Seems to help traction a bit too. DO NOT try a less powerful battery in a rear setup, as it must overcome power loss in the cables going to the front of the car, which is pretty steep for DC current. In my setup, I have also integrated the trickle charger, so I just have a plug sticking out which I connect drictly to the wall outlet if the car sits. Sure I'm not saving any weight over stock, but that weight is now where I want it, and I don't have to worry tht the car won't start when I am somewhere remote.
I ended up with an Optima Blue Top (marine deep cycle) mounted in the left rear cubby. This seems to work very well so far with no issues, and at least I know the heat won't kill it. Seems to help traction a bit too. DO NOT try a less powerful battery in a rear setup, as it must overcome power loss in the cables going to the front of the car, which is pretty steep for DC current. In my setup, I have also integrated the trickle charger, so I just have a plug sticking out which I connect drictly to the wall outlet if the car sits. Sure I'm not saving any weight over stock, but that weight is now where I want it, and I don't have to worry tht the car won't start when I am somewhere remote.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,375
Likes: 406
From: Florida
And speaking of weight, my car (a '05 Z51) is at 3115 curb weight when I go driving. Yes, that's right. Saved a whopping 60lb by going to Sparco race seats and Pfadt alloy seat mounts, saved another 30lb with aftermarket wheels and tires (CCW C10s and Toyo R888s), and I almost always drive with the roof out (22lb). I know that's sort of cheating, but it's my weight on the street so it counts. Now if I could lose 30lbs off myself, I'd be set.
Other weight savers would be alloy shock coilovers and Al rotor hats, probably worth another 20. The Lexan rear window is a great idea, but I'm not sure anyone makes this.
Other weight savers would be alloy shock coilovers and Al rotor hats, probably worth another 20. The Lexan rear window is a great idea, but I'm not sure anyone makes this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,690
Likes: 1
From: Northern Calif
Odyssey
I had one that looked like a lantern battery and it started my DD street car for a year. I forgot why I didnt use it anymore but it was shockingly small and it worked well. However, my car was not as electronically challenged as this vette is. Take a look at their site. I bet you can find something there that would work. BTW, I have used Odyssey batteries in my M/C's and always found them to be very good and always smaller than the OEM bat with similar stats. I have not bought one for the vette yet since I already have an OEM spare.
Are you replacing the bat for weight sake or for handling? Since the bat is essentially at the firewall(almost the center balance area of the car), I dont think it would change anything.
I had one that looked like a lantern battery and it started my DD street car for a year. I forgot why I didnt use it anymore but it was shockingly small and it worked well. However, my car was not as electronically challenged as this vette is. Take a look at their site. I bet you can find something there that would work. BTW, I have used Odyssey batteries in my M/C's and always found them to be very good and always smaller than the OEM bat with similar stats. I have not bought one for the vette yet since I already have an OEM spare.
Are you replacing the bat for weight sake or for handling? Since the bat is essentially at the firewall(almost the center balance area of the car), I dont think it would change anything.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Odyssey
I had one that looked like a lantern battery and it started my DD street car for a year. I forgot why I didnt use it anymore but it was shockingly small and it worked well. However, my car was not as electronically challenged as this vette is. Take a look at their site. I bet you can find something there that would work. BTW, I have used Odyssey batteries in my M/C's and always found them to be very good and always smaller than the OEM bat with similar stats. I have not bought one for the vette yet since I already have an OEM spare.
Are you replacing the bat for weight sake or for handling? Since the bat is essentially at the firewall(almost the center balance area of the car), I dont think it would change anything.
I had one that looked like a lantern battery and it started my DD street car for a year. I forgot why I didnt use it anymore but it was shockingly small and it worked well. However, my car was not as electronically challenged as this vette is. Take a look at their site. I bet you can find something there that would work. BTW, I have used Odyssey batteries in my M/C's and always found them to be very good and always smaller than the OEM bat with similar stats. I have not bought one for the vette yet since I already have an OEM spare.
Are you replacing the bat for weight sake or for handling? Since the bat is essentially at the firewall(almost the center balance area of the car), I dont think it would change anything.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 13,592
Likes: 187
From: Hudson WI
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 7
From: DELRAY BEACH FLORIDA
St. Jude Donor '10-'13
I installed the Lightweight (15lb) Braille battery in the rear passenger side compartment over 6 months ago. No problems to date. Not only does it save weight but it re-distributes the weight for a better ballance.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 6
From: Los Alamitos California
St. Jude Donor '09
San
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
Is this battery or the "DEKA" any good for my needs... I need a battery that will run my fan & electric water pump for 5-10 min with the Engine OFF at the drag strip to cool the engine...
I usually make 6-8 runs a day.. and it only gets 5 min charge time between rounds? I was told I'm better off with a DEEP Cycle like the Optima Yellow Top.. yes its heavier, but it will last all day ? OR will these light weight battery's also give me the long running time with the motor off?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Is this battery or the "DEKA" any good for my needs... I need a battery that will run my fan & electric water pump for 5-10 min with the Engine OFF at the drag strip to cool the engine...
I usually make 6-8 runs a day.. and it only gets 5 min charge time between rounds? I was told I'm better off with a DEEP Cycle like the Optima Yellow Top.. yes its heavier, but it will last all day ? OR will these light weight battery's also give me the long running time with the motor off?
I usually make 6-8 runs a day.. and it only gets 5 min charge time between rounds? I was told I'm better off with a DEEP Cycle like the Optima Yellow Top.. yes its heavier, but it will last all day ? OR will these light weight battery's also give me the long running time with the motor off?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 13,298
Likes: 14
From: Somers NY
As of "NOW" I'm not having any problems so I may try to get a little more use out of my OEM battery..