Battery location

[John4337]

Hi guys,

Id like to preserve as much truck space as possible, so its either in the engine bay, or a box under the trunk floor. I'm looking to the group for pros and cons of each. Thanks in advance for all the imput.

John

[Bob Cowan]

Mine sits on top of the passenger foot box, using a kit from Breeze. The standard Cobra/Roadster already has a rear weight bias. Add a full trunk and a full tank of fuel, and it gets worse. Moving the battery to the front right helps with balance.

[cobrajj]

2858Mine's mounted low down in the front passenger side to the 4" frame tubes , using Breeze battery relocation kit. Jim

[3kcarbon]

Get the FFmetal box for the trunk floor. Out of site and no engine heat on the battery. Don't run the ground to the frame like FFR shows there is a huge current loss in steel. Run a ground cable to the front and the motor will spin like a top on hot starts. Breeze has the cables and a battery cutoff. You may also want to include a inline breaker or fuse since there isn't any provision in the Rf harnesss. If you have a badboy motor you may want to go to larger cables as well.

[efnfast]

breeze's box in the engine bay - it's very convenient, easy to access. engine bay heat isn't a concern for it. the battery is a little guy - group 51, for portable medical units and a honda odyssey - but i've never once had a problem with him trying to start.

[skullandbones]

I know this is an older thread but I am curious to hear what you decided to do (John4337). I think the suggestions were all good especially about two battery cables to the engine. I found a "0 dollar" solution using the factory five battery box in the trunk with very little mod, if you are interested.
Thanks,

Bill K (skullandbones)

[PG_Cobra]

I attached mine to the X-frame on the driver's side using a Jeep CJ battery box and a group 34 battery. I have a Mk1.

[MPTech]

PG_Cobra, what does the CJ box look like?

I plan to run a group 51 battery in the engine compartment on the x-frame as well.
But I also plan to fab a box in the trunk where the drop battery box would be (maybe a little larger) and use it to store some tools & rain gear.

[John4337]

Thanks for all the remarks. My first thought was to go up front for easier access, shorter cable runs, but I had concerns about the smaller battery and the heat. Glad to hear that those dont seem to be an issue.

John

[Jeff Kleiner]

I made a box for under the trunk floor for my Mk3. On the Mk4 I recently completed I made a front mount (apologies to Mark at Breeze shamelessly copying his). It is naturally the lightest corner of the car and allows for short battery cable runs. This is the only pic I have handy.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj43/jkleiner/Mk4%207276/100_2062.jpg

From here on I'll always do a front mount unless something is in the way.

Cheers,
Jeff

[Gumball]

Another Breeze box here. It's really nice part - made of stainless steel, great hardware - I powdercoated mine, anyway, though.

http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab15/CCRsAC/img_4075.jpg

[PG_Cobra]

This the battery mounted in a Jeep CJ bracket. You can find the bracket at JC Whitney, just search on battery tray.

Hope the picture works. My 1st picture post on this forum.

2874

[Pierre B]

Here's another vote for Mark Reynolds' Breeze Automotive battery box: the one that fits atop the passenger footbox. I like that battery location: tight but handy. After 12,000 miles or so, I noticed that this battery box location holds water that can enter at the base of the passenger-side windshield post, and the slight scuffing from the battery can wear away the paint inside the box. I repaired the superficial rust and added a drain tube (flared large-size brake line; clear plastic tubing; grommet for the outboard footbox penetration; JB Weld to hold and seal the flared end of the drain tube to the battery box penetration) out the right side. That plus thin plastic spacers to reduce battery chafing tendencies should be a permanent solution.

[charles roybal]

2858Mine's mounted low down in the front passenger side to the 4" frame tubes , using Breeze battery relocation kit. Jim

x2 easy to get to check electrolyte levels, no hard start problems due too long/weak battery cables, battery wight is only 28 lbs.

[Gumball]

I should have added that the battery in my picture above is just a $70 Farm & Fleet battery with fake filler caps glued in place and a couple of Lucas stickers from Moss Motors. This version has 575 CCA, so should work fine with a hi-torque mini starter.

[austinsnake]

FFR supplied battery box mounted under the trunk panel.

Use either long ground cable to starter, or even better, go with a mini starter.

[John4337]

That Lucas look a like is just too cool, I may have to copy that idea

[Bob Russel]

I just finished installing it today! I went with Breeze battery box up in the engine compartment where it belongs (IMHO). Great quality product for a fair and reasonable price not to mention the value add that Mark always provides.

2944

[Bob Russel]

2858Mine's mounted low down in the front passenger side to the 4" frame tubes, using Breeze battery relocation kit. Jim

Jim - What kind of battery did you use? I am looking for something that is small like the one you have with ~550 CC amps.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Bob,
Group 51 or 51R, with the difference being whether the + post is on the right or left.

Jeff

[John4337]

Thanks for all the responses. I've got a Breeze battery box on the way.

John

[cobrajj]

My battery is a Duralast Gold 51-DLG from Autozone----500 cranking amps---27.1 lbs. 3 yr warrenty, Jim