Tie your optima down, mate

pwd72s · 01-18-2005, 08:03 AM

Yeah, I'll confess, I read HOT ROD. Page 120 of the February issue of HOT ROD offers the prettiest Optima tie-down I've ever seen. Should work well in later (1974 and up) 911 cars and the 14-6. Made from billet aluminum. Not cheap, but not ugly either. Here's the link. Maybe somebody with better computer skills than I could post a pic?

http://www.detroitspeed.com/BatteryMount10.html

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

WOW for a 130.00 bucks I can buy a lot of bungy cords at Wally Mart and still have money left over to take the kiddies for a happy meal at Mickies D.

pwd72s · 01-18-2005, 08:18 AM

Well, I did say it wasn't cheap.

IMHO, costs less and improves the car more than a carbon fiber shift knob. Plus, bungy cords probaby wouldn't get a smile from a tech inspector. This would.

DonDavis · DonDavis's Garage

That looks a lot like one a board member made himself. Very cool.

tshih · tshih's Garage

For 1/3 the costs one can just get 2 strips of 3/16" thick aluminum strips that are 3" wide by 8" long and cut the lengths to match the footprints of the battery so that the normal holddown plate can be used to anchor these strips. One then just drill and countersink the holes near the base of the battery and bolt the strips down to the battery with flat head machine bolts. The mounting adapter is out of sight and is secured metal to metal (pass tech).

Par911 · 01-18-2005, 09:23 AM

Quote:

WOW for a 130.00 bucks I can buy a lot of bungy cords at Wally Mart and still have money left over to take the kiddies for a happy meal at Mickies D.

.....or you could just do what William did in this thread:

http://www.dorkiphus.com/porsche/viewtopic.php?t=2255&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

randywebb · 01-18-2005, 10:06 AM

tshih - got any pics or diagrams to post?

tshih · tshih's Garage

Randywebb,

Sorry but I don't have a picture to post. However the principle is simple if you understand how the stock battery is held in place. There is a lip on the base of the car about 3/16" high that one side of the battery base's foot slides into and there is a traperzoid plate (battery hold down piece of metal)with a bolt on the other side of the battery's foot closest to the bumper which anchors the battery to the car. All you need for an adapter is a rectangular piece of aluminum 3/16" thick which will be the anchoring base which takes the foot print of the stock battery. Drill 4 or more holes for bolts to bolt the plastic base of the Optima to this aluminum plate (or 2 strips)and you have a secure anchor which uses the OEM hardware to secure the new battery.

randywebb · 01-18-2005, 05:18 PM

Thx. That's for a '74 & later I think.

klaucke · 01-18-2005, 06:32 PM

Would there be a big market for custom, possibly billet, battery hold downs? Say the price were in the $75 dollar range?

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Only if you anodize them so that the buyer can have a choice of color.

yogi · 01-18-2005, 06:45 PM

I don't have an Optima battery. But when it comes time to replace my current battery I will replace it with a red top optima. I've seen a competitor of Pelican selling a standard mounting adapter for $32.95 for the optima battery and the 911. Does anybody know if this is sufficient to hold the battery in place?

klaucke · 01-18-2005, 06:47 PM

Ruf-Porsche, were you serious? The anodizing process is going to add extra cost to the product, perhaps the buyers who want something that custom would send it out themselves? However, if the interest were good I'd look into anodization possibilites. Sorry if this is a hi-jack.

Rufblackbird · 01-18-2005, 06:48 PM

aww dammit...someone beat me to it. I told myself once I get rid of all the other cars I've got left I'll spend some time and design/mill one that would bolt on and fit the 911 perfectly