converting to a single battery

[soulmining61]

Wanting to know the pro's/con's of the two battery set-up in my -70 911T. If I were to convert to a single battery, what would be involved? Any direction would be much appreciated.
Jeff
1970 911T
1956 Chevy P.U. Rat Rod 327/IFS

[cgarr]

I am not sure but I think two batteries up front helped balance the car, some 911's had lead inserts in the front bumper to achieve this too. I would try to leave the right side battery in if you were going to remove one.

[moneymanager]

Hardly anything is involved. If you want to try it, just disconnect one battery, cover the still hot terminal in a tightly wrapped plastic box or something similar so that it is in no danger of shorting to the sheet metal, and drive away. Here are pics of the setup in my Targa. In the photo without the battery, you can see the plastic box I use inside the battery box itself. If you find this works for you, it isn't difficult to make a more permanent setup, though there's no real reason to.

[HarryD]

I just converted to a single Optima. It is on the Driver Side. To convert, I removed the postive lead from the other battery from the clamp on the driver side battery and liad the optima on its side. I fabricated a battery hold down from some flat steel. I used a flat braided ground strap to connect the negative terminal to my car's ground.

[archtech]

what are some good battery choices to use for the switch to a single battery? the one in the picture above looks like some NAPA battery? ive heard of using stinger batteries or odessey batteries, but what specs should I go for? thanks!

[rothaus]

I just converted my '71T to a single battery. I made a holder in the smuglers box, I will post some pictures tonight.

I used a interstate with 700CCA which works fine, and the battrery is about $100.


I tried to get that small size deep cycle battery from interstate, but they don't make it anymore.

Cheers
Engelbert

[rothaus]

Sorry for the late post, however, here some pictures:

I made the frame of galvanized profil. This is the same stuff used for the garage door frame mounting. I used all lock nuts for the bolting




Run the battery cable through the hole from the tunnel in to the hole.



Used a cutting board for the bottom




What's left is the hold down for the battery




There it is.




Cheers

Engelbert

[FenderBender]

You can disconnect the positive cable from the passenger side at the terminal on the drivers side. That way there is no power in that cable, it can be removed if you want. I would recommend a optima or Odyssey sealed battery mounted on its side with the proper covers over the post's. Plastic covers tend to wear and get worn trough over time if something is rubbing on them.

Having a bad day!!

[jetfrank]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Hardly anything is involved. If you want to try it, just disconnect one battery, cover the still hot terminal in a tightly wrapped plastic box or something similar so that it is in no danger of shorting to the sheet metal, and drive away. Here are pics of the setup in my Targa. In the photo without the battery, you can see the plastic box I use inside the battery box itself. If you find this works for you, it isn't difficult to make a more permanent setup, though there's no real reason to.

great set up - do you have a part number for that napa battery - I can't find one that would fit on the napa web site, I want to do the same to my 911..thanks, FD

[jetfrank]

Originally Posted by moneymanager

Hardly anything is involved. If you want to try it, just disconnect one battery, cover the still hot terminal in a tightly wrapped plastic box or something similar so that it is in no danger of shorting to the sheet metal, and drive away. Here are pics of the setup in my Targa. In the photo without the battery, you can see the plastic box I use inside the battery box itself. If you find this works for you, it isn't difficult to make a more permanent setup, though there's no real reason to.

great set up - do you have a part number for that napa battery - I can't find one that would fit on the napa web site, I want to do the same to my 911..thanks, FD

[RSTarga]

Moneymanger has a nice setup. I went with a single optima on the drivers side but I think the passenger side is cleaner. You can always use 2 sonnensheims or whatever their called and preserve the 2 battery setup. Just get rid of any wet cell setup as it will eventually rust your front pan.

[jetfrank]

Originally Posted by RSTarga

Moneymanger has a nice setup. I went with a single optima on the drivers side but I think the passenger side is cleaner. You can always use 2 sonnensheims or whatever their called and preserve the 2 battery setup. Just get rid of any wet cell setup as it will eventually rust your front pan.

yeah I love the moneymanager setup but want to know that NAPA part number.......all the batts I see on their website are too big and tall.........the batteries I am replacing are Autozone, Duralast GOld 8AMU1R, 400 CCA each, I think they were originally specd for a big motorcycle like a Honda GOld wing.....
thanks, fd

[jetfrank]

Originally Posted by jetfrank

yeah I love the moneymanager setup but want to know that NAPA part number.......all the batts I see on their website are too big and tall.........the batteries I am replacing are Autozone, Duralast GOld 8AMU1R, 400 CCA each, I think they were originally specd for a big motorcycle like a Honda GOld wing.....
thanks, fd

HA - just went on AUtozone website......the 8AMU1R is specd for the Mazda Miata...........

[jetfrank]

Originally Posted by RSTarga

Moneymanger has a nice setup. I went with a single optima on the drivers side but I think the passenger side is cleaner. You can always use 2 sonnensheims or whatever their called and preserve the 2 battery setup. Just get rid of any wet cell setup as it will eventually rust your front pan.

forgot to ask - what is the part number for the optima battery I cannot for the life of me find one that has the dimensions that will fit into the box. I know it goes in sideways but all the ones I've seen on various sites are too long to fit into the 8 inch wide box..........

[1990C4S]

If your car needs any kind of state/region/province inspection they will require a battery hold-down strap.

[super9064]

I had a pair of Sonnenschein's in my 71, when TRE installed the Carrera oil cooler in the right front fender, it required that the battery box be cut off and welded shut. I asked Dave if there would be any problem with using just the one battery, he said no.
and I've never had a issue, and its a 5 year old battery.