Battery Relocation to Smuggler's Box- Early 911

[304065]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am in the process of installing a fuel cell in my '71 E.

Has anyone relocated the battery to the smuggler's box?

Pros:

1. With the fuel cell in place it will be difficult to get the battery in and out of the stock boxes;

2. I have an optima yellow top which will have to be mounted on the side to fit, which strikes me as less than optimum (sorry!) due to weight and the proximity of the battery positive terminal to sheet metal.

3. It might be a slightly shorter run to the smuggler's box than to the left battery box, allowing the cable to be shortened, reducing the voltage drop (not appreciably) and weight.

Cons:

1. Even though the smuggler's box is a central location, it is slightly higher and AFT of the stock batteries. Recalling the factory's installation of cast iron weights in the bumpers of early cars to INCREASE polar moment, I wonder whether or not the relocation might not make the handling quirky;

2. This car will be raced in stock class with the PCA-- does anybody want to speculate how such a change would be viewed by the scruitineers? E.g., even though fuel cells are allowed and you could make the case that the fuel cell installation requires relocation of the battery AND increases safety in a frontal impact (less battery acid flying around, less likelihood of sparking against body sheetmetal) since it didn't come from the factory like that. . .

Also, does anybody have the model number for the "Stinger" battery that fits in the stock box? Looks like the 1000 is the right one but wondering if anybody has BTDT if I choose to remain stock.


Thanks in advance for any assistance.

John

'71 E
'88 Carrera

[Jack Olsen]

Sorry about the fuzzy photo, but that's an example of the SP800 in an early car -- with the battery boxes removed. It's smaller than one of the stock batteries. I've been happy with it. Someone recently pointed out that you can get it for $171.96 at Sounddomain.com

[thomas]

John,
I have an Interstate gell cell in my smugglers
box. It fits real well(read:tight) and all I did was fab a sheet metal tray w/ 2 eye hooks welded fore and aft then welded the tray down in the box (I suppose you could bolt it in) and used a heavy duty (marine)battery hold-down.I then ran the wires from the drivers side location to the battery and ran a 6" ground line to the chassis.
As far as the PCA rules go:in our region,in stock class, you can go to a single battery,but moving the location will bump you up to improved.
Although I see your point about the fuel cell and I think that would make good justification for the change.Check with head of tech in your region before you leap into any changes.
You can mount you Optima in any position you want due to the gell cell contsruction,using a heavy duty terminal cover and a 1/4" sheet of polyethelyne between the terminals and the chassis
should do the trick. (in addition to some well placed and attached hold-downs.)
I have done tech inspections for our region's("No,I'm sorry a bungee cord is not a good enough battery hold down") TT's and A/X and youre right to be cautious with the battery and gas tank in the same compartment.

Good luck and Ill try to post some pics of my set-up

Thomas