Non Smuggler's Box Battery Relocation?

[McLaren-TAG]

There's a ton of threads here talking about the smuggler's box relocation, and pros/cons to that. What I'm thinking about involves relocating the battery to the front passenger side in front of the fuel tank.

Benefits I can think of is that it immediately helps to better balance the car. More alternatives in choosing a battery, cheaper to implement than the Odessey/Rennline kits since it's basically a fabricated mount and extending the existing cables about three or so feet.

I recall seeing a picture of someone here having done just that, but I couldn't find it again. Then there's the obvious question about safety as the battery now is in front of the tank and what would that do in a head on collision.

This car is a DE, AX and nice day joy rides only. No jack, no spare tire, no AC so I was thinking that the area freed up there would be ideal. it's an 86 coupe, moderately lightened (lost about 250 lbs)

Opinions welcomed.

[HawgRyder]

Placing the battery..or any other movable object in the very center of the car would be best.
Think of like looking at your car from the sky...draw diagonal lines from the front left to the back right...etc.
The intersection of the lines is the center...but not necessarily the weight center (rear engine mass).
So...going on that principle...if the mass center of the car is ...say...slightly ahead of the geometric center...the smuggler's box being on the passnger side...may be the ideal location for the battery or any other object (such as oil tank).
Bob

[McLaren-TAG]

I understand that, but keeping things practical, it's still a car that's street driven so I'm simply looking for low hanging fruit. I tend to lock up on the right side first. I weigh 250 so anything that counteracts my (considerable ) driver's weight. Moving the bulk weight of the battery to the side of the car that is lighter has to give some benefit. At some point I will get the car corner balanced, and moving physical weight will make that process much easier I'm sure.

[quozl]

Originally Posted by McLaren-TAG

There's a ton of threads here talking about the smuggler's box relocation, and pros/cons to that. What I'm thinking about involves relocating the battery to the front passenger side in front of the fuel tank.

Benefits I can think of is that it immediately helps to better balance the car. More alternatives in choosing a battery, cheaper to implement than the Odessey/Rennline kits since it's basically a fabricated mount and extending the existing cables about three or so feet.

I recall seeing a picture of someone here having done just that, but I couldn't find it again. Then there's the obvious question about safety as the battery now is in front of the tank and what would that do in a head on collision.

This car is a DE, AX and nice day joy rides only. No jack, no spare tire, no AC so I was thinking that the area freed up there would be ideal. it's an 86 coupe, moderately lightened (lost about 250 lbs)

Opinions welcomed.

This is mine, with an Oddessey battery and Rennline mount.

It's a Right Hand Drive car.







From my build thread HERE

Edit: whoops just re-read your post I didn't realise you didn't want to use the Rennline mount.

Cheers Al

[afterburn 549]

Mine is PC680 located dead sq in center front...that is as far FWD as It can be done..

[daleflesburg]

Put it in the smugglers box.

[SiberianDVM]

I relocated mine to the area in front of the (now removed) spare tire. I did a good job and was very proud of myself.

Now I found that my local PCA Autocross rules (and PCA national Club Racing Rules) require that I move it back, if I want to stay in "Production" class, vs. moving to "Improved" class.

So all that work is down the tubes.

[afterburn 549]

IMO the S. Box is stupid,
No offence.....but that just moves the weight in the VERY wrong direction ........FWD YOO !
LOL

[Elombard]

except that the smugglers box is inside the axles so you get an improvment in polar moment of inertia and all that.

Where do the factory race cars put them? I have never paid attention.

[afterburn 549]

at the 60/40 deal..anything you can throw to the front and or take off the rear is a big plus !

[NoLift911]

I think the key is not necessarily where (and no one has mentioned this) but how much.

Sink some extra money in a lightweight Braille or Shorei...then

it will not matter where it is if it is 7-10 lbs, for the most part. A gallon of gas weighs about 6.25 lbs, something to think about when you are filling up your tank for the local DE or autocross, 2 gallons is 12.50 lbs and so on...sqaubling about "where" is really a non-issue. If you are worried about weights and location...spend your time worrying about the amount of gas in your tank you when you are running at 10/10ths.

The other thing that folks against the smugglers box location forget about is the shorter cable runs and the ability to cleanup a lot of extraneous wire in the trunk...all adds up.

Location arguments can be made all day long - weight is weight.

Just my .02

[afterburn 549]

Change the things you can change
Take care of the ounces and the pounds take care of them selves ...I have to have gas...

[Craig_D]

Originally Posted by P-Dawger

I think the key is not necessarily where (and no one has mentioned this) but how much.

Sink some extra money in a lightweight Braille or Shorei...then

Location arguments can be made all day long - weight is weight.

Just my .02

I'm with P Dawger on this. Light is right (of course it's better to lighten up the rear), but here's what I did:

[NoLift911]

[Craig_D]

Hot damn P-Dawger! Very nice!

[NoLift911]

Originally Posted by Craig_D

Hot damn P-Dawger! Very nice!

Thanks - clean is good, clean is light

[McLaren-TAG]

My original question tried to avoid the smuggler's box issue... but that's impossible to do since we've all got opinions.

So let me ask this way, I'm locking up the right side both front and rear, I weigh 250 lbs so I'm thinking that if I take away 40 lbs from the left side of the car where I sit and put it on the right side of the car regardless of where, as long as it moved weight out of the left side it will immediately help to balance the car.

The money spent to do this would be very minimal. In a RHD car this happens by default because the battery is already opposite the driver. But it doesn't work as well in a LHD car, so that's why I had the second question. The safety of the battery being in front of the gas tank.

[Craig_D]

I'm not sure if you've said, but has your car been corner balanced for your weight in the driver's seat?

[McLaren-TAG]

Everyone that I've spoken to has told me to wait on the corner balancing until I can get more from the car. (Polite way to say become a better driver) That there are other more important places to look first.

I may be at that point where I can get good benefit out of a corner balance but I will probably wait for a couple more AX events so I can talk to a few people. In early May I'm doing a Solo Pro day training school so I'm sure I'll get more feedback as to my development so far and make my decision then.

Regardless, moving a chunk of weight around is a far easier way to help corner balance than playing and chasing the balance with ride height adjustments. The car is currently well aligned and the ride height is well measured but it's still missing the corner balance.

My thinking may be flawed but since I'm locking up on the right side of the car both front and rear, and not locking up on the left side I thought moving weight to the right side of the car would be low hanging fruit.

[Elombard]

I had a 73 with pretty good height measurements but the CB so far off the left front would lock really easy even on the street in modest braking. If your CB is off a good bit this could be part of your problem. Look up the tri pod method if you are not familiar and put your weight in the drivers seat and have a quick check in your garage.h your jack.