Battery Relocation

[30thAnnGAGT]

Never done one of these before and this seemed like the best section to put it in.

I'm looking to get a battery relocation kit. So I was wondering, what all comes with one, and what possible issues might I incur in moving one in an '03 GA.

Thanks for your help guys!

[car audio dave]

ok, you dont need a kit but heres what you do need:
1) about 18' of red 2 gauge wire
2) about 3' of black 2 gauge wire
3) 2x 2 gauge crimps (hard to crimp w/o correct tools)
4) a box for the battery

you just need to basically use the red wire to extend the positive wires going to the battery to the trunk, and then ground the battery with the black wire in the trunk. youd need a really solid ground, like either bolting it to the chassis to using the seatbelt bolt. be careful where you locate the battery so that it wont get wet when you open your trunk in the rain.

the battery box should be secured down very well.

[car audio dave]

oh, and heres some food for thought.

i recommend 2 guage wire because when you extend the wire that far the resistance goes up. you dont wanna have any ill effects from doing the relcation.

i recommended the 2 gauge ground to match the power. a better ground never hurts. the stock 10 gauge one really is horrible.

rather than using crimps, if you changed the battery to a normal one you cna use parts used for amp installs to doa cleaner job.

[matts]

and i would use a sealed battery over a conventional one. never inhaled battery fumes, but i imagine they can be pretty nasty on the lungs :P

[urweak]

if you race at an IHRA track you will need an externaly mounted kill switch. Not sure about other racing bodies

[car audio dave]

matts has a good point...i recommend optima blue top (marine battery).

[30thAnnGAGT]

Hmmm....... definately food for thought. I was indeed wondering about the ground.

My question arises in that, how does one connect the positive lines under the hood? Also, there is the positive line running to the fuse block under the hood. That would also need to be incorporated.

Seatbelt bolt does make sense for a good ground.

Thanks guys

[car audio dave]

i actually meant that you could take both pos. leads going to the battery and connect them both up to the single run of 2 gauge using a big crimp OR you can take a power distribution block (car audio parts) to do the same thing, thatll give you extra power hookups under your hood if you get one that has more than 2 openings.

[30thAnnGAGT]

^ I later thought about that distribution block. Thanks! :)

Now the question is where to I find 2 guage wire for under 5.50 a foot? :) LOL

[urweak]

The way i did it was basicly extend my hot wire all they way from the engine bay to the trunk, then i drilled a hole in the trunk and ran a ground to a bumper bolt, and ran the old ground into a part of the body i removed paint from and held it with a simple selftaping screw.

[Bjornboy81]

2 gage cable is actually overkill...You'd be fine with quality 4 gage cable. 4 gage is capable of handling 125 amps, and as far as resistance goes, we're talking about like a 20 foot run so that's about .00001 ohms :D (meaning not significant) . And when you hook up a ground it is always a good idea to us a star washer between the body and the connector...makes for a better connection.

One question though...what's the point of relocation the battery unless it's to make room for a blower or turbo?

[car audio dave]

Bjornboy81...im all about overkill....just look at whats in my car. :D

[Bjornboy81]

^ :lol: sorry, forgot about that.

[LordNor]

Originally posted by matts
and i would use a sealed battery over a conventional one. never inhaled battery fumes, but i imagine they can be pretty nasty on the lungs :P


How many different types of sealed batteries are there? Are any of the other optima ones sealed?

[matts]

all optima batteries are sealed

[car audio dave]

blue, red and yellow are all sealed.
blue=marine, deep cycle
red= starter battery
yellow=deep cycle

all would work, i recommend blue top. i hear its the best. i have a yellow top.

[tommymcc]

i currently use a rockford deep cycle/starter battery, its the same as the exide orbital battery, pretty good battery, its power rating is slightly higher than the yellow top, i currenlty looking into adding a second battery up front, i'm thinking a red top to run the truck and my high/mid amp, then get one of the smaller honda sized yellow tops for my sub amps, if i use another rockford battery i've gotta mount it on the opposite side of the engine bay, and remove the cruise control module that doesn't work, the reason i'm not putting another battery in the back is due to space requirements, plus i like the look of two batteries up front

[matts]

i've considered putting another battery under my hood too.......just haven't gotten around to making a new battery tray....and buying a 2nd batter :lol:

[tommymcc]

i just happen to have the room, i can either remove the cruise control, or relocate the fuse box and have then together

[matts]

i've got ample room under my hood.......people have shoved a 502 under a hood like mine. i've only got a 350....i think i have a little room to spare :P

[Jibo]

Originally posted by matts
i've got ample room under my hood.......people have shoved a 502 under a hood like mine. i've only got a 350....i think i have a little room to spare :P

No kidding, dad's got a 92 gmc sierra with a 350 in it, and my god, i think you could shove a second engine in the amount of space left over in there :lol:

[tommymcc]

i've been debating dropping a 350 in my truck, i have on back at home that's about 90% restored, i've seen it done in and s10 and it didn't appear to be too hard, i think the hardest part would be keeping grip in the back with such a light truck

[LoneRangers15]

Originally posted by Jibo
No kidding, dad's got a 92 gmc sierra with a 350 in it, and my god, i think you could shove a second engine in the amount of space left over in there :lol:
I am 6'0'' and about 180 pounds and I could actually sit in the engine bay when I was changing the intake manifold on a '92 C1500. As for cheap cable, I would check a welding supply store. We got wire to make new battery cables for our golf cart and it was really cheap.

[RippedMantis]

use a sealed battery, if your climate is cold, don't use a marine battery, it'll go bad quick, yea yea, there are exceptions and a few lucky people. There are also alot of sealed batteries a heck of a lot cheaper than optima's. Just goto a battery store and look

[RippedMantis]

welding wire is not the same as battery wire, cut it open and see. One has more strands but they are smaller. The battery wire has less strands but is thicker. Get actual battery cables (sposed to be better down the road).

[LoneRangers15]

He was complaining about the price. I told him what would be the cheapest, not the best.

[Dragonwings]

Originally posted by 30thAnnGAGT
^ I later thought about that distribution block. Thanks! :)

Now the question is where to I find 2 guage wire for under 5.50 a foot? :) LOL

Parts Express, I LOVE this place for all my guy tinkering needs.

Here's a link to some 2 gauge.

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=100-180

If the link doesn't work, just go to www.partsexpress.com and type in 2 guage power wire. Viola. UNDER TWO DOLLARS A FOOT. it's on sale right now.

Enjoy!

p.s. Remember to not electrocute yourself.

p.s.s. You can also get 2 or 0 gauge wire at your Lowes/Home Depot store, but it is a PAIN IN THE ASS to use as it's not very easy to shape or bend. Trust me, I've used it. Pay for the high strand count stuff.

[matts]

Originally posted by LoneRangers15
I am 6'0'' and about 180 pounds and I could actually sit in the engine bay when I was changing the intake manifold on a '92 C1500. As for cheap cable, I would check a welding supply store. We got wire to make new battery cables for our golf cart and it was really cheap.

yeah, when i was rebuilding my engine i was actually sitting in the engine bay with plenty of room to spare

[car audio dave]

Originally posted by RippedMantis
welding wire is not the same as battery wire, cut it open and see. One has more strands but they are smaller. The battery wire has less strands but is thicker. Get actual battery cables (sposed to be better down the road).

actually...the less strand wire tends to break easier than the higher strand count stuff. the only advantage to the low strand count stuff is its price. when running such thick cable through the entire car, you need the more flexible stuff (higher strand count) anyway.

[tommymcc]

yeah, i'm running 3 strands of 4 guage through my truck

the 4 guage is 1862 strand OFC wire, and the 1/0 i was gonna use was 4704 strand OFC, but it still wasn't flexible enough