Dropping the battery lower. Anyone?

[DashLaflash]

I also bought the JMF small battery kit with the pc680. This battery is rated at 680 cold cranking amps. It was plenty to start the car once fully charged and in warmer weather. I have had a bad experience with this battery though because it dies overnight. It just doesn't hold a charge. I don't know if I just got a bad battery or what. Anyways I'm back to the stock battery for now and it would be nice to drop it lower. Putting it down on the subframe would be nice.

 

[black_gst]

I just picked up the last of my sheet metal to build a tray for my battery drop. I did not want it on the sub frame due to clearance with my awd transmission. I also had issues with how close it was to the wire harness. I have a design in my head and am going to be putting it to sheet metal this weekend. the battery will sit 3-4 inches off the sub-frame. I have relocated the fuse box to the firewall where the battery used to be. This is going to be a bolt on tray. This one will be made of steel the next one will be made of aluminum to save weight.

Take some pics when your making i would def be interested in a "bolt on" tray. there are plenty of unused threded holes down there esp. once you get rid of all the junk down there

honestly i have the resources to make a tray out of aluminum that would be nicly machined with tapped holes for tie downs but i am kinda lazy. maybe ill get motivated and make my own, .

 

[gofer]

I'll post pictures up when I get home from work. I'm sure that if it was a cheap-o Auto Zone battery fitment would be just enough different to not allow it to work, even a different version of the red top might not work. I'll post up pictures though, it works!

 

[dsmrollerz90]

I still want to see this on a 1g.

 

[v8s_are_slow]

I also bought the JMF small battery kit with the pc680. This battery is rated at 680 cold cranking amps. It was plenty to start the car once fully charged and in warmer weather. I have had a bad experience with this battery though because it dies overnight. It just doesn't hold a charge. I don't know if I just got a bad battery or what. Anyways I'm back to the stock battery for now and it would be nice to drop it lower. Putting it down on the subframe would be nice.

It's 220, not 680.

Got an e-mail back from JMF.

Hey Scott,

If you were able to provide me with some sort of drawing/dimensions or cardboard template I might be able to make this happen but currently our mockup 2G car is a bit hacked apart and I wouldn’t feel confident making it on that.

Thanks,

Jim

Dunno if anyone has the dimensions to use already or not. My car isn't with me at the moment.

 

[wishihadatalon]

You should really consider making a mounting system for a Miata battery. It is the smallest OEM car battery that you can get (OEM is important in that sentence because they sell cars to people in all different environments). You would lose some weight from a factory battery and retain some cold cranking power.

 

[gofer]

I still want to see this on a 1g.

My best friend has his dropped on the subframe in his 1g and it seemed more secure down there then on my 2g.

Heres a shot of it wedged between the firewall and transmission mount.

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[nuclearr]

Take some pics when your making i would def be interested in a "bolt on" tray. there are plenty of unused threded holes down there esp. once you get rid of all the junk down there

honestly i have the resources to make a tray out of aluminum that would be nicly machined with tapped holes for tie downs but i am kinda lazy. maybe ill get motivated and make my own, .

My design will use the hook type tie-downs so no worrys about striped threads. If the nut strips cut it off and get a new one. I have two more trim cuts to make then I will be able to weld it up. My design will be able to accept the factory plastic tray so the battery does not sit on steel.

This battery tray will sit 2" off the sub frame at the passenger side and about 3" off at the drivers side of the battery. Gives plenty clearance for the transmission. It does how ever require a slight relocation of the fuel filter and removal of the charcoal canister. I may relocate my canister to the factory inter cooler location.

This prototype is going to be made of 1/16" steel. Only concern I have is that the bolt plate may not be thick enough may end up going to 1/8" if I have problems from hitting bumps. So far I have about $20 in this project and when its done I expect it to cost about $40 with the new tie-downs and welding wire.

As far as pics go I have no hosting service. I do not understand why we can not put pics strait to the forum. I do not like it but I might upload them to MyGayce or FaceBroke then put a link to the pics. Or I can e-mail them to you.

 

[DashLaflash]

It's 220, not 680.

Got an e-mail back from JMF.


Dunno if anyone has the dimensions to use already or not. My car isn't with me at the moment.

It says right here that it has 680 cranking amps Odyssey PC680 battery. I don't know if that's different than cold cranking amps. I'm not doubting that this battery sucks in the winter though .

I'd like to see a bracket made for the miata battery as well.

 

[v8s_are_slow]

Yeah, that's not the same as cold cranking amps.....but like it really matters right? Lol.

 

[gofer]

I do not understand why we can not put pics strait to the forum.

To attach a file, such as a picture or log, select the

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and a sub menu will open up asking you to open the file up and attach it.

 

[9!'clipseDOHC]

I still want to see this on a 1g.

Check out this thread for how I did it and pictures: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/appearance-interior-exterior/366762-how-mount-battery-low.html

Here is the most current picture:

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It's rock solid and was very easy to do.

 

[nuclearr]

To attach a file, such as a picture or log, select the

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and a sub menu will open up asking you to open the file up and attach it.

Gofer thanks. It has been a while since I uploaded pics.

Here is an update with the pics. It still needs to be painted black but I welded it up and cut off the excess and got it primed up.

The first 4 pics are of mock up not welded just held together with welding magnets. The second two are of it completely welded and primed.

Now that I know it works I can make templates if anyone is interested. I will finish it tomorrow.

EDIT: I just noticed I forgot to drill the holes for the J-bolts to hold the battery down as you can see I have it marked in the first pic.

 

[EclipticalGS]

Its impossible to set you battery on your subframe and still have your A/C lines...It may be just me and my huge battery but I tried everything possible to bend up my A/C line there and wedge my battery underneath, but my battery is hitting my main wire harness coming through the firewall, so If you have A/C you'll have to customize a drop mount of some sort...Or hang it underneath the headlight/in front of fender...

After looking at it again, my battery is too long to do what gofer said..Jesus these replacement batteries from Duralast are huge, I may go get a honda one tomorrow..

 

[v8s_are_slow]

I forgot about the a/c lines. Wait a minute, what's a/c? Lol.

I've gotta move my battery lower within the month somehow. Trying to get the rest of my i/c pipes and all and it won't fit with that huge heffer right there. Anyone have pics of just your tray mounted in there? The pictures of the battery being lowered and all are nice, but it doesn't show me how the tray looks so that I can do the same thing.

 

[gusu]

It's kind of funny people's misconception about Florida not getting cold or it snowing/icing over.

The last year I lived in Florida was one of the nicest winters the whole time I lived there and we still were getting down to 15-20 degrees for a couple of weeks. I also didn't live to the north either, I lived about 3/4 of the way down the state.

The past two years living here in Oregon I've only seen it get down to 22 degrees. If you were to draw a line straight across the country near the great lakes I'd be in Canada, yet it seems like the difference in distance from the equator has made little to no difference in temperature.

Sorry to go off topic but I just get sick of hearing this stupidity.

 

[1990AWD]

It's kind of funny people's misconception about Florida not getting cold or it snowing/icing over.

The last year I lived in Florida was one of the nicest winters the whole time I lived there and we still were getting down to 15-20 degrees for a couple of weeks. I also didn't live to the north either, I lived about 3/4 of the way down the state.

The past two years living here in Oregon I've only seen it get down to 22 degrees. If you were to draw a line straight across the country near the great lakes I'd be in Canada, yet it seems like the difference in distance from the equator has made little to no difference in temperature.

Sorry to go off topic but I just get sick of hearing this stupidity.

yes, but 15-20F is a very nice day for us on the prairies. last year we went a whole month without a day with a high above -5F.

in summary, your "cold" winter days are our warm winter days.

 

[gofer]

Now that I know it works I can make templates if anyone is interested. I will finish it tomorrow.

I'd be interested in snagging one after you post some pictures of it installed and how it mounts into the bottom of the engine bay. Shoot me a PM for what you'd want for the cost of making one for me please...

Dropping the battery isn't as easy as removing the battery tray and bracket, you'll have to remove the charcoal canister and the A/C lines coming through the firewall as well.

 

[EclipticalGS]

I'd be interested in snagging one after you post some pictures of it installed and how it mounts into the bottom of the engine bay. Shoot me a PM for what you'd want for the cost of making one for me please...

Dropping the battery isn't as easy as removing the battery tray and bracket, you'll have to remove the charcoal canister and the A/C lines coming through the firewall as well.

Yeah, Id be interested too, the thing I noticed is Ive never had to use my A/C yet in a michigan summer...I always drive with windows down, and when its raining theres always a cold front anyway..Ive removed my PS and converted it to a manual grease rack, and this dreadfull A/C is keeping me from: Relocating my Alternator, Dropping my battery, Getting rid of weight, Getting rid of a pain in the ass to pull out when engine goes in/out...

Yeah..Im taking it out.

 

[1997_GSX]

Heres mine, its on the subframe I measured the battery drilled 2 holes in the subframe. Used 2 j hold downs from walmart with wing nuts and 2 1/4 Aluminum bars. Its as light as possible. Don't mind the ugly stock over flow its gone as soon as my polished Mark 7 Aluminum one gets here.

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[EclipticalGS]

thats a huge ugly air filter, I wouldnt worry about the overflow looking bad...Holy molies

Im sure it serves its purpose though

 

[nuclearr]

I'd be interested in snagging one after you post some pictures of it installed and how it mounts into the bottom of the engine bay. Shoot me a PM for what you'd want for the cost of making one for me please...

Dropping the battery isn't as easy as removing the battery tray and bracket, you'll have to remove the charcoal canister and the A/C lines coming through the firewall as well.

I still have my a/c its a bit tighter than I like. But I have room to make it smaller if I do not use the factory Plastic tray I can shrink it by 3/4"-1/2" in width and an inch more more in length. I have to get pics of the mounting. I also need to raise this one up a little bit(EDIT: it can not be raised so I have notched it slightly for the mount now it works great).

Yes the canister was removed. I also chose to move the wring around a bit for my slight tuck.

So this first try was a success but I need to make some slight improvements.

Heres mine, its on the subframe I measured the battery drilled 2 holes in the subframe. Used 2 j hold downs from walmart with wing nuts and 2 1/4 Aluminum bars. Its as light as possible. Don't mind the ugly stock over flow its gone as soon as my polished Mark 7 Aluminum one gets here.

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What size battery do you have? I set my stock battery down on the sub-frame and the battery was hitting the transmission but I was using a different orientation.. Do you still have A/C? Also what did you do with the wire harness that sits on top of the sub-frame? When I sat my battery down that way I was unhappy with the battery being only half supported.

I have the pics of the mounting. It uses the 2 bolt holes for the canister and the 2 for the factory battery tray bracket.

 

[v8s_are_slow]

Looks good. What'd you do with the fuel filter? I wanna keep mine in the same factory position but just lower.

 

[nuclearr]

I removed the bracket with the bushing flipped over the hoop for the filter and moved it to the drivers side a few inches.

Sorry but pics are not the best for showing the relocate.

 

[92AWDHX40]

I thought about dropping mine but i think im just going to move it to the back of the car, on the next project cant stand a cluttered bay.