Battery Relocation - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Locobob · 10-01-2012

So I am finally making some progress on my car and am working on relocating the battery to get some weight off the nose. I'm currently in a bit of a quandary over where to move and how best to mount the battery. The battery itself is a 25lb Odyssey gel cell type. I have identified two locations I think will work. My first thought was to put the battery in the storage compartment behind the passenger seat as many others have done. But I want to be able to track the car occasionally and so I am trying to make this install comply with the NHRA rule book - not an easy task I am finding.

Storage compartment behind the passenger seat.

Advantages:
Weight low in car, very close to right rear tire for traction/polar moment of inertia advantages.
Fits nicely in existing structural fiberglass compartment.

Disadvantages:
NHRA regs dictate attachment to frame - nearest and only viable frame is nearly a foot forward of where the battery will sit, the solution I have been working on is kind of a shelf type aluminum bracket (see pics) which would sandwich this frame section (with bolts going through it) and extend rearward under the compartment holding the battery. While the fiberglass bucket will normally take the battery's weight I have serious doubts that my aluminum bracket would hold on its own.
Since the compartment is part of the cars interior I would also have to fabricate a plate over the top of the battery to seal it off from the cabin - NHRA requirement.
Lost interior storage space.

Here are some pics of what I'm talking about:

Battery sitting in rear storage bin

Underside of rear storage bin - frame area for mounting support bracket visible

Support bracket in place

Battery in position on support bracket - lot of weight way out from the only mounting point creating a serious lever

10-01-2012	#1
Locobob Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1,057	Battery Relocation So I am finally making some progress on my car and am working on relocating the battery to get some weight off the nose. I'm currently in a bit of a quandary over where to move and how best to mount the battery. The battery itself is a 25lb Odyssey gel cell type. I have identified two locations I think will work. My first thought was to put the battery in the storage compartment behind the passenger seat as many others have done. But I want to be able to track the car occasionally and so I am trying to make this install comply with the NHRA rule book - not an easy task I am finding. Storage compartment behind the passenger seat. Advantages: Weight low in car, very close to right rear tire for traction/polar moment of inertia advantages. Fits nicely in existing structural fiberglass compartment. Disadvantages: NHRA regs dictate attachment to frame - nearest and only viable frame is nearly a foot forward of where the battery will sit, the solution I have been working on is kind of a shelf type aluminum bracket (see pics) which would sandwich this frame section (with bolts going through it) and extend rearward under the compartment holding the battery. While the fiberglass bucket will normally take the battery's weight I have serious doubts that my aluminum bracket would hold on its own. Since the compartment is part of the cars interior I would also have to fabricate a plate over the top of the battery to seal it off from the cabin - NHRA requirement. Lost interior storage space. Here are some pics of what I'm talking about: Battery sitting in rear storage bin Underside of rear storage bin - frame area for mounting support bracket visible Support bracket in place Battery in position on support bracket - lot of weight way out from the only mounting point creating a serious lever __________________ Robert ZR-1 Net Registry Oregon State Director 91 ZR-1 #431 Black/Black LPE 368 Last edited by Locobob; 10-01-2012 at 11:40 PM.