moving the battery back

[Mark W]

I just got an electric cooling fan to help my hot carburetor out a little. To do the install, I need to move the battery to the rear spare tire area. Whats the best way to route the new wires and where can I get the wires????

Mark

[First opel 1981]

Originally Posted by Mark Weisman I just got an electric cooling fan to help my hot carburetor out a little. To do the install, I need to move the battery to the rear spare tire area. Whats the best way to route the new wires and where can I get the wires???? Mark

I thought about this mod a very long time ago and discounted it due to the potential for acid leaking from the battery. Now that they have gel cell batteries that isn't a concern any longer.
For running the cable, i had thought of running it down through the floor under the wood luggage deck then out along the bottom of the car just inside the transmission tunnel and up to the starter. It looked doable back in the day.

As for the cable, there are lots of options on cables. The best way to get one long enough would be to head to someplace that sells parts for tractor-trailers (or possibly boat parts). They will have a pre-made cable that is long enough. I think the longest that I have seen in the auto parts store was only 72 inches and that would be a little short. I think 96 inches is more realistic. Measure to be sure though and remember to have some added slack.

Make sure that if you run it through the floor, to have insulators between the cable and the hole you run it through.

Alternatively, I just bought a battery from the parts store that was still 12V with 800CCA but it was a LOT thinner than a regular car battery. It was especially easy to fit in front of the car with lots of room to spare. If you need the model # and the dimensions, just let me know.

[cadence]

if your junkyard savy 84 to 91 bmw e30s have nice OEM trunk mount cables and power distribution block for under the hood. great for trunk mount batteries

[Mark W]

Thanks for the info. What are the dimensions for the slim battery? Did you put a cooling fan on yours? I have a problem with the fuel boiling in my carb during the hooter California days.

Mark

[BMWonly]

Originally Posted by Mark Weisman I have a problem with the fuel boiling in my carb during the hooter California days. Mark

Hi Mark,

Can't wait to see these "hooter" California days ...

You might have to re-route your fuel lines/hoses around the motor, to avoid the boiling.
I just sent you a pm. Since I am in Auburn as well, maybe I can check out your car tonight, if you have time?
My cell: 530-320-6087

Dieter

[Bill Hoffmann]

Originally Posted by Mark Weisman I just got an electric cooling fan to help my hot carburetor out a little. To do the install, I need to move the battery to the rear spare tire area. Whats the best way to route the new wires and where can I get the wires???? Mark

I used welding cable when I relocated my battery to the trunk in my Manta. I happened to have some at the time, but you can probably buy it by the foot from any welding supply store or McMaster Carr. It's higher quality than most automotive battery cable. I ran it under the chassis along the frame rail. Be sure to use a grommet where it passes through the body.

-Bill

[Mark W]

Thanks Bill,
Thats a good idea with the welding cables. I just happen tp have a connection.

Mark

[First opel 1981]

Originally Posted by Mark Weisman Thanks for the info. What are the dimensions for the slim battery? Did you put a cooling fan on yours? I have a problem with the fuel boiling in my carb during the hooter California days. Mark

No cooling fan on mine. I was just suck of scraping everything everytime I tried to put a battery in.

The battery says C9 for the model. Its dimensions are 9" tall, 9" long and a little less than 5" wide. That 5" thickness makes all the difference in the world.

As for the boiling gas. Do you have a heat shield on your intake manifold?

[tcav]

Who is the manufacturer of the slim battery?What part store did you find it at?
thanks

[First opel 1981]

Originally Posted by tcav Who is the manufacturer of the slim battery?What part store did you find it at? thanks

I don't know the manufacturer but it's branded "Knechts" and I bought it at.....Knechts.

Call your favorite parts store and ask for a battery "Group 51R"

[Lindsay]

Group 51R battery fits Honda. It should be easy to find battery tray and clamp at salvage yard. Search "Honda battery tray" on eBay to look at the different styles.

[Lindsay]

http://www.opelgt.com/forums/1e-othe...elocation.html

[jeff denton]

Do keep in mind that the battery is a nice chunk of weight, "swing weight" (ahead of the front spindles) in fact to be overly technical, it offsets the weight of all that brake system on the other side perhaps. The GT is a little light in the front end, people who drive them hard complain about "pushing" (understeer to be technical again).
Moving weight back is great in some applications like drag racing. It might not be good for other uses. Just thought I'd bring that up for you.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by Bill Hoffmann Be sure to use a grommet where it passes through the body. -Bill

Call me paranoid but this is what I used when I mounted my battery in the back. Convenient place to hook up jumper cables also.

Harold

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by Mark Weisman I just got an electric cooling fan to help my hot carburetor out a little. To do the install, I need to move the battery to the rear spare tire area. Whats the best way to route the new wires and where can I get the wires???? Mark

The easiest way I found on some cars is to go to a Marine supply store and purchase a plastic or fiberglass battery box. You now have the means to protect the interior of the vehicle as well as containing the battery.

For the cables, just buy 15 feet of 2/0 cable with crimp connectors. You can make the cable easy using a large lock plier or a vise. For ease of installation, you can run the cables using the rear brake line as your guide and liberaly use tye wraps to hold both cables to the line.

[George]

For ease of installation, you can run the cables using the rear brake line as your guide and liberaly use tye wraps to hold both cables to the line.

Is it nessary to run two cables?Why not run the ground to metal in the back?

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by George ...liberaly use tye wraps to hold both cables to the line. Is it nessary to run two cables?Why not run the ground to metal in the back?

Use a short ground cable and ground it to something substantial like where the rear bumper bracket bolts are inside the rear next to the gas tank. The ground cable won't have to be has big since it isn't as long otherwise it would need to be the same size as the positive cable.

Harold