Best battery location?

[jayro]

So I am starting to make my list of things I wanna do to the sho over the winter, and one of them is to relocate the battery to the trunk. I am doing it (along with other things) to switch some weight from the front nose to the rear. Where is the best location in the trunk for it? Would you want it as low as possible (spare tire well) or on the passanger side to balance the extra weight on the drivers side? Toward the front of the trunk or rear? Thanks

 

[intimdatr]

So I am starting to make my list of things I wanna do to the sho over the winter, and one of them is to relocate the battery to the trunk. I am doing it (along with other things) to switch some weight from the front nose to the rear. Where is the best location in the trunk for it? Would you want it as low as possible (spare tire well) or on the passenger side to balance the extra weight on the drivers side? Toward the front of the trunk or rear? Thanks

As low and to the right as you can get it. So pretty much works out as the Pass. Side of the tire well. Just be sure use some good beefy cable or hot starts suck. 2 ga or bigger would be my recommendation.

 

[vortex2450]

I put mine smack dab in the middle of the rear wheel wheel, you could orientate is longitudinally so that more weight is on the right side to help compensate for the driver weight but that didn't seem ideal to me.

Anywhere else would work if you want to keep the spare in the wheel well but makes drilling holes for the bracket more difficult.



-josh

 

[sperold]

The wheel-well location looks great. Any tips on how to run the cables under the car. Photos would help. I think it is hard to run the cables inside the cabin as the firewall is hard to get through.

 

[sperold]

How does the Lincoln LS handle the rear mount battery? I would be tempted to follow their lead.

 

[intimdatr]

How does the Lincoln LS handle the rear mount battery? I would be tempted to follow their lead.

Its rather annoying LOL. Jumping other cars is awkward.
But on a serious note, really well. Batteries last a long time because they see less temp swings. It also allows you to run a massive battery. I love big batteries. And LS handle really pretty well for a 4000 lb car.

 

[jayro]

Thanks for the info. I am also looking to save weight, so when my battery finally dies it will be replaced with a light weight unit.

 

[SHOtime2511]

I have mine mounted between the spare tire well and the rear seat on the passenger side.
This is done on both cars.

 

[vortex2450]

The wheel-well location looks great. Any tips on how to run the cables under the car. Photos would help. I think it is hard to run the cables inside the cabin as the firewall is hard to get through.

I ran the cable inside the cabin along the bottom door trim on the right side up to the front passenger floorpan. I thought about drilling a hole into the fire wall but instead I used a pre-existing hole through the bottom of the car really close to the right side/rear subframe mount. This is close to were the subframe mounts so I split loomed any wire exposed to the elements and have a 200A megafuse in the engine bay.

As far the ground I just used the most solid/thick part of the trunk I can drill into and attach a stud to.

-Josh

PS: That is the Taylor box (kit) SHOsource sells but I got mine from amazon.com for $143 shipped. The positive wire was 2 ft short in that location but I used the original positive lead for the remaining distance and attached them both to the mega fuse. Worked perfectly.

 

[TimboSHO]

I have mine mounted between the spare tire well and the rear seat on the passenger side.
This is done on both cars.

Pictures? What kind of box did you use?

Thanks!

 

[kevinspann]

How does the Lincoln LS handle the rear mount battery? I would be tempted to follow their lead.

A large spare tire well, with the battery and fuse panels in it. The LS also has a 175a mega fuse in a holder at the battery box. Then 2/0 cable from there to the firewall, where there is lug that goes through, and the rest of the cable joins it to the run to the starter. I pulled cable from a couple of these to do a rear mount battery, but it wasn't really long enough.

 

[SHOspazz92]

As far the ground I just used the most solid/thick part of the trunk I can drill into and attach a stud to.

-Josh

You know, I was kind of wondering why the **** my ground for the battery was ran all the way to the front of the car on my S/C 95 SHO. After talking to a few people...this honestly isn't a bad thing, due to the sheer amount of spot welds holding the trunk area together. Just food for thought...

-Sam

 

[SHOtime2511]

Pictures? What kind of box did you use?

Thanks!

Just a plastic boat battery box with a strap.
Got the whole kit for around $60 a couple years ago.

 

[SinisterSHO]

You know, I was kind of wondering why the **** my ground for the battery was ran all the way to the front of the car on my S/C 95 SHO. After talking to a few people...this honestly isn't a bad thing, due to the sheer amount of spot welds holding the trunk area together. Just food for thought...

-Sam

What I always read was that you need to ground the computer correctly because of the body flex will cause it to lose ground.

 

[kevinspann]

What I always read was that you need to ground the computer correctly because of the body flex will cause it to lose ground.

Which means running the cable to the front, or running the ECU ground that is on the fender all the way back to the trunk.

 

[sperold]

Does anyone know / remember the length of the cable you need to go from the trunk up to the engine compartment. I would like to do it in one shot, and will probably mount the battery on the passenger side in the location mentioned by SHOtime2511. I will add 3-feet to your best guess, as I usually end up short on these types of installations.
And do both wires have to be the same size?

 

[SHOtime2511]

My cable was 15 feet.
My ground cable was 3 feet I believe,I mounted it to the strut tower.
I also have additional engine/ECU grounds.

 

[SHOspazz92]

What I always read was that you need to ground the computer correctly because of the body flex will cause it to lose ground.

I've read that too, and I know for a fact my computer is not grounded correctly on my S/C 95. Nor was it on my track car or the wifes old 92. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea.

-Sam

 

[Toolman]

My track car has the batt ground to the trunk, and the engine grounds to the firewall. Never been a problem.

 

[crazy_canadian]

I am getting my car back from the bodyshop this week. I will make a write up on my trunk mounted battery. Keep a eye on a new thread this week.