jinx3 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Maybe a dumb question, but while I am working on my 510's engine compartment I have noticed quite a few people remove the battery tray and relocate it to the trunk. What is the main reason to do this? And more importantly would you do it or do you think it's worth it? Here is what I see: 1. Move some weight to the rear 2. Cleaner engine compartment Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything and regret not doing it now... Thanks, jinx3 1 Quote Link to comment
Booger Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Thats exactly why I moved mine to the rear (clean look/weight in rear). Plus I've always wanted to do it Quote Link to comment
Tristin Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Ive done it with almost every car Ive owned. Im a little hesitant with this car as its a sedan so the tank is just chilling in the trunk. The battery naturally emits fumes during operation and Im not sure if I want to add that to the fumes of the gas. I know that if I do it, I will do it per NHRA standards (as were my other vehicles). I mostly do it for cleaner engine bays or when it comes to engine swaps, it give you more room. Quote Link to comment
Boaty Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 O P T I M A No spills, no worries. Plus, if your trunk is ANYTHING like mine, it's hardly air tight. Hell it can't even keep water out. Mine is going in the trunk because it will be in the way of an upper radiator hose, and an intake. :D Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Fumes? It should be in a battery box anyways, which has a vent tube to the outside. Quote Link to comment
RAlly_DatoB210 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I figured it was because the battery try is usually rusted out lol Quote Link to comment
rpowell25 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Heat can shorten the life of a battery as well and theoretically having it in the trunk will alleviate that to some degree....though I moved mine because I wanted more room in the engine bay. I used an Optima to cut down on the issues usually associated with wet lead acid batteries. 1 Quote Link to comment
Skib Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I just want a clean engine bay with more room. Ill be recessing a box in the trunk. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Optimas vent, but not as much as a wet battery. Nice battery hold down. Did you make it? Quote Link to comment
Uber Deaf One Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 If you're the type of person that likes to drive your 510 aggressively, think about putting your battery in front of the rear wheels. Putting that much weight in the trunk basically turns it into a big pendulum. I have my Optima mounted where the rear seats used to be, on the passenger side. Quote Link to comment
Digi7al Trauma Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 i have nothing else to add about the reasons why people move the battery... its been nailed several times over buuuut the last one caused me to pause and think about what was said.... the datsun 510 weighs (depending on fluid levels and acc. items) roughly 2240 pounds in all, with about 1220 pounds in the front and 1020 pounds in the rear... thats a 54F/46R weight bias.... moving a roughly 30 pound optima changes the weight bias to roughly 1190 front and 1050 (minus extra weight from a box/mount, and wiring) changing it to 53F/47R weight bias.... i HIGHLY doubt that moving the battery in front or behind the rear axle would make any difference compared to the actual move from the engine bay to the rear... but then when you add your body weight into the equation the battery move will help to even your added mass.... also if you are that worried about the placement the left/right placement would be far more important, and losing weight would be a major benefit (if you were making a g-machine).... *my experience of this was when i begun taking my 85 944 to track days, orig weight bias was 51front/49rear .... nearly 50/50 and moving the battery to the rear didnt make it handle like a 911 with a large lump of flat 6 in the back Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Where would goon owners put the battery??? Still need the space in back. Quote Link to comment
fourfiveten Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 In terms of mounting it R or L, most folks mount it on the L (passenger) side to avoid the heat from the exhaust. Quote Link to comment
darc510 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Can't remember where I saw it (if it was a wagon, 2D or 4D), but someone mounted the battery in a recessed box under the rear seat. Since then i have been considering this over mounting it in the trunk. heck i might need that trunk space for something, plus battery will be in between all the wheels, better center of gravity :) they were using an odyssey battery....like a PC925, if i remember correctly. Quote Link to comment
qwik510 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Where would goon owners put the battery??? Still need the space in back. The PO of my goon built a battery box in the floor under the back seat on the passenger side. Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 If I remove the spare tire I could recess a box for one, but is there another way??A battery under the rear seat would rub the ground even in a non lowered car. Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 I didn't have a choice my ic pipe and tb pully hit the battery tray. Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 The PO of my goon built a battery box in the floor under the back seat on the passenger side. Early British Triumphs used to mount 2 6volt batteries, one on each side of the drive shaft tunnel, under the rear seats and wire them in series. Quote Link to comment
josh_t Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 Early British Triumphs used to mount 2 6volt batteries, one on each side of the drive shaft tunnel, under the rear seats and wire them in series. that sounds cooler than the other ideas, and you can add a set of remote terminals for charging, jumping, etc. Quote Link to comment
banzai510(hainz) Posted February 7, 2012 Report Share Posted February 7, 2012 In terms of mounting it R or L, most folks mount it on the L (passenger) side to avoid the heat from the exhaust. You sit on left so put battery on right also frees up the steering abit in weight get rid of the batter and the cast iron manifold thats alot of weight. But I do like the cast iron exhaust manifold, very long lasting no leak pc Quote Link to comment
jinx3 Posted February 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2012 Great feedback everyone! Lots to think about - yeah, I would say passenger side also if I do move it to the trunk. Quote Link to comment
ggzilla Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 Typo: L is driver's side (in north america). Quote Link to comment
Uber Deaf One Posted February 10, 2012 Report Share Posted February 10, 2012 i have nothing else to add about the reasons why people move the battery... its been nailed several times over buuuut the last one caused me to pause and think about what was said.... the datsun 510 weighs (depending on fluid levels and acc. items) roughly 2240 pounds in all, with about 1220 pounds in the front and 1020 pounds in the rear... thats a 54F/46R weight bias.... moving a roughly 30 pound optima changes the weight bias to roughly 1190 front and 1050 (minus extra weight from a box/mount, and wiring) changing it to 53F/47R weight bias.... i HIGHLY doubt that moving the battery in front or behind the rear axle would make any difference compared to the actual move from the engine bay to the rear... but then when you add your body weight into the equation the battery move will help to even your added mass.... also if you are that worried about the placement the left/right placement would be far more important, and losing weight would be a major benefit (if you were making a g-machine).... *my experience of this was when i begun taking my 85 944 to track days, orig weight bias was 51front/49rear .... nearly 50/50 and moving the battery to the rear didnt make it handle like a 911 with a large lump of flat 6 in the back I didn't say anything about weight distribution. Quote Link to comment
510sAreHot Posted March 12, 2012 Report Share Posted March 12, 2012 Has anyone put the battery in the engine bay with an SR or KA? Quote Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.