engine and drivetrain Should I Move My Battery To Trunk?

[foreste2002]

Hi..... I have a very nice 74 tii with a fatigued battery tray. I am the second owner and very cautious about straying from original design. I have the engine out and the front suspension currently to clean and replace seals.

What is the consensus on value vs handling if I move the battery to the trunk at this time ?

Thank you!

Eric

[ray_]

I'd just put an AGM battery under the backseat. That is easily reversed if you wish.

 

Cheers,

[John_in_VA]

Do what you want. Now is the time to repair/replace the current tray, or move it. It sure makes changing the oil and servicing the alternator easier when it's in the trunk! I didn't notice any handling differences when I moved the batteries of my '70 & '76 to the trunk.

Edited October 14, 2013 by John_in_VA

[bmdubl02]

I recommend it, as I agree with John - oil changes and alternator work is lots easier. 

I also removed the tray and it really opens up the engine compartment. I was concerned about

losing trunk space but found that it wasn't really an issue. 

[dbmw2002]

Yes u will loose originality, no you wont gain handling, think about it.................................lots of time these Qs answer themselves

[M3M3M3]

I'd just put an AGM battery under the backseat. That is easily reversed if you wish.

 

Cheers,

this.

 

you are going to need an AGM battery anyway as you should not put a regular car battery in the un-vented trunk.  put it under the rear seat.

[autobon7]

Will this work with a 6 series back seat conversion? I have the seat but not gotten around to install yet and just wondering. Sorry for the hijack

 

 

this.

 

you are going to need an AGM battery anyway as you should not put a regular car battery in the un-vented trunk.  put it under the rear seat.

[M3M3M3]

i don't see why it wouldn't.  AGM batteries come in a variety of sizes and can be mounted in any orientation.  for a street car with high power demands you could use a larger one in same location or two in parallel, one on each side of the tunnel under the seat.  out of sight, frees up room in the engine compt, does not take up space in the trunk.

[Mike Self]

If it's just the floor of the OEM battery box that's badly rusted you can either

 1.  replace it with a good battery box from a roundie--chisel your old one out; roundie battery boxes bolt in--not welded like squarelights

 

 2.  measure the floor of the old battery box and have a sheet of stainless steel cut to fit.  I did that on my Renault when the battery holder bottom started to rust out...that was in 1966 and it's still nice and shiny!

 

cheers

mike

[Tommy]

You have nice original tii. I would like to have one. Keep it original and fix the tray. It's less work and the gain in handling is not really noticeable. How big effort it really is to take battery out for oil filter replacement? Not a big thing for me.

 

  Tommy

[lilcphoto]

Will this work with a 6 series back seat conversion? I have the seat but not gotten around to install yet and just wondering. Sorry for the hijack

 

I just swapped to the 6 series seats and had to take the amps out that I had under the bench... so I doubt theres enough space for a battery.

 

I've been considering moving my battery to the trunk, but I currently have a sub and a home made box for my small parts and supplies I like to carry around. maybe I'll build a custom battery box speaker combo.

[Mike_R]

Yes, it improves handling, and no 35 year old car is original.  Sometimes these questions answer themselves.

[Mike_R]

Makes room up front too.

Edited December 16, 2013 by Mike_R

[Rustpile]

Old thread, but whatever: I´d move it. Sure the slight gain in handling is nice, but it comes down to this: Where do you spend most time. Working on the engine, right? So it makes sense that you make your primary work-environment as good as possible, right? Who uses the 02 for lugging stuff around anyways? 

[austinmf]

If you are fuel injecting, it is the perfect place for the air filter.

 

I added an odyssey PC925 under the passenger rear seat and ran the cable on the passenger side coming out of the firewall right under the glove box.  There is a lot more room on the passenger side for everything.