This is kind of a question for drag racers. I was thinking of relocating my battery (5th gen) and wondering where I could put it. I know theres the bed but don't really want it back there. I was thinking about the smugglers box but don't know if this is legal for drag racing or not. I would use one of those enclosed battery boxes but I think you still need to have it enclosed like it is in a trunk in case it explodes. If so then I was thinking of fabricating something somewhere under the car to hold it. Any thoughts or suggestions? I don't know too much about track rules for it.

You need to get an NHRA rule book to be Certain. It varies by class. However relocating to the smugglers box really doesn`t gain you anything as far as weight transfer.

wasn't really looking for weight transfer, just want to get it out from under the hood to clean it up. And my cars not really built or anything id be running in the slower classes

Just my take on it......bad idea............

How come some many here want to "clean up" the engine compartment? If it's sort of a show car, OK, but if the front suspension and frame, and fender wells are not pristine, why remove parts?

Of course if you remove the engine too, that will really clean it up:smileyb::smileyb:

I'm interested in doing this because I'm fond of the idea of locking the battery up in that space behind a speaker box and using a battery disconnect kit to try and keep people from taking my elky.

I have relocated the battery from the engine bay to the smugglers box - however I took alot of precautions to ensure safety. First, I had a stainless box made -- it is vented and it seals, and has a breather tube that comes out of the side of the box---this ensures that any fumes which may bleed out of the optima battery I have will not be an issue in the cabin of the elky. My other concern had to do with accessibility and safety to ensure that the battery would not come flying out of the compartment on any impact. What I did was purchase ---I think from a company in Minnesota--a sliding/locking battery tray. Like those used in a bus or a camper. The battery box was then bolted into the tray, and the trays tracks bolted to the floor of the smugglers area-----the tray slides in and out of the smugglers box for servicing, and the tracks have a locking position. (to prevent it from prematurely sliding in and out.) IT IS NOT CHEAP TO DO THIS---BUT IT MAKES IT ALL VERY SAFE. The stainless box was $135.00 and the tray was like 175.00 ---I was going to put in a second tray, for cleaning supplies, however there is a small hump in the back of the smugglers area which prevent the 2nd tray from laying flat. If you end up being serious abt doing this, I will be happy to take some pictures for you---I have the second tray in storage, brand new, which I never installed---would be happy to sell it if interested. Check out my ride---I try to do it all top shelf....

http://www.gbodycentral.com/forums/garage_vehicle.php?do=view_vehicle&id=5


Pete

if you are using an optima you could relocate it wouldn't be wise with a lead acid battery the fumes from charging are caustic and flamable dont really think it would help with weight distrbution

Tophes, all racing santions require an emergency cut-off sw (labeled) located at the rear of the vehicle if the battery has been moved from its original location. Also, the battery would mount left to right (long way) not frt to rear. This would ensure not to "dry out" any cells under hard accel. Go to NHRA or IHRA web site for the rule book. Dale