Topic: Throw your battery in the boot, for more go

[bandit nz]

I thought id put this artical here, I found this in an awesome 80's TA handbook I had given to me today.
The book was a hot rodding suppliment, that was produced in the 80's, called the (TA handbook)


Artical as follows:

MOVE IT!
Once reserved for drag racing cars needing more traction, relocating the battery from the conventional engine compartment to the trunk, has become popular with enthusiasts looking for increased handling power.
Moving the battery from the engine room to the trunk (over the right rear wheel ) has the same effect as moving the engine back 10 inches.
It decreases front end weight by more than one percent.

Since the avarage air conditioned Trans-Am has almost 58% of its total weight on the front tires, moving the battery can have a major influance on handling.

The results of such a move include, improved braking, less understeer, and better traction when accelerating out of a corner.

So there you have it, hope some of you find this of interest.
If anyone has done this already or better yet if someone does, let us know what you think.

I know this is nothing new, but as this artical was TA specific, I thought it would be of interest.

Cheers all

[Joker (§ir£Ğragon)]

Yep, this is always good for better weight distribution. I did this with dual batteries to my old '77 Cutlass for two reasons. The weight distribution and also because I used it as a service vehicle at my old shop (before I bought and built my '72 C-10) so pulling up in front of a car on the side of the hi-way to jump start it was easy. Just back up in front of it rather than try and turn around.

[Rick]

I've had my battery in the trunk, as part of my effort to balance the weight distribution on the car.  That battery is stuck way out in front of the front wheels, and greatly increases the car's polar moment of inertia (a measure of how hard it is to effect a change in direction).  Moving it to the trunk makes a big difference.  I finally got the car where it was neutral going through corners (normally a TA will understeer) and I could induce oversteer with the throttle.  But I moved it back to the stock location because it was too hard to jump the car if the battery ran flat (I keep a battery tender on it now, but now I'm moving it back to stock...call me a victim of changing tastes)...

[milly]

I threw a battery in my boot, but I didn't get very far 




Just kidding, great write up. 

[Rick]

 

Hey, John -- are those red and green thingys little felt pads intended to hold down corrosion?  I had a set of those many moons ago, but haven't seen them available lately...

[milly]

Rick, those green and red felt pads are supposed to slow corrosion. I think I got them at an autoparts store or at Walmart a long time ago. I haven't bothered to look for anymore since then. They worked pretty good too.

[WarbirdTA]

They work real good on the top posts, but not the side terminals.
The side bolts aren't very long.

Milly,
The battery goes more towards the rear of the boot.
You still have it too far forward.
Oh ya, I hear you have a lead foot too.
Let's see that one!

George 

[Rick]

OK -- here ya' go...



 

[milly]

 

[bandit nz]

OK OK Milly by now im sure that you have worked out that a trunk over here, is refered as a boot. 

So that you can understand those of us that "talk funny" here is a lesson in basic Kiwi and Ausi english for ya.
In NZ, Ausi, and the UK your trunk is a boot, your hood is a bonnet, your fender is a guard, your thongs are Jandals and your chiller, could be a chilly bin, an esky, or a cooler.
In NZ its a chilly bin, but a beer is still a beer, and the guy you share that beer with is a mate and that buddy is a bloody good bloke. 

By the way, its your shout 

Love the photos by the way.

[bandit nz]

Oh yeah I forgot, if you want to make some of those anti corrosive pads.

Get some vasiline, thin it with a little mineral turps, then get some felt material from a fabric shop, cut some pads and soak the felt with the vasiline youve thinned, dont thin the Vasiline too much, or it will dry out to quickly.

You will need to work it into the felt with your fingers, ensure the felt pads are well saturated.

Then fit them on the posts, under your clean battery terminals.

 

[WarbirdTA]

Ha!
One question for you Bandit NZ.
Are the girls shielas there too?
Oh ya, one other question.
The babes wear Jandels under their clothes?

Now Rick,
That's not a lead foot, but a lead sandal.
I still want to see a lead foot!

Milly, I guess we need to see if the battery in the boot, will raise the bonnet up.

George 

[kyledyr]

you guys are too funny!  my coworkers think i'm nuts for laughing so loud....

[Rick]

OK -- OK -- George forced me into it..

[WarbirdTA]

Haaaa!
Too funny!

George