Since I a working in the trunk...Battery mounting.

What is street and strip legal for battery mounting?

Does it have to be enclosed with a vent tube, or can it just be open (my trunk is NOT sealed from the cockpit).

I have seen some really nice aluminum boxes with vent tubes, but then I have seen some nice looking Optima mounts where the battery is basically screwed down to the floor allowing its red or yellow beauty shine in the trunk.

I am more interested in street legal, but a very occasional track visit may occur, and I don't want to be sidelined.

 

I will try to take pictures of mine when I get home

 

From the NHRA rulebook...."In lieu of rear firewall, battery may be located in a sealed .024" steel or .032" aluminum, or NHRA accepted poly box. If sealed box is used in lieu of rear firewall, box may not be used to secure battery and must be vented outside of body. Relocated battery must be fastened to frame or frame structure with a minimum of two 3/8 diameter bolts. " Hope this helps.

 

YUP! that is what I needed to know.

 

Why isn't your trunk sealed?

 

Ah,,, been up too long,,,,, It's gonna have to be sealed for your fuel cell.

 

I used 0.032" aluminum and made a trunk firewall and rear package tray. It took very little time to make and now the trunk is completely separate from the canbin. Well there are like 1" gaps on both sides where wires run through but I figure that's ok.

 

I am working on that...after the trunk is done.

That has to be metal, right? Can't be half-inch plywood caulked at the edges?

 

I think it has to be metal from what Don quoted

 

that quote referred to the box the battery sits in. It can be metal or poly (plastic) as long as approved thickness and design.

 

Not sure ,,,, I think the factory seat works as a wall,,, did you take out your frame for the seat back? You can get black aluminum or what ever finish you want,,, makes it look pretty nice. Just cut to fit an rivet to frame work,,,, then it's a done deal

 

Yeah, sounds pretty easy. I have a while while I plumb the cell to figure out fer sure how I am going to to the firewall...

 

It really depend on your track,no one i know who has the battery in back and a fuel cell has been bothered at our NHRA track.

 

My local 1/8th track most likely won't care, but if I go to Baytown and try out the 1/4 track at Houston Raceway Park (world-famous BIG-Boy's track) I may have to do a little more convincing.

 

If you go to any track that does even a half assed tech inspection, when they look at the engine they'll see the battery is not there. When they look in the trunk and see it and the fuel cell they will look for 1) grounded fuel cell. 2) vent for fuel cell. 3) sealed trunk. 4) battery mounting. 5) battery shut off switch. If they don't do that as a minimum, I would be leery of running at that track. Remember, they also teched the car running next to you. MAYBE.