1/1600 spare tire mount & batt tray

[westtexasbaja]

Here's the way it is now. Green arrow is pointing to batt tray (first pic). Its mounted to the trans using 3 of the case bolts on the gear box! Thinking this is causing undo stress on case and a weak mounting as well, I'd like to move it but keep it on center with car. So the only option is to move it up to get it off the trans, but that puts it in front of oil cooler.

So...thinking about mounting tire horizontally and open the space below it (third pic). This makes a good spot for the batt and other stuff. Cons: hard to access batt for charging/jumping but remote terminals would help this. Another con: higher CG??

Do you think there is much difference between the 2 tire positions with regard to CG? (see pics). Plan to use a gate to secure spare (drawn in red fourth pic)...

Thanks for any comments,
G.

[y2kbaja]

What about the space behind the fuel cell? My 1600 car was very similar to that and I mounted the battery down there. Kept the spare tire low as possible (It was actually horizontal on top of the trans).

[westtexasbaja]

Tried that and the batts too big. I've about decided to keep the tire more vertical after all. Then fab a 8" wide tray all the way across the car just below the oil cooler for batt, tools and jack.

Thanks,
G.

[baja_driver]

are you running an optima? a full size battery so to speak? if so why? does they car need it for anything more than starting. I have run the smaller size race battery, about half the size of a normal car battery and have never charged it or done much but clean it during prep...they fit alot better than the optima and do a lot less damage or stress to mounting area..have seen the bigger batteries tear away tray's .

[westtexasbaja]

Yes, full size now. I made the tray big enough for an optima. I can see a small batt for short/stadium races. Seems like you'd want full size for long races...but what do I know....

This tray stout enough to hold?......we'll see....

[baja_driver]

Yes, full size now. I made the tray big enough for an optima. I can see a small batt for short/stadium races. Seems like you'd want full size for long races...but what do I know....

This tray stout enough to hold?......we'll see....

think I would box in the bottom of the tray so the battery cannot move side to side or front to back...not sure if you already did that, could not tell from the pic.

[westtexasbaja]

think I would box in the bottom of the tray so the battery cannot move side to side or front to back...not sure if you already did that, could not tell from the pic.

Thanks for the input. No, there's nothing right at the sides/edges of the batt, only the edge of tray itself. I'll see what I can do....

G.