smaller battery...

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Fri Sep 25, 2009 2:17 am

anyone ever run a 12v tractor battery in their neon? i've got a buddy that had one in his for weight redux, i'm thinking of getting one for the smaller size, so my Ieman intake will clear, any tips?

neon_freak · Post by **neon_freak** » Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:10 am

plenty of people run them for years and they had good luck. Alot of people suggest a battery from autozone, i cant think of the part number right now

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:31 am

If you run across that part number, let me know! Thanks!

sabu · Post by **sabu** » Sun Sep 27, 2009 10:15 pm

A Group 51 battery is about half the weight and size of the typical Group 58 neon battery. You can get them in reverse terminal just like the neon battery as well. Has enough power to crank over our motors without issue. NOT recommended for winter use.

Or just put the battery in the trunk and run a 1GA cable up through the center console and into the engine bay. Use a power distributor block and split the power to the starter and PDC.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 1:25 am

sabu wrote:A Group 51 battery is about half the weight and size of the typical Group 58 neon battery. You can get them in reverse terminal just like the neon battery as well. Has enough power to crank over our motors without issue. NOT recommended for winter use.

Or just put the battery in the trunk and run a 1GA cable up through the center console and into the engine bay. Use a power distributor block and split the power to the starter and PDC.

Very helpful, thank you! The only issue I have with a trunk mount battery is that I can't track the car without a kill switch, and my car ain't fast enough to justify a kill switch on the rear bumper. I've also considered relocating it inside the driver's side of the bumper like Roysneon did, but from what I've read, track officials frown on that as well.

roysneon · Post by **roysneon** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:47 am

I suggest not doing it. Tech inspectors can't see it to deem it safe or not, and with my hacked up bracket the bumper doesn't fit right. I'm putting a smaller battery somewhere under the hood for next season.

neon_freak · Post by **neon_freak** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 7:31 pm

cant you slip bumper off for them too see? mines under the bumper passenger side and i can get my bumper off in just a few minutes

roysneon · Post by **roysneon** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 11:24 pm

Yeah, but it's a PITA. A smaller under-hood mounted battery seems best to me. Easier to boost it if battery dies, and it's also away from an impact zone.

sabu · Post by **sabu** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:46 am

Just use a dry-cell battery in a box and track officials can't do crap. Plus all that free space under the hood is amazing.

roysneon · Post by **roysneon** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 2:13 am

I still don't feel safe having a full sized battery in the bumper of the car. If I get a small one I'll find somewhere underhood for it to make it easier on me to boost the car/boost another car or disconnect the batt for electrical repairs.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Tue Sep 29, 2009 9:35 pm

thanks for the tips guys. much appreciated.

infil · Post by **infil** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 1:09 am

dry cell will still require venting and a sealed/approved box to run at an nhra track. its a battery, period.

i ran a tractor battery in teh racecar for 3 years with zero probs on same battery. this car got used maybe 3 times a month on a busy month with a few starts here and there for tuning etc.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Sat Oct 03, 2009 7:37 pm

any starts in cold weather? details on battery? brand, size, maybe a model number?

Post by **racer12306** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:43 pm

I doubt his car was started much in the cold weather.

TNK · Post by **TNK** » Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:28 pm

well if he started it to tune it during the winter months, it was just a thought. im hoping to get my garage "usable" before the winter months, and the wife's car will probably be the winter beater, unless we still have the skunk at that time.