For those of you that did the 3-link, where did you put the battery? - FFCars.com : Factory Five Racing Discussion Forum

ZoaFan08 · 08-09-2012, 04:08 PM

Well I got most of the hard parts done last night with the 3-link, got all the old spring tubes cut out, UCA mounts cut and grinded down and the 3-link to frame bracket installed. But now I run into more issues, I had to undo a lot of my wiring as I had my computer and relay box in the trunk and my battery mounted flush with floor and this all interfered with the 3-link so I cut it all out. I do not want to put the battery in the engine compartment. I know they sell those black boxes but that would take up a lot of trunk space and with the computer, relay box and fire supression system in the trunk I am limited on space already.

ldsman · 08-09-2012, 04:10 PM

Buy the ffmetal kit and put a drop box in trunk. Looks clean.

ZoaFan08 · 08-09-2012, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldsman

Buy the ffmetal kit and put a drop box in trunk. Looks clean.

That is currently what I have but the box hits the 3-link bracket, maybe it's different with the MKII?

acth4347 · 08-09-2012, 04:25 PM

I used the FFMetal box in the trunk just to the right of the left gas tank vertical mount. The right corner of the battery box clears the 3 link bracket. HTH -- Bill

ZoaFan08 · 08-09-2012, 04:32 PM

Thanks for the picture, yours is a little more to the DS than mine. I am needed about 1/2 and inch so maybe tonight I'll cut out some floor aluminum and get it moved over.

Greg_M · 08-09-2012, 04:56 PM

Made my own (back in the day

) for the trunk.

Start here and go next right photo a more few times to see it.
Gregs '65 Shelby AC Cobra Build (FFR) - Top View of Recessed Home Fabricated Box - Worldisround photo
photos are h-res if you select full size image.

http://www.worldisround.com/articles...7/photo44.html
http://www.worldisround.com/articles...7/photo45.html

Greg

PhoneGuy · 08-09-2012, 05:24 PM

I put mine up front and used one of the Breeze bat box kits. I know there are several installs with it in the trunk, but this just didn't meet my needs so up front it went.

Close up of it installed.
Breeze batt box.jpg

Darren · 08-09-2012, 05:30 PM

I know you said you don't want it up front but it is actually the better place for it. Better weight distribution and it can go in the front passenger corner with the Breeze kit. People don't even see mine mounted so low and you could cover it easily if you wanted.

Short wires, cheaper to install with less materials, better performance/weight distribution...

ZoaFan08 · 08-09-2012, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darren

I know you said you don't want it up front but it is actually the better place for it. Better weight distribution and it can go in the front passenger corner with the Breeze kit. People don't even see mine mounted so low and you could cover it easily if you wanted.

Short wires, cheaper to install with less materials, better performance/weight distribution...

My main issue with that is all my wires are already ran and I do not have much room along the tranny tunnel to run some big gauge wires. I had to run so much wire to the trunk for the computer and relay that I was fighting for room to run thin brake line tubing for the fire supression system.

lmmargheritis · 08-09-2012, 05:36 PM

Did you mount the box to the left of center? FFMetal is set up for two mounting location. Center for IRS and a little to the left for 3-Link. Just barely clears the diagonal 3-Link brace. My issue was with the Girdle on my Differential. My diff. cover hit so I modified the box to clear. Standard diff. covers should have no issues at all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoaFan08

That is currently what I have but the box hits the 3-link bracket, maybe it's different with the MKII?

Rich A · 08-09-2012, 05:36 PM

Breeze battery box in the front.

ZoaFan08 · 08-09-2012, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmmargheritis

Did you mount the box to the left of center? FFMetal is set up for two mounting location. Center for IRS and a little to the left for 3-Link. Just barely clears the diagonal 3-Link brace. My issue was with the Girdle on my Differential. My diff. cover hit so I modified the box to clear. Standard diff. covers should have no issues at all.

It was mounted to the left but I was still hitting the 3-link brace, I only need like 1/2 and inch so I may just cut the hole bigger to the left and slide it over.

You can't believe how long I looked at this last night and that never occured to me. Instead I spent who knows how long trying to find where I could move the battery to lol. Guess that is what I get for trying to do something on the car late at night after working a 12 hour day.

CraigS · 08-09-2012, 07:23 PM

I don't remember the details but I managed to fudge mine over to the left using the stock FFR stuff

Howff · 08-09-2012, 08:24 PM

trunk

5.8Cobra · 08-09-2012, 08:28 PM

I used the stock FFR battery tray when I did mine years ago. I just moved it 5.5" toward the driver side and it cleared. Maybe you could cut a little slot in the box where it hits the 3 link bar, just enough to get it over far enough, that way you wont have to do anything with your wires. Good Luck with it.

Mike

Bill Waters · 08-10-2012, 03:07 AM

As others have suggested, FFMetal box, but well to the left. You don't want to just clear the 3-link diagonal brace and differential cover, you want to be sure and do so at full bump (suspension compression).

Bill

ROADRACER83 · 08-10-2012, 04:28 AM

FWIW:

I mounted mine in the back right corner of the trunk to balance weight from my not very skinny butt in the drivers seat. A short 2 gauge ground cable to a ground bolt welded on the top of the shock mount and a hot 2 gauge cable through a panel pass through and down the transmission tunnel to the battery shut off switch. I used a type of battery terminal that has a 200 amp fuse at the positive terminal.

Ron

ZoaFan08 · 08-10-2012, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Waters

As others have suggested, FFMetal box, but well to the left. You don't want to just clear the 3-link diagonal brace and differential cover, you want to be sure and do so at full bump (suspension compression).

Bill

I mOved the box over and it clears the brace but your post gave me a worry about full drop. After looking at it if the car dropped enough that they hit wouldn't I have a bigger issue since they both bolt to the frame?

I have plenty of room on the differential cover.

COMPETITIONCOBRA · 08-10-2012, 04:58 AM

Mine is going behind the passenger seat... Just make sure you have short passengers.

mirose · 08-10-2012, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoaFan08

I am limited on space already.

So then why are you trying so hard to put it back there?

Just put it in the engine compartment. I have the Breeze Holder and its so low and inconspicuous that it doesn't detract from the engine, imho. You could probably build a nice cover for it too if you really wanted to and make it even nicer if that is the goal. Just my 2c

I might be hallucinating but I vaguely remember a post about putting one in the driver's pedal box area???? Can anyone else confirm If this correct or if I need to go get drug-tested?

Good luck figuring this out. - Michael

CraigS · 08-10-2012, 11:44 AM

I think that was passenger footbox. Several have mounted an Optima or similiar there.

Bill_VA · 08-10-2012, 12:11 PM

I used the FFmetal box (great stuff!) and mounted it as far over to the left as I could.

lmmargheritis · 08-10-2012, 12:11 PM

If you are still worried remove your coil overs and jack up the three link all the way up. If nothing hits you are good to go. The only other concern, and I am not certain that this is the case, is with the fuel tank support. Vertical 3/4" tube where our tank strap attaches. It is supposed to be able to move forward in a rear end accident. If you are too far left you may end up with the box in front of the brace. Having said this, the car is a basically a go cart with 500 Horse Power. Not sure all of us buy these as a safe daily driver. I think of mine as an overpowered motorcycle with doors. In otherwords, don't crash.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZoaFan08

I mOved the box over and it clears the brace but your post gave me a worry about full drop. After looking at it if the car dropped enough that they hit wouldn't I have a bigger issue since they both bolt to the frame?

I have plenty of room on the differential cover.

ZoaFan08 · 08-10-2012, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mirose

So then why are you trying so hard to put it back there?

Just put it in the engine compartment. I have the Breeze Holder and its so low and inconspicuous that it doesn't detract from the engine, imho. You could probably build a nice cover for it too if you really wanted to and make it even nicer if that is the goal. Just my 2c

I might be hallucinating but I vaguely remember a post about putting one in the driver's pedal box area???? Can anyone else confirm If this correct or if I need to go get drug-tested?

Good luck figuring this out. - Michael

Well if the battery is still flush with the floor then it wouldn't take any room from inside the trunk. Couple reasons why I wanted to keep it there:
1) I 2 disconnect switches, one in the main cabin when driving it and another hidden in the back portion of the car to make it harder for someone to start the car. I would have to run the cables from the front of the car, to the rear and then back to the front.

2) I have my computer and relay box mounted in the trunk and I had to run so much wire for those that my tranny tunnel is already packed and I do not see a safe way to run 2 thick battery cables in that space.

3) Lazyness? For me to move the battery to the front would require a lot of work as i would have to move a lot of wire, drop the transmission and redo a lot of the car wiring I already have done. I would like to not drop the transmission as I hate having to put it back in on my back in the garage.

Chepsk8 · 08-10-2012, 04:32 PM

In the trunk, way over against the pass side wall in a compact black plastic box. Easy to access, better for weight balance, simple in-line battery disconnect.

Mike D · 08-10-2012, 04:38 PM

Top of the pass. footbox. Short runs to the starter, clean install.

Bart Carter · 08-11-2012, 02:14 PM

There are also small dry cell batteries that can fit almost anywhere and can be mounted on their sides if need be.

ehodger · 08-11-2012, 07:26 PM

I used Breeze's front mount kit, mounts to the X member, looks like it belongs there.

JimClark60 · 08-11-2012, 10:18 PM

I use'd Breeze stainless up-front box...great fit

Terrorist Hunter · 08-11-2012, 11:08 PM

If you hadn't thought about it, you've already got your main wires run through the tunnel and just need to cut off the battery clamp in the rear. It would be some work to drill the holes for the new battery box up front, but if the car is already running and wired up, you've already got your main power source running to the back of the car in the form of your main cable. You could get a larger gauge distribution block, something like what is used for car audio perhaps, and connect your main large gauge wires at one central point up front. Something similar to this would potentially do the job for you I would imagine: 0-Gauge T Power Distribution Block - Midnight Chrome Finish MST-0 - $7.97 : .

HTH, good luck with the decision.