Lightweight drycell battery

shakedown067 · Postby **shakedown067** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 9:07 am

Looks like it's about time to replace the battery in the vette again. Looking into a smaller, lightweight battery that I can eventually relocate to the a storage compartment behind the passenger seat. I also need around 600-700 cold cranking amps. Any recommendations on where to pick one up? Was thinking about dropping by Gearhead Automotive at lunch today or tomorrow and see what they've got.

Tim_M · Postby **Tim_M** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:07 pm

With all the electrical issues with that car, I wouldn't think you would want to mod it more!

I had a website that detailed a fellow doing that mod and using a small dry cell. I was tempted, but refrained when a small battery and a V-8 just didn't seem to mix in drag race/autocross situations.

See if I can locate it.

shakedown067 · Postby **shakedown067** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 11:49 pm

Yeah, I'm more into a dry cell vs lightweight. But, wouldn't mind small"er" and light"er". I'm actually eyeballing the massive die hard platinum battery right now. Supposedly it's a rebodied odyssey battery that I can pick up locally and get for about $50 cheaper than the odyssey version. I actually need a battery that's more stable, so it looks like it's either that or an optima, which I didn't have good results with in my truck (red top).

BrandLoyal · Postby **BrandLoyal** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:04 pm

The Medical Device company I Rep for has a few of the lithium batteries in one of our manufacturing plants. I have toured this local R&D center and was impressed with the technology.

This is probably the most expensive option but relocating this tiny light battery pack may be of interest.
They are being used in many racing applications too.

http://www.lithionicsbattery.com/

Let me know if you want more info

Postby **Loren** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:09 pm

Lithium is pretty awesome battery tech. I was starting my Miata with a sub-2-pound Lithium battery until an intermittent current drain killed it. Lithium batteries don't like to be drained below 9-10 volts.

shakedown067 · Postby **shakedown067** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:38 pm

Holy hell they are pricy! Cool tech though.

shakedown067 · Postby **shakedown067** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 9:37 am

Went complete anti-light weight. Got a Die Hard Platinum battery. Weights a freakin ton, but it's an Ambsorbed Gas Matt battery, so should hold up better with my electrical demands of this car. Looking into how hard it'll be to move it to the rear storage compartment behind the passenger seat. Kinda sad when my truck has the battery located in the back, but the vette is stock. LOL

Now just waiting for three new O2 Sensors to hopefully show up on Wednesday along with two EGR valves and hopefully clear out my stupid SES light.

Postby **Loren** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:31 pm

Is there a reason to move the battery to the back other than "the front is the stock location"?

Have you scaled the car to get corner weights? (and was all of the interior in the car when you did it???) The stock location might be exactly where that battery needs to be, plus you won't be adding 12 feet of heavy 0-Gauge wire to the car.

The typical front-heavy grocery-getter sedan needs the battery relocated to the back to improve balance. Not so sure about a Corvette. (it's not like Chevy couldn't have put it there if that's where they thought it needed to be)

shakedown067 · Postby **shakedown067** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:40 pm

Mainly to get it off the driver's side and balance my weight (when I loose 30lbs). It's a very common mod for road racers with C4s. It's not on my immediate list of things to do, but the big one would be just cause it'd be easier to get to. It's a pain having to pull it out where it is now, having to remove the gill body panel every time. I did change a couple of the screws so now I just need three tools to remove it instead of 5!

Postby **Loren** » Mon Jul 01, 2013 12:58 pm

Gotcha. I should have known you wouldn't be doing it without good reason.

twistedwankel · Postby **twistedwankel** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 4:18 pm

So the battery science has improved greatly in the last 5 years.

Autocrossing kills my lead acid batteries by dropping a plate every 3-4 years and they are getting up to $140 or $99(Walmart) I talked to Philip some about these on a Monday feast.

It occurs to me that some folks are still having trouble with the redtop and the Odyssey front post ($242) weighs 49lbs although highly revered to take abuse. I'm spending $240 every 3-4 years anyhow @ $120 each replacement and usually my battery just dies without warning. The Odessey lasts for along time and has more lead surface in mats. My Vette battery sits right over my CPU so I'd really like to find a leak proof one that works. Then I think about the overheating issues. Would two store more heat?

So it occurred to me that it's common practice with stereo freaks to put two batteries together. So I wonder if two light weight batteries in parallel might have the same power as one heavy lead based one? Anyone done this with a $$ budget? Some of these little batteries are crazy/insanely expensive. Rebuilds from NASA?

Postby **Loren** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 4:22 pm

Find out what Joe put in his Vette. Do that.

twistedwankel · Postby **twistedwankel** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 7:51 pm

Loren wrote:Lithium is pretty awesome battery tech. I was starting my Miata with a sub-2-pound Lithium battery until an intermittent current drain killed it. Lithium batteries don't like to be drained below 9-10 volts.

This explains a lot to me. When the battery was flatter than a pancake from a fan running I put the little new Lithium jump starter on it. It would charge up two laptops and cell phones but did diddly shit on jump start. Tried everything. Not only did I get my money back from Amazon but they let me keep it. Cool. Laptop/phone charger.

So move ahead one year 2019 and a much smaller Jump Starter with similar punch for 1/2 price and size at xmas. I drained the Ford battery to 9V so wouldn't crank the car and it started right up. Hmmmmm? I drained the Vette to 9V also (a Fiero couldn't start it - took a Mustang GT x2) using the shit "free" jumper device it fired right off without even trying the "holyshit" dead button. Wow.

Loren you have explained this 5 years ago for me now. I knew you could do it. Search "The Professor" or just show up on Monday nites and say: "oink".

Thanks,

Doug

Postby **Loren** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:01 pm

jbrannon7 · Postby **jbrannon7** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:16 pm

Loren wrote:Find out what Joe put in his Vette. Do that.

I put in an Optima red top, I can mount it upside down without a leak.

twistedwankel · Postby **twistedwankel** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 8:54 pm

jbrannon7 wrote:
Loren wrote:Find out what Joe put in his Vette. Do that.
I put in an Optima red top, I can mount it upside down without a leak.

Joe. Now I cannot get the image of you mounting a Redtop upside down out of my head. Go Joe. Missionary style for me mostly.

friskyflea · Postby **friskyflea** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 9:44 pm

twistedwankel wrote:
jbrannon7 wrote:
Loren wrote:Find out what Joe put in his Vette. Do that.
I put in an Optima red top, I can mount it upside down without a leak.
Joe. Now I cannot get the image of you mounting a Redtop upside down out of my head. Go Joe. Missionary style for me mostly.

Thanks for sharing that visual image Mayor. I may never look at a Redtop battery again without