UnSprun Weight and Battery reloctaions...

[99GrandTouring]

At the last auto-x an experienced mustang driver and I were talking about battery relocations...
He does not use a battery relocation, he uses a small odyessy type battery up front...
His theory is that, with all the weight you are adding (cables, box, etc....) that it isn't as beneficial as just going with a small/lightweight battery for auto-x....

What is your alls take on this? This has made me re-think doing a battery re-location.....

[Gene Fine]

Having done a battery relocation, I think that the guy you talked to is right, to an extent.

In my case, I had to put a kill switch on the car, so it was just as easy to relocate the battery to the rear. Also, I wanted to clean up as much space as possible in the front of the engine because of my Procharger, so getting all of the cables and such out of there was a benefit as well.

However, if it's an autocross or opentrack car, then I think that doing the small Odyssey or Hawker battery is a good idea, and a hell of a lot less hassle.

[99GrandTouring]

Well I drag race and auto-x....

Would relocating a battery have ANY negative effect on handleing?

[Wayne S]

Find someone in your area that has scales A road racer or someone who builds chassis should have some. That should tell you what setup would benefit you more.

Noted: Im not talking about the type at a drag track im talking about the ones that weigh each corner.

[Korky]

I'm current;y moving mine. should have it wrapped up tomarrow. I put mine behind the passenger seat where a rear passenger would sit to keep the weight to the right rear wheel but not hanging over it. Keeping the weight towards the center of the car. Hopefully it will work for drag racing but mostly using it for RC's. Once I get the motor back together I will get it on the scales again.

[99GrandTouring]

did you put it on the scales before? do you by chance remember the corner weights?

[Korky]

I have it written down but it is at the garage. :-(
My car is a pig though so your weight swill be a little different. Mine weighs in at 3620 with me in it and 1/2 tank of gas. I'll be working on that problem this winter.

[raceruss]

If you are using your car for drag racing, I would recommend you moving the battery to the trunk. It will improve weight transfer during launches. If you are auto X or Road racing, keeping the weight in front of the rear axle down(back seat) low will help with forward bite and will not have a momentum effect through the sloloms. If I remember correctly, moving a standard size battery or dry cell to the trunck, will gain 1-2 percent to the rear wheels. Most factory rides are front heavy to induce push entering corners.

Go to a large book store and look for books from Steve Smith on suspension set up and theory. It give you the explanations and the math to figure out percentages on moving parts and removing part. Also show how cross weight and static weight will affect your car.

Of course it is a starting point, you will still need to scale each corner and adjust springs accordingly. Each car and driver is different, but should help.