Light weight track battery

[p0cket penguins]

Hey guys,

So I am trying to do a little bit more weight reduction on the track car before I pick up the angle grinder/hole saw. My car weighted in at 2350 (a bit over half a tank of gas) with a deviation of 10 lbs for cross weights (even though that means nothing cause the cross weights weren't with me in it). I was thinking of getting rid of the megatron sized battery in my trunk. I was looking to go with a Deka etx14L, specs given below. This one is cheaper by 10 bucks and lighter by 3 lbs than the Deka etx18L What do you guys think about this set up? Note this is for a track only car, yet reliability of turning on during the summer time in the pits is needed. As for winter start ups to keep the engine in good condition the megatron will be inuse.

Thanks,
Chirs

[Massive Lee]

Another weigh reduction item would be a smaller alternator. The original one is pretty heavy. I have seen many e30 racers with a smallish Japanese alternator that weights close to nothing.

[p0cket penguins]

oh cool idea which alternators and any links on the write up if there is one? .... any insight on the battery?

[ldsbeaker]

Odyssey Batteries.
They are mildly $$, but small, and you can run them daily.
Here's the one I bought.

http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc925series.htm

... and here's where it goes in my car (E28)

[iflytii]

+1 on the Odyssey battery. I have a 680 and it cranks fine while being small and compact. There are mounting options available to make install super easy. Pull the factory cable and replace with something smaller and that will save a few lbs too.

[Bruce Colby]

The stock alternator is about 12 lb; a Nippon-Denso is about 9 lb, so there's not much to be saved. But it is in the LF so it's in a nice location to lose weight. If you make this change, be aware that the the ND doesn't like to spin very high so you'll need an under-drive pully if you want it to last very long.

A normal battery is about 35 lb; the Odyssey 680 (wo/metal case and wo/brass terminals) is 14.5 lb. The metal case is 1.5 lb; I don't know about the brass terminals. The 680 is a nice weight savings but it's in the RR where a little weight may be helpful to some. I use the 680 and it lasts about 2 years (track only).

[p0cket penguins]

so i guess i might take the plunge and do a deka etx14 and remove the 00 gauge battery cable and replace it with a 4 gauge battery cable... since the car does not run anything but the engine (no radio/no ac/no power steering)

Is 4 gauge cable alright for the cable going from the engine bay to the trunk?
Also can I delete the fuel expansion tank?

[Dirtbleed]

Braille. Made in the USA. For my DD. Had a big enough weight loss to change the camber/toe in the right rear.

[FredK]

Braille is made by Deka. The Deka happens to be a hefty amount cheaper. If you're interested in shedding more weight while getting the same battery, the Braille is better, as your wallet will have a weight delete.

[whiltebeitel]

+1

[asubimmer]

you are thinking about it all wrong...

You want something along the lines of a motorcycle battery with a jumper "box". IE a full size battery. You can use a quick connect like this to make it easy and clean.

http://wiringproducts.com/index1.html?lang=en-us&target=search.html&lmd=0.3376494922652024

under battery, then 12v connections.

[p0cket penguins]

what?

[asubimmer]

you want about the smallest battery in your car itself. The jumper box would be for starting the car on hot days etc. It isn't needed for every start but it helps.

The connections just help make the jumping easier and cleaner

[p0cket penguins]

oh gotcha.... but wouldnt you need a jump box for the cold days... since atleast the hot crank on the ext14 is 300 and the cold crank is 200.... regardless its a great idea

[Scott///M]

FWIW: a lot of Spec E30 racers have been going with larger, heavier batteries... tractor batteries. Because once you've gutted the car, you need to add weight (anywhere from 15-45 lbs) so we're trying to get more weight in the rear (loop hole in ballast rule). This may not apply to you application. Just thought I'd share....