Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

[73Nova]

Hey guys im going to have to install my trunk mounted battery in my 67 GTO here pretty soon. I was wondering what the rules or standard operation proceedure is for running the cable from the starter to the trunk. Is it typically ran inside the frame rails on an A-body? Through the interior? Is it typically ran in some kind of conduit? Im not sure about the best place to run the cable. Any suggestions?

[Monk]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

I can tell you what I'm doing with the '55 Chevy.......I'm running
through the interior.
Makes for a clean install and don't have to
worry about routing cable through frame.
We're also using a remote solenoid.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

I have a remote solenoid on my Riviera and I've run the main starter cable along the doorjam rail (X-frame, I have no outer frame rails to go inside of) My thoughts are if the fuel lines are safe in the same location than a normally dead wire with a rather huge amount of insulation is as well. If I get worried I'll put some screen over it or worst case a metal duct.

[krusty]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

If the cable is "normally dead" (i.e., only hot during starting), how does the power get to the ignition switch and/or other power disrtibution point? ??? vic

[Bamfster]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

Is there a specific reason the batt is going in the trunk? I put the one in my chevelle back there, and if I had it to do over again, I would have left it under hood. When you put the cutoff switch in, make sure it kills all power and the engine. Seal it up in a battery box that you can vent to the outside of trunk, or add a bulkhead/firewall to seal the whole trunk from pass compartment.

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

Is there a specific reason the batt is going in the trunk? I put the one in my chevelle back there, and if I had it to do over again, I would have left it under hood. When you put the cutoff switch in, make sure it kills all power and the engine. Seal it up in a battery box that you can vent to the outside of trunk, or add a bulkhead/firewall to seal the whole trunk from pass compartment.

For me, no room under the hood, its in an Optima in a vented box. Can't say I'm not happy about putting it in the trunk but understand the complications.

If the cable is "normally dead" (i.e., only hot during starting), how does the power get to the ignition switch and/or other power disrtibution point? ??? vic

There are a pair of cables, one powers the rear distro hub mounted on the starter relay. That one is running up along the frame and is protected. The other 2/0 cable just goes from the starter to the starter solenoid and unless the starter is going it's dead.

[IRONHEAD]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

Is there a specific reason the batt is going in the trunk? I put the one in my chevelle back there, and if I had it to do over again, I would have left it under hood. When you put the cutoff switch in, make sure it kills all power and the engine. Seal it up in a battery box that you can vent to the outside of trunk, or add a bulkhead/firewall to seal the whole trunk from pass compartment.

For me, no room under the hood, its in an Optima in a vented box. Can't say I'm not happy about putting it in the trunk but understand the complications.

If the cable is "normally dead" (i.e., only hot during starting), how does the power get to the ignition switch and/or other power disrtibution point? ??? vic

There are a pair of cables, one powers the rear distro hub mounted on the starter relay. That one is running up along the frame and is protected. The other 2/0 cable just goes from the starter to the starter solenoid and unless the starter is going it's dead.

why would you run 3 power cables from the back of the car?? one power one ground.. that's it..
the one power is always live... if your is dead most of the time. you must of mounted the starter solenoid in the back
and that would require a long ign. wire to engage it..

to the poster.. if you are going to run this car on a track... read the rule book..
when I didmine 10 years ago(so the rules might have changed)
they have to be so many inch away from the fuel lines.. and the battery box vented outside the trunk.. and the proper kill switch.
on your 67 a body.. I'd run it out side the frame.. but on the inner side(not the out side near the rocker) this way if you get tee boned.. the rocker and frame dint blow up the battery..
run the cable in the same side as the starter, and through the trunk right behind the rear seat.. this way the cables are not anywhere near the 4 links for the rearend... I rapped the cable with that black oem like cover.(that wire harnesses are covered with, it's cheap) and I also.. have the ends put on the cable but the local big rig fleet supply parts store ,as they have the proper crimping tool... then I drill a 1/8" hole and add a little solder... this gives the lowerest voltage drop..
I've gone both ways with the ground.. I've just run it to the back frame rail.. and I've run it all the way up to the engine..The latter cost more, but you'll have less grounding issues, down the line if you run it to the engine and the engine is got two grounding straps (1 to the frame and one to the body,{most times the firewall])
I don't like the running it in the interior, because if you ever have a short.. the cable will get red hot and start a fire in the carpet.. and bye bye car.... if you have a short and it's run under the car.. the battery is most times the only thing that dies... and some trunk paint..
good luck...

[CTX-SLPR]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

why would you run 3 power cables from the back of the car?? one power one ground.. that's it..
the one power is always live... if your is dead most of the time. you must of mounted the starter solenoid in the back
and that would require a long ign. wire to engage it..

Yes I have a trunk mounted starter solenoid like mentioned earlier and yes I have an ignition wire (actually I have 5 14ga wires for various different controls) running to the back of the car and I have the main power cable. I like it this way because it mean I can run a smaller main power cable to the rear of the car that is constantly hot because it only has to recharge the battery and run a few rear mounted power draws like my amp, fuel pumps, and an air ride compressor eventually.

Mine is grounded through the frame and body, both directly link to the battery. The frame is grounded to the block by 2 staps, the body to the frame by a pair of straps, and the block to the body by a pair of straps. It's not running yet but I think it's sufficient to meet the needs if not overkill.

[IRONHEAD]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

why would you run 3 power cables from the back of the car?? one power one ground.. that's it..
the one power is always live... if your is dead most of the time. you must of mounted the starter solenoid in the back
and that would require a long ign. wire to engage it..

Yes I have a trunk mounted starter solenoid like mentioned earlier and yes I have an ignition wire (actually I have 5 14ga wires for various different controls) running to the back of the car and I have the main power cable. I like it this way because it mean I can run a smaller main power cable to the rear of the car that is constantly hot because it only has to recharge the battery and run a few rear mounted power draws like my amp, fuel pumps, and an air ride compressor eventually.

Mine is grounded through the frame and body, both directly link to the battery. The frame is grounded to the block by 2 staps, the body to the frame by a pair of straps, and the block to the body by a pair of straps. It's not running yet but I think it's sufficient to meet the needs if not overkill.

thats cool, just could not picture it in my head..

[malc]

Re: Trunk mounted battery in a 67 A-body?

I used the MAD kits for my rear mounted battery.

http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/st-1.shtml

http://www.madelectrical.com/catalog/tm-1.shtml

I ran the charge wire and "to starter" wire through the car but those thickuns
I attached underneath with adel clips and tie wraps.
The cable was covered with heat wrap near the exhaust.