Just wondering the pro & cons on a battery mounted in the trunk..
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Al Liebmann

Better than strapped to the roof or hanging under the frame maybe?
Use a sparkproof enclosure even if the gas tank isnt next to it. Use #2 or larger primary wire, not little #4 auto store stuff...its a long run up to the starter.


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Carl
Automotive gold is everywhere; you just have to learn how to dig for it

I put the battery in the trunk of my 41 chevy 2 door.I modified the recess in the floor of the trunk where the spare originally went.Keeps it out of the way,yet easy to get to.Built a nice aluminum box with a hinged lid.And isulated inside the top in case the battery hold down comes loose,so the posts would not short out on the lid.Good spread in Street Rodder a while back.

Use some thought and caution when you rout that fat #4 wire. Make sure it's protected from chaifing and pinching. You don't want to "let the smoke out" of that wire!

Not a bad idea to vent the batt. box to the outside either.

MOROSO sells a great completely sealed battery box, the plastic racing model, comes with the venting hose and grommets for the wire. A real class piece, strong and light. Not those summit marine boxes, too cheesy. The battery in the trunk is good for weight transfer when installed on the pass side, makes for a neater underhood appearance, and the battery lasts longer without the heat abuse.

Don't foreget the cut-off switch. If something happens you want to be able to shut off the power. Car can melt down while looking for the tools to disconnect the batt.
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That's my story and I'm stickn to it

Make sure your "in the trunk" battery is vented to out side. Battery acid fumes are very explosive. I like to use drop out battery boxes. I mount batterys under the right front fender on '40's cars (if starter is on right) Use same drop out box on '30's cars mounted under floor. Always use a master cut off switch on Battery. Regards, HonestFrank
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"VEO DINDICE"

Don't forget to have a manual cable release for your trunk if you have a solenoid operated deck lid. Sometimes hard to get jumper cables on the battery when it dies and in the trunk and you can't get the trunk open. LOL

Amen on the battery cutout switch. Ever try to get your battery cable off the battery when you don't have any wrenches? It's a real rush. My starter hung in the start mode once and I had to chase it down the road. Fortunately, I had the coil wire pulled. So guess who has a cutout switch. I had one and took it off, because I kept loosing my radio programming. So which is worse? No programming or no car? That's a no brainer.. 8-)
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Street is Neat! And Safety Inspections Keep It That Way!

You got a lot advice. Go to Painless "Wiring" at 800-423-9696 and get one of their trunk kits. Works great and they have the cut-offs, everything.

I like the battery mounted in the trunk of my 47 Ford coupe, but hated the idea in my 39 Ford sedan, because the trunk was too small,so I hung it off the frame under the pass. side fender in that rod. If you put the battery in the trunk, use the cut-off switch,place it on the negative cable, and run the negative cable to one of your starter mounting bolts, and run a good ground strap from the engine. For that matter,make sure everything is grounded well: body, engine, and gauges. Your streetrod will be more trouble free and thus,more fun!!

A suggestion if you will be using any remotes use the cut-off on the hot not the ground.The reason being they prefer you don't cut the power on a regular basis. So you run a smaller wire off the positive side to feed the remotes brain, and of course this won't work if your interupting the ground.

I MOUNTED A SMALL (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MOTORCYCLE BATT)SEALED DRY CELL BEHIND THE BACK SEAT MOF MY 32 FORD TUDOR... NO TRUNK, NO PROBLEM. I USED 2GA WELDING CABLE FOR MY BATT CABLE... VERY FLEXIBLE. THE BATT WAS KINDA PRICEY BUT IT WAS WORTH IT. IT PUTS OUT 600CA AND CAN BE FOUND IN THE BACK OF STREET RODDER MAGAZINE...DYNABATT. I'VE GOT 8 MONTHS ON MINE AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH IT. IT CAN ALSO BE MOUNTED ON ITS SIDE OR UPSIDE DOWN IF YOU WANT IT TO.

JOEL

I'm glad to hear someone report that these small batteries work--haven't read any other posts about them. I am building a '32 Ford 3W coupe, and I don't really want to mount a battery in the trunk because of the electric trunk lid opener. Since there isn't much room for a regular battery under the car once all the plumbing is in place, this might be a practical alternative.

Question for you cdaman--how much power do you run on your car--A/C, etc.?
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Lynn
'32 3W

Al, This may sound kinda basic, but the simple secret to trouble free starts is in making a super good ground everywhere. There is a lotta draw on those long cables from the trunk to the starter and with out a good ground, it ain't happenin.

Good luck
blksheep in Charlotte

I have my battery located under the back seat on the right side. (same side as the starter) The box is louvered for venting. If there should come a day when the battery dies and I cant get into the car,(remote window openers)I have a remote located positive battery terminal under the car. Just hook up the cables, open the window, get in and start the car. Dave
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Life's too short to drive an ughly car!