Here's some info on relocating the battery for NHRA.com

http://www.nhra.com/contacts/tech_faq.html

It doesn't have to be in a box at all if you put a metal bulkhead behind the seat and under the package tray (I use .032 aluminum). The box is generally used with a hatchback application.

Larry put one of those tiny batteries in the front of Jack's Torino (the black one) that they run at Sears on occasion and have been very happy with it.

I run an Optima in the trunk in mine and have been very happy with it.

I use the cutoff switch on my positive cable so I don't have a live cable running the length of the car when it's in the off position. One more thing, I run my alternator wire to the switched side of the switch and not directly to the battery....I used to run it to the positive post until I had a tech inspector (at Bakersfield) kill my cutoff while the car was running and the car didn't die.....he wasn't real happy about that. He had been doing it all day and said that over half of the cars he teched that day failed the test.

Hope this helps

Thanks a lot,

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Originally posted by Doc:
The better bitty battery is a DynoBat, it weighs 13 lbs. It measures 3X7X6.5 and will crank that ol 428 for quite awhile

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Where do you buy one of these?

On another note: Watch out for Bakersfield tech if you go race there.I'm not sure but think they are not too fond of out of towners or anybody who doesn't think Buck Owens is a God.They are famous for finding fault with battery hold down bolt sizes and cut-off switch installations as well as seat belt dates.The Morris wasn't allowed to run at all there.I wasn't too happy about making the drive all the way up there only to fail tech 'cause the car was painted blue.

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Originally posted by Just Jim:

On another note: Watch out for Bakersfield tech if you go race there.I'm not sure but think they are not too fond of out of towners or anybody who doesn't think Buck Owens is a God.They are famous for finding fault with battery hold down bolt sizes and cut-off switch installations as well as seat belt dates.The Morris wasn't allowed to run at all there.I wasn't too happy about making the drive all the way up there only to fail tech 'cause the car was painted blue.

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Because the car was painted blue??? Why did it really fail? I've been to Bakersfield (8-9 hour tow) quite a few times and have never been turned away. All the reasons you state are legitimate reasons to fail and are all clearly spelled out in the NHRA rulebook.

I don't like having to buy belts every 2 years, especially when it blows up and only makes 20 or so passes in 2 years, but I would never expect to be allowed to run if my belts were out of date.

The fact is, if your car's right, it will pass tech....anywhere.

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Originally posted by Just Jim:
[B]I would never repeat never try to race something that was unsafe or not legal,it's not worth it to me or the person I'm racing against.I don't appreciate the inference that I may have done so.
B]

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Did I infer that? You said it was because the car was blue, I was just curious what the real reason was. But it seems you don't want to say....that's ok.

I wasn't trying to infer that you went out there with out-dated belts and tried to run...you brought belt dates up as an example of something these particular tech guys are famous for "finding fault" with, as if that's a bad thing. The only fault to be found in dates on belts would be that they're old....not worn out, old. I've seen tattered belts in some of the week-in-week-out bracket cars at the track that I wouldn't use in my tow vehicle, but the dates are good so that makes them ok. On the other hand, mine are like new....garage kept and run less than 20 passes but the date says they're junk....that's the point I was trying to make.

I don't have a problem with a tight tech guy or tech team....especially in the area of batteries. Batteries can cause real trouble (ie: FIRE!!!).

I've walked the lanes at a number of tracks and wondered how some of the crap gets through tech (not refering to you or your car(s)).

I constantly point stuff out to Larry that is unbelievable, I saw a blown Nova with a fuel regulator mounted on the firewall and about 3 feet of rubber hose under the hood. The same car had no back seat and I could see the fuel cell through the windshield while standing in front of the car....no rear firewall! This car was running deep in the 10's.

Another time, we were at the Autolite Nationals and saw a Stock Eliminator car with the shoulder harness wrapped around the roll bar, tied in a knot and DUCT TAPED!!! No kidding! I couldn't believe my eyes....this was at a National event!!!

I apologize if I infered you weren't a safe racer.

Hell there was this real prick in Baton Rouge that hated Fords and would tech them to hell and back and he didn't even try to hid the fact.

All I ask for in consistency from car to car and inspector to inspector.

Lets all start taking pictures of the worst tech failures we can find and have a contest. It should be worth a good laugh at least! And showing the pics, along with why it fails tech would be a great educational tool.

Melissa ran an illegal helmet for over a year before anyone checked at Sears Point. The first run of the year, they made a point to check, they let her run anyway as long as Dad promised to buy her a new hat! LOL