mounting an Optima Group 78 battery
05-23-2014, 08:29 PM
#1
mounting an Optima Group 78 battery I decided to replace my Group 101 battery with an Optima Red Top Group 78 battery but, once I got the new battery in place, I didn't think it would pass tech at the track because it moved around a lot. After a few experiments, I found that (with a few minor modifications) a $25 fit nicely and stopped the movement.
First, I had to trim the two "ears" off the battery box so it would sit flat against the firewall. Then, I had to remove the part of the existing battery mount that receives the bolt-in hold down "puck" by drilling out the 2 rivets that hold the bolt boss to the rest of the factory battery tray location. Finally, I drilled 4 holes in the new battery box (2 bottom, 2 firewall) and screwed into the existing battery location. Technically, I guess this means the mount is only as strong as the 4 screws and plastic of the existing battery location but, eventually, I may figure out a way to improve that.
I did have to shorten the j hooks so the hood would close but, once I did that, everything closes up fine.
First, I had to trim the two "ears" off the battery box so it would sit flat against the firewall. Then, I had to remove the part of the existing battery mount that receives the bolt-in hold down "puck" by drilling out the 2 rivets that hold the bolt boss to the rest of the factory battery tray location. Finally, I drilled 4 holes in the new battery box (2 bottom, 2 firewall) and screwed into the existing battery location. Technically, I guess this means the mount is only as strong as the 4 screws and plastic of the existing battery location but, eventually, I may figure out a way to improve that.
I did have to shorten the j hooks so the hood would close but, once I did that, everything closes up fine.
05-30-2014, 12:10 PM
#6
Is the issue that your battery has a different foorprint than the OEM size? The yellow top I had installed with my audio system is technically the wrong model because of the top posts, but it dropped right in and clipped in with the OEM hardware no problem.
05-30-2014, 01:03 PM
#7
The red top was a bit smaller than the factory 101 battery. My main issue was that the group 78 battery was not held down very well by either the factory hold down "puck" or the scalloped "puck" that optima included with the battery. I could move the battery by hand and that won't pass tech.
My issue with the factory puck was that, given the fact that the red top is rounded on the sides, the flat faced factory puck had nothing to really clamp down except like a 5 mm lip on the bottom edge.
My issue with the factory puck was that, given the fact that the red top is rounded on the sides, the flat faced factory puck had nothing to really clamp down except like a 5 mm lip on the bottom edge.
