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Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
#1683417
10/08/14 04:39 PM
10/08/14 04:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
B3422W5
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
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Portage,michigan
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Just kinda deciding what upgrades I want to make to my Duster over the winter.
Currently have a huge battery under the hood, probably 60-70 pounds I would guess.
Wondering if I would see any gains by moving it to the trunk. Already have iron heads up in front, so my thinking is getting some weight off the nose might show a slight increase in 60 foot consistency?
Worthwhile mod for a street strip car?
Also thinking about swap to manual steering and maybe electric water pump as well want to pick up a couple of tenths
, and not change the street ability of the car.
Sending my junk carb out to get sorted out, I expect to see something on the ET slip from that hopefully.
Last edited by B3422W5; 10/08/14 04:45 PM.
69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight
418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam
Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4
1.41 best 60 foot
6.60 at 103.90 1/8
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: B3422W5]
#1683418
10/08/14 04:50 PM
10/08/14 04:50 PM
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 19,317
State of confusion
Thumperdart
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I Live Here
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State of confusion
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Absolutely worth it and the new Challengers, BMW`s and I`m sure others do it from the factory plus your big azz(your words  )might need the ballast............  I did the elec. water pump and manual box deal years ago w/no regrets so far............ 
Last edited by Thumperdart; 10/08/14 04:56 PM.
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: ProSport]
#1683420
10/08/14 05:31 PM
10/08/14 05:31 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
B3422W5
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OP
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Quote:
I vote we put the battery AND Don Gentry in the trunk, then I can drive!! 
Ha ha...... You put my blubber and that battery in the trunk it would be a wheel stander even with a stock slant 6 in it  
bob.... You getting close on your car ?
69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight
418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam
Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4
1.41 best 60 foot
6.60 at 103.90 1/8
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: B3422W5]
#1683421
10/08/14 06:05 PM
10/08/14 06:05 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,531
Jacksonville, FL
Chris2581
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,531
Jacksonville, FL
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I would not put the battery in the back.When you do,then you have to add the cutoff switch,all the extra wiring...simpler to keep it where it is.Look at a lot of the stock eliminator cars..battery is up front.
I would change to manual steering,but think about the electric water pump.
I'm putting my car back on the street and am changing race stuff back to street duty,electric pump drive was the first thing to go.
Nautilus Racing-
We use Superformance gaskets and Turbo Action converters/products.
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: Chris2581]
#1683422
10/08/14 06:16 PM
10/08/14 06:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,266
Renton Washington
Triple Threat
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,266
Renton Washington
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Quote:
I would not put the battery in the back.When you do,then you have to add the cutoff switch,all the extra wiring...simpler to keep it where it is.Look at a lot of the stock eliminator cars..battery is up front.
Stockers are required to have a battery in the factory location, so thats why you see them there. Lots of those same stockers will have a battery in the truck for weight distribution as well.
I think you're on the right track with those mods Don. I wouldn't hesitate to do any of those. Power steering is nice though if its a true street car.
Last edited by Triple Threat; 10/08/14 06:17 PM.
-Dustin
67 Dart, 9 second, 392" G3 Hemi
68 Barracuda 340 F/SA
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: Triple Threat]
#1683423
10/08/14 06:20 PM
10/08/14 06:20 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,531
Jacksonville, FL
Chris2581
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,531
Jacksonville, FL
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Yep and I see a lot that do not have a second battery in the trunk.They use a Honda sized battery,usually a Optima.IMHO..simplicity always will work best.
Nautilus Racing-
We use Superformance gaskets and Turbo Action converters/products.
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: B3422W5]
#1683424
10/08/14 06:30 PM
10/08/14 06:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,010
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
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Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
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Have you done a lot of work on the suspension for weight transfer? If there is anything to go after, I would work on that first. Then if your 60s aren't repeating like a machine, consider the battery move. Weight distribution is a funny thing. Too little power, and the car can't hook if it is nose heavy. Too much launch power, and you sometimes have to go backwards and move weight forward.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: gregsdart]
#1683425
10/08/14 06:39 PM
10/08/14 06:39 PM
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,464
Sydney,Australia
tex013
top fuel
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top fuel
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,464
Sydney,Australia
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Why don't you simply fit a lighter battery in front ?
I run a Odyssey battery in my 68 Satellite , is about 1/2 the weight of a stock battery and keeps it right near the starter motor for short run battery cables . This car is a daily driver .
I did recently swap out the power steering , good weight loss and et gain plus 1 less thing to go wrong .
Tex
New best ET 10.259@129.65 .
New best MPH 130.32
Finally fitted a solid cam,
stepped it up a bit more
3690lbs through the mufflers
New World block 3780lbs 10.278@130.80 . Wowser 10.253@130.24 footbraking from 1500rpm
Power by Tex's Automotive
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: gregsdart]
#1683426
10/08/14 06:43 PM
10/08/14 06:43 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
B3422W5
OP
I Live Here
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
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Quote:
Have you done a lot of work on the suspension for weight transfer? If there is anything to go after, I would work on that first. Then if your 60s aren't repeating like a machine, consider the battery move. Weight distribution is a funny thing. Too little power, and the car can't hook if it is nose heavy. Too much launch power, and you sometimes have to go backwards and move weight forward.
Frankly, no I haven't.
The 60 foot in the first couple of outings has gotten at times in line with the ET of the car, but moves around more than I want.
I am using drag radials, with little under 500 horse in a fairly heavy car. I am probably all wet, but my thoughts are that placing the battery in the trunk, and replacing the extremely short tires on the front(24 inch) with 26 inch will reduce the excessive rake the car has, and provide more bite at the rear. Car just seems to not overcome the rake and transfer weight. I have plenty of travel in the front, but the car never gets "level".
The short tires were on the front when I bought it, but with the addition of 002/003 leafs it's more pronounced.
69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight
418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam
Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4
1.41 best 60 foot
6.60 at 103.90 1/8
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: cudadoug]
#1683430
10/08/14 07:24 PM
10/08/14 07:24 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
B3422W5
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I Live Here
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OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
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Quote:
I'd lose those 002/003 springs and have the Caltrac/spring deal going on. Yes, taller front tires will help and you'll gain rollout and thus a gain in ET.
About the battery? Here's what I'm going to do in my street/stripper rather than move it to the trunk:
http://performancedistributors.com/product/dyna-batt/
I am old school, my old car ran 9's on 002/003 leafs with a small tire and I could dial the car blindfolded. Not a big cal trac fan. At this current cars power level these leafs are well more than adequate( and I just put them on it) ....lol
69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight
418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam
Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4
1.41 best 60 foot
6.60 at 103.90 1/8
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: B3422W5]
#1683431
10/08/14 07:59 PM
10/08/14 07:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
B3422W5
OP
I Live Here
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OP
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Portage,michigan
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here is what it looks like....white Duster about 5 or 6 pairs in...don't pay attention to my light, its obvious I didn't...lol... looks like the front comes up OK, but cant overcome the rake....so car tends to skate, not bite??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH0vZ0ADnZk&list=UUxhGycX7uGyNsbJVc1euNPQ
69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight
418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam
Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4
1.41 best 60 foot
6.60 at 103.90 1/8
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: scottb]
#1683432
10/08/14 08:07 PM
10/08/14 08:07 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,978
Hilltown Pa
1967dartgt
master
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master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,978
Hilltown Pa
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I am moving mine back to the front from the trunk. Need weight on the nose.
Brett Miller W9 cnc'd heads
STR Chassis fabraction
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: RobX4406]
#1683435
10/08/14 08:49 PM
10/08/14 08:49 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
B3422W5
OP
I Live Here
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,713
Portage,michigan
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Quote:
Can you lower the rear? That's where I would start.
Tires inside the wells and drop it down.
Looks like it raises the front OK.
The rear tires aren't as far out as it appears. They are actually inside the wheel lip. It's not minitubbed, so if I try and tuck the tire in any more it will cause problems with rubbing the springs to the inside.
I currently have the torsion bars cranked almost all the way up in the front because of the short fronts.... For ground clearance on the street with that huge super stock pan.
Once I put a taller tire on the front I can lower the tbars a good bit and keep same clearance in the front I have.
I bought these 002/003 springs used from a buddy who raced them on his Duster a few years and went to cal tracs.... They do seem to have more arch than I remember my old car with them having..... But maybe not 
Will see how it sits with new fronts and tbars lowered.... But it sure looks goofy now
69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight
418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam
Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4
1.41 best 60 foot
6.60 at 103.90 1/8
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Re: Debating moving battery to trunk , advantages?
[Re: RobX4406]
#1683436
10/08/14 09:30 PM
10/08/14 09:30 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,267
North, Alabama
D-50
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,267
North, Alabama
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Quote:
Can you lower the rear? That's where I would start.
Tires inside the wells and drop it down.
Looks like it raises the front OK.
I had the same springs on my Demon and it raised the rear to high for me and I put 2 in. lowering blocks under it and it made a big difference. I had a best 60 ft. of 1.36 on a 100 shot NOS it was spinning before I did that.
1.33 60 ft,6.21 at 110.59 in the 1/8, pump gas small block,2950lbs,drag radials,mufflers and driven to track ...
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