I'm putting the battery under the hood in the Duster since it makes the wiring easier for the EFI system. I think I can also simplify things by getting rid of the master cutoff switch with the battery under the hood. I looked at the rules and for a 10 second car it looks like a master switch is only required if the battery is in the trunk.

I'll be running a half size battery that only weighs 18 lbs so I don't think there will be much of a weight penalty. Seems to me like an easier way to go but most cars I see still have a full size battery in the trunk. Guess we'll just see how it works out. Anyone else running a small battery under the hood in a bracket car?

In NHRA Stock Eliminator the battery must remain in the stock location....... So, there are plenty of surprisingly quick small tire cars running with the battery up front.

I see Lithium in the driver compartment all the time now, but yet to see one under the hood.

I've seen stock eliminator cars with a master disconnect on the rear panel. That seems really nuts to me unless there is something else going on with the wiring that I don't know about. If they are running a hot cable all the way to the back just for a disconnect switch then it seems like it is less safe than not having a disconnect.

With a battery up front and no disconnect switch there isn't a lot of hot cable. For my car I'm going to use a Ford type solenoid so the starter cable is only hot while cranking. So the only hot line when the key is off is the BATT feed to the fuse panel under the dash.

I haven't seen that. I wouldn't think that NHRA would allow a battery in the driver compartment. Do they put them in a sealed box or under the floor?

Stockers may have a small battery (possible decoy) up front and large capacity or 16volt in trunk to run everything.

You cannot run a decoy battery up front - but you can add a battery in back. A guy was suspended for doing this in NHRA.

The front battery must be able to start and run the car. Rear battery for ballast, suspension control and keeping the ignition system at a strong 12V.

There is some Solid State disconnects now that seem pretty neat. You would have the actual disconnect up front with just some small wires running to the switch in the back.

Like this one from Motion RaceWorks.
https://www.motionraceworks.com/store/p841/BatteryKillSwitchKit

I do not know about NHRA legality though since it is not a mechanical disconnect.

i don't have the wiring diagram handy to post. but there is a simple way to use a switch at the rear using ten gauge and smaller wire.. it just controls the relay mounted in the front. it has to be a snow plow constant power style relay.

Been that way for years

My battery in the rear is only 11lbs....

On a stocker, a battery has to be in stock location, no disconnect is needed. Add a battery in the trunk, disconnect is manditory. I'll be using the 3 lbs lithium in the front ($375) and if I need weight I'll use steel plate and lead where needed.

Could any of these lithium batteries be used for a street/strip car? Lot's of street miles, say 3,000 per year.

Good question. A friend owns and runs an RV operation, sells these batteries. He has a ex pro mod Stattis (? spelling) with an 800 cu Chevy engine, he has two batteries (3x5x5), one for starting and one to run the electronics. No problems even with his previous Corvette race car whitch had them also. Just saying with the vibration and extreme conditions the race cars had-have, street driving should be a breeze.
Might add, he has a bank of these in his trailer to run lights and AC with solar panels on the roof to recharge. I was amazed how well they worked

Battery at the firewall.

Exactly.

which begs this question. what about the "factory" location[s] on several newer cars with the battery in the trunk or under the rear seat ? disconnect mandatory even though this is a factory location[s] ?

I put mine up front also just for simplicity.

Not that its fast but some of the SRT's are... my wife's 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has the battery under the front passenger seat