Batteries and Locations

I am currently planning out the fine tuning of things which are important but not visually pleasing. Battery location, fuse box, etc. On an original Bantam, the battery was located in a box placed on the passenger side underneath the hood but inside the cowling. I tried to find a good photo but I couldn't. At first I though about doing the same. I would weld a Speedway battery holder to the subframe I will have underneath the cowling. But that would require glassing in underneath the mount as well as cutting out an access for the battery in the extended cowling and upper firewall. So I either have to place the battery underneath the car or in front, I'll get to that option in a minute. There will not be access through the floorboard. If the battery is mounted underneath against the chassis, it will need enough clearance to be removable. The battery would also be visible from underneath, which I don't really like. The easiest location is the very rear of the car. Behind the frame's rear crossmember, I can mount a battery there. But I would have to snake the cables from the rear to the front. Looking at the photo below, you can see where I added in a faux battery. The other place to mount the battery would be the front, the very front in front of the radiator. Placing the battery out front is closer to the engine and starter. But a big battery sitting out there is not the best looking option. I have plans to add a small fake gas tank up front to give the car that dragster look. I did wonder if I could make a battery box which looked like a 2.5 gallon spun aluminum gas tank.

While searching on the forum last night on battery locations of other builders, I ran across many builders using small Odyssey batteries about ten years ago. The battery is only 3" tall when laid on its side. That would leave less than an 1" visible underneath the frame rails. But the little battery only shows 170 cold cracking amps. On a small motor, okay. On a big block? That is an option but only if others with big blocks have used the Odyssey 680 successfully.

So my current thinking is the very rear of the car, but having to use over 6 feet of battery cable. The very front of the car but hidden inside a fake aluminum fuel tank. Or an Odyssey battery laid on its side, if it is reliable enough. A regular battery would extend over 4" below the frame rails, which I don't think I would like.

With a good gear reduction starter like Powermaster I don't think you would have a problem. Let me ask you this, how long do you expect to crank the engine before it starts? How cold will it be when you starting the engine? CCA is more about these conditions. Won't your engine start immediately 99.9% of the time?

The PC-680 can put out 1800 amps when short circuited! If it can do 1/4 that (450 amps) for 3 seconds, won't that start your big block. I've never had a problem starting my 400 in² SBC. Still on the fence, put two PC-680's in parallel.

ODS-AGM16L (PC680) ODYSSEY Extreme Series Battery | ODYSSEY® Battery


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I have a high torque mini starter. I don’t remember if it’s a Powermaster or not. I did not think about running two smaller batteries in parallel if needed. There is room underneath to fit two batteries, if needed.

If it's a quality mini starter is all I was trying to say. I'm using a Powermaster and like it, I can clock it where I think is best. I damaged mine once and had to send it back, service was good.

Can you try one battery at first, then add the 2nd one if needed?

You could also look at a bigger battery that is still close to the 3.1" Width of the PC-680, but there are lots of options in the 3" range. All the way up to the PC-1100 with 500 CCA with the dimensions of 9.8 x 3.8 x 8.1 inches, but check out the many others possibilities in between at the link below.....

Powersport Battery Specifications | ODYSSEY® Battery

Or you can highlight your battery: short on room I mounted my battery in the passenger footwell, with a slick holder and fancy terminals.