Hello,

To clean up the engine compartment and move some weight aft, I recently moved the battery underneath the bed. Some pics are in the gallery and here are some notes.

https://www.f150online.com/galleries...TOKEN=77627938

I started out with a Coleman Racing lightweight battery box. Here is a link.

http://www.colemanracing.com/section/index.htp?id=789

I welded a drilled/tapped 1/4" thick steel strip to the "hooks" on the box. The crossmember got drilled and the box bolted to it. I also added two straps to the bottom of the box which bolt to the crossmember to add stiffness.

For cable, used 00 cable and a big switch mounted to the inside channel of the frame just aft of the upper shock mount. I read some of the rules of SCCA and NHRA. I never was really convinced I needed the ACTUAL switch mounted on the body somewhere(anyone??). I plan to use an actuator rod from the switch back to the rear bumper. Up front, I just connected the cable to the factory terminal. Cable/conduit routing was done with a bunch of rubber lined clamps up along the frame rail.

Sorry about the pics. The paint on the battery box got plenty dinged up sliding around on my garage floor.

I do plan on adding a fuse to the + cable very close to the battery. With all that extra cable and risks of chafing of insulation, etc. I am worried about the whole thing being hard wired. I found some slo-blow 250A fuses that will work. That's the next mod.

Mucho credit goes to Tim Skelton and his web site(www.timskelton.com). Although I did something a bit different, the inspiration was from Tim's fly ride.

N-joy, Randy

 

It sounds great, but the first link isnt working...

are you going to rearange anything else in the engine comp? do you have pics of that without the batt?

 

The first link doesn't work.

 

Sorry about that, haven't quite figured out the picture things yet...how about this one...

https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=3907

Yup, I do plan to move things around in the engine compartment. My plan is to fabricate a divided tank which will fit in the stock battery tray to hold I/C coolant (big) and windshield washer fluid (small, just enough for a few squirts). I have access to a machine shop until mid-May, I hope I can get to this project.

Have also toyed around with welding in an aluminum tube coil into the reservoir and plumb the return (low side) A/C hose through it. Although not NEARLY as efficient as putting the whole evaporator in it, the return can still be pretty cold.

Randy

 

Outstanding attention to detail!

 

I think that actuator rods are cool, but I remember seeing some specific regs on them in one of the sanctioning body rules. I think I recall some restrictions on length and composition (e.g., no plastic).

 

HI!... That looks familiar! LOL! Here's the one I did on my truck 4 years ago. Take a look :

 

Neal, that is awesome! I can see that you mounted it directly to the frame. Where does the exhaust run our your truck (not a stock L exhaust I presume)? I seem to remember having to attach mine to the the crossmember because of exhaust clearance.

EDIT......just figured it out. L's have the staggered shock setup, and the pass/ side shock points forward.



Randy