Lippy's ERA #797 build log

[lippy]

Originally Posted by tkb289

I did not know there was room under the hood, especially with a big block motor. Any photos of where it mounts? Will you be using any special heat shielding?

It mounts on a pedestal directly behind the passenger side wheel. You remove the panel behind the wheel for access. I have the optional heat vent and heat shields, and I am going to add either heat shlelding on the bottom of the pedestal, an insulated battery cover Thermo-Tec : Battery Wrap Acid Absorbing Heat Barrier, or both.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by lippy

It mounts on a pedestal directly behind the passenger side wheel. You remove the panel behind the wheel for access. I have the optional heat vent and heat shields, and I am going to add either heat shlelding on the bottom of the pedestal, an insulated battery cover Thermo-Tec : Battery Wrap Acid Absorbing Heat Barrier, or both.

Think.
You're making a maintenance nightmare for yourself. The valve cover will have to come off for batt changing or service / testing. Trickle charging with a Battery Tender also not easy. With the shields and the other crap, access is very problematic. Header gaskets and pipe fits are harder to access. And a 36 pound Optima installed over the fender top and bending inward gets old fast. A battery cover makes it 10 x's worse.
I'm not just talking through my ass; in the 90's, when I rebuilt the car for the second time, I had all that crap.
Heat shields, batt on footbox. In six moths, I tore it all out; batt in trunk, kill switch on bulkhead, no heat shielding. Improved weight bias, EASY battery and header maintenance, longer batt life.
As I said another time, you're over-worrying this. Trying to make a C6 out of a Cobra. You wanted Brent's big power but you're weighing the car down with junk and a radio.
Cobras are elemental, they produce heat and noise. If it's the right car for you, none of those elements will deter you.

[patrickt]

My last Interstate lasted 5+ years. Here's a pic of the tray that is sits on, as snapped through the panel in the well. Changing it out is not really a big deal. Just get your car on the road -- moving your battery to the back, to the front, or to wherever, is one of those little "touch up" jobs of which you will have many.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

The valve cover will have to come off for batt changing or service / testing.

Why can't I just remove the wheelwell panel to change the battery? The guys at ERA told me I could.

And I want an amp and speakers. It's part of the fun for me and I don't care if it's not "elemental".

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by lippy

Why can't I just remove the wheelwell panel to change the battery? The guys at ERA told me I could.

You can. But getting to the positive terminal is next to impossible. So, if you want to charge your battery, you just clamp to the starter solenoid. No big deal. As to weight, with my battery up front my right front weight is 667 and my right rear weight is 725.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by patrickt

You can. But getting to the positive terminal is next to impossible. So, if you want to charge your battery, you just clamp to the starter solenoid. No big deal. As to weight, with my battery up front my right front weight is 667 and my right rear weight is 725.

Another front mounted battery ERA here. I do wish they built the pedestal for a slightly lower positioning like the original cars. I assume it interfers with the headers for side exhaust systems - I have undercar exhaust. Even 1 to 1-1/2 inches lower would be a big help on access.

Looking good Lippy.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by lippy

Why can't I just remove the wheelwell panel to change the battery? The guys at ERA told me I could.

And I want an amp and speakers. It's part of the fun for me and I don't care if it's not "elemental".

I had an early chassis car which had no removable aluminum panel. I forgot the the later chassis was improved as such. So yes you have easier battery access than I knew. Pat's picture shows me the new layout.
But all the criticisms I and several others pointed out still apply.
I get it Lippy, your $$ so build it your way. But a lot of what you're piling in there is at cross-purposes with your other priorities.
You obviously don't need my opinions or experience so I'll butt-out.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

But all the criticisms I and several others pointed out still apply.
I get it Lippy, your $$ so build it your way. But a lot of what you're piling in there is at cross-purposes with your other priorities.
You obviously don't need my opinions or experience so I'll butt-out.

I really don't mind your comments and appreciate the good info from you and others on the forum. But the only purposes of this project are: (1) to build it with my kids, and that's going *really* well - they love it, and (2) to get the car the way I want it. I will rarely if ever race the car, so the weight of the battery up front, and the extra 20# of the speakers and amp are worth the trade off to me. As long as I can reasonably service the battery, I'll be fine. I'll change it to the rear if it bothers me.