schumi

I have a lightweight Hawker Odyssey 680 battery that I'd like to install in my '87 924S. It is a very small and light battery that isn't even close to fitting the factory hold downs. Has anyone done this install, and if so, what did you use for a hold down? Thanks

Skip

I have one. I just got some relatively thin aluminum flat bar stock and bent it to form properly over the battery. Two strips over the center and held down to the chassis with large sheet metal screws. Passed tech at least Unfortunately, I can't always use it because of dem dere stoopid rulz.

schumi

Thanks, Skip. I did as you suggested. I used a single aluminum bar, padded with some tool drawer liner, and it seems to be very secure. It should pass tech for DE's.

special tool

Okay, I have THE trick for the Odyssey 680.

-lay battery down so that terminals are facing forward.
-Use FACTORY passenger side cleat and FACTORY driver side stud/cleat to fasten
-Buy $.03 plumber's copper pipe hanger at Home Depot to go across top
-This is MORE secure than stock and ZERO alterations required

josephsc

I have a similar setup, but having trouble with the battery wanting to slide forward (I'm currently using a 2x4 to keep it in place, but that's not a permanent solution). How are you guys preventing the front/back movement?

Scuba Steve

TxDOT rules?

schumi

Joe, I have mine set up so the Odyssey is parallel to the firewall (i.e., standing at front of car, battery is sideways). The aluminum metal strap over the top keeps it moving forward/back. I also jammed a piece of styrofoam between battery and the little firewall that sets off the battery compartment from the rest of the engine compartment so under braking the foam prevents stress on the rear screw holding down the aluminum strap. As another poster said, I have battery wedged between the factory cleat and the factory stud for the hold down to prevent side to side movement. I may try laying battery down as that poster said instead of having it stand up.

re: the "rules" Skip referred to, he probably means PCA or other club racing rules?

Wormhole

I used a bracket from autozone. Fit was dead on. I made it so it can be 100% reversible if I want to use the regular battery.

You can kind of make it out in this pic.

Skip

The specific rules I was referring to was for SCCA IT(S). Basically, battery must be OE equivalent - same group, etc.

schumi

John - what is your hold down attached to on each side?

Wormhole

I didn't want to drill through to the cabin, so I made a bracket that attaches to the factory hold down stud. The stud that came with the battery hold down then attaches to the bracket I made. On the other side I drilled through the top of the water drain passage. Kinda hard to explain without a visual.

Good luck.

schumi

Here is a pic of my install. Basically as Skip suggested, I just used a piece of flat aluminum bent to fit over the battery and attached to the battery tray with sheet metal screws. I used a piece of styrofoam at the front to take stress off the screws under braking and some tool tray liner to to cushion the battery. Lutjen, is the plumber's thing you're talking about a flat copper bracket about 15" long with a bunch of holes cut in it of various sizes? Like a piece of swiss cheese? I was at Home Depot and I think I found what you're talking about. Note in the pic you can also see my MSD ignition installed the PO.