| I mounted an Optima battery on the "rise" between the spare tire and center well. I choose that location instead of in the center well because I have a sub-woofer box using that area which comes to the top of the two left and right "rises".
I mounted it on a 1/4" aluminum plate and used four 1/4" flat head screws about one inch long, just long enough to pass through the base of the battery mounting holes and hold a nut. The plate was countersunk on the bottom (so the bottom is flat) to hold the battery down using the battery mounting holes. I used stop nuts (stop nuts are thinner than regular nuts - you could just grind down regular nuts to make them thinner so they'll fit between this plate and the bottom of the battery) to keep the screws from turning when removing the nuts holding the battery down. The screws face up and are locked in place with the stop-nuts. Simply lower the battery onto the four secrews pointed up and screw the nuts on to hold the battery down. I used locking nuts to hold the battery down since they are tightened only enough to snugly hold it; remember, it's plastic. Regular nuts with blue LockTight would work equally well.
I have amplifiers mounted where the spare tire was. I could almost have mounted it in the lowest-most point where the spare tire was, but not quite because of the amplifiers. That would have been the nicest location - out of the rear cargo area; easy access; right side (car wants to lift on the right side during accelleration); and lowest-most point (for a lower center of gravity).
Mounting it on the left side where the storage area is a possibility, but access would be more difficult because of the smaller door and the panel is more difficult to remove, albiet a concern only rarely if a sealed gell battery is used (e.g. Optima) and properly maintained (charged).
Either way, left storage area or spare tire location, will require a base and supports strong enough to support a battery. Mounting on the rise, as I installed it, only required a base.
I did not use a battery hold down that holds the battery down from the top because I think it looks chinche (cheap). As described above, the Optima is secured by four 1/4" screws facing up on the battery's lower mount for a more professional look.
Since I used an Optima battery (sealed gel), spilled acid is not a concern, so I have no enclosure for it. For those that say acid (even in gel form) could be spilled from a rear-end accident, I would say that would be the least of my worries at that point.
Hope some of my ideas can be of use.
[This message has been edited by Stuart Moss (edited December 12, 2000).] | 
