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Smallest Battery - CCAs?

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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 07:20 AM
  #1  
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From: West of Toronto
Car: 89 IROC
Engine: 305 TPI / ZZ4 cam
Transmission: Stage 2 700R4, LS1 driveshaft
Axle/Gears: Strange 3.42 w/ Auburn
Smallest Battery - CCAs?

I'm looking to mount a battery under the front nose somewhere away from the battery tray (maybe under the battery tray. I need the battery tray area to mount (relocate) some of the air conditioning parts and smog pump...just trying to clean up the pass side of the engine bay.

I'm just wondering what battery I can use? I need one that is a small as possible while providing enough Cold Cranking Amps (power) to turn over the 305TPI motor.

Can someone please provide some advise or suggestions.

Also how much CCA do I need?

thanks
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 08:49 AM
  #2  
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From: Mercedes Norte, Heredia, Costa Rica
Car: 1984 Z28 Hardtop
Engine: 383 Carb
Transmission: 4L60
Axle/Gears: 3.54 Dana 44
Re: Smallest Battery - CCAs?

Why not put it in the back instead?
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 12:35 PM
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: Smallest Battery - CCAs?

If it's strictly for street driving, you can mount the battery wherever you want. If you ever want to go to a race track though, any battery not in the OEM location will still need a master switch mounted at the rear regardless of speed, even if you relocate the battery to some other location at the front.

You either leave it in the present location or mount it in the rear as per rulebook specifications. If you never plan on going to the track, mount it wherever it fits best.
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 01:43 PM
  #4  
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From: West of Toronto
Car: 89 IROC
Engine: 305 TPI / ZZ4 cam
Transmission: Stage 2 700R4, LS1 driveshaft
Axle/Gears: Strange 3.42 w/ Auburn
Re: Smallest Battery - CCAs?

Later on I plan to add a second battery in the rear to power the stereo system.

For now I want to keep the engine battery up front somewhere.

I was thinking of using a snowmobile battery.

Any thoughts on how many CCA I need to turn over the motor?
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 06:11 PM
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From: Port Orchard,WA
Car: 89 Camaro RS
Engine: 355 SD TPI
Transmission: WCT5
Axle/Gears: 3.08 Posi
Re: Smallest Battery - CCAs?

look into a stinger battery, theyre pricey and normally used for an aux battery for the stereo like you mentioned but i know quite a few people that use them for car batteries simply to save space, they put out much higher CCA's for their size, you could probably cut the size in half and still get good CCA and all that

either stinger or kinetic, i know stingers are roughly 120ish and they last longer than a normal battery

hope that helps
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Old Dec 15, 2010 | 07:59 PM
  #6  
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From: 51°N 114°W, 3500'
Car: 87 IROC L98
Engine: 588 Alcohol BBC
Transmission: Powerglide
Axle/Gears: Ford 9"/31 spline spool/4.86
Re: Smallest Battery - CCAs?

How much cranking amperage you need depends when you plan on using the car. If it's driven in winter at all, I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than 850 CCA. 1000 CCA is better. Even with a V8, if you don't have a lot of power hungry accessories, about the minimum battery size you should use is 650 CCA. Race cars that are only driven in the summer can get away with much smaller batteries.

For a race only battery, something like this will work but don't expect it to start and engine when the temperature is cold outside and don't expect it to maintain a load if you have a lot of accessories drawing amps.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Odyssey+Batter...680MJ/10002/-1

In my race car, I run a late model CS style alternator rated at 130 amps and I have a single 31 series commercial battery in the back of the car. The battery has a 180 minute reserve and around 950 CCA. I forgot and left my water pump and rad fan on for an hour and was still able to start the engine without a boost. I don't have to put a battery charger on the car between rounds and I always have good voltage even at an idle.
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Old Dec 16, 2010 | 01:11 AM
  #7  
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From: Moorestown, NJ
Car: 88 Camaro SC
Engine: SFI'd 350
Transmission: TKO 500
Axle/Gears: 9-bolt w/ 3.23's
Re: Smallest Battery - CCAs?

Im getting by with 550 CCA with a free battery that I put in after my delco crapped out. Thats enough to turn the engine over at 10-15 deg F. But, thats with a metric FWD starter with new brushes and a polished commutator, clean grounds, and a battery thats been completely desulfated. Even after all that, I would say that its only JUST enough to get the job done.

Id say use a standard battery and put it in the back out of the way with the proper vented enclosure.
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