Optima Battery Install w/Pic

[tacokid1187]

Here was my saturday evening project. I bought an optima battery froma friend at school but i couldn't remember what the post configuration was. Well, the one i bought was reversed from the stock configuration so i decided to make it work anyway. It actually came out pretty cool and will be useful for hookign up accessories that need direct battery power(amp, winch, bed power outlet etc) Anyway, I used a piece of 1.25" wide x .5" thick x 4.25" long alluminum block. I then drilled the holes for the post slightly undersized so i could taper the holes to fit the tapered battery post. To do this i used an air die grinder with a porting type bit. After a couple minutes of fitting i then cut a straight groove to tighten it with a hacksaw and then widened it with a cutoff wheel in the die grinder. Then i drilled it across with a #9 bit an tapped half with M6x1.0 thread and drilled the other half to 17/64 to let the bolt slide through. Then i spaced out 4 holes on-tp and drilled and tapped them M6x1.0 for easy accessory power sources. The end hole is M8x1.25 for the positive side and M6x1.0 for the ground side, and i simply bolted the stock cables to the adapters. And as for the mount, the stock mount, a vise and a couple bends and it works perfect. The spacer is on the back hold down until i make a shorter one. i ran out of threads on the stock one so it's a temporary fix. Let me know what you think.

http://www.members.aol.com/tacomatrd98/tacoma/optima1.jpg

[garrett1478]

nice, clean looking work, although I would put some kind of cover over the positive terminal/block.

[boylem002]

nice, clean looking work, although I would put some kind of cover over the positive terminal/block.

ABSOLUTELY! you've got an engine fire waiting to happen there. Very nice work, follow up with an ounce of precaution and you'll have a great setup.

[tacokid1187]

Yeah, i was trying to figure out what to put on it to keep it covered that will not look cobbled together. Anyone have any ideas??? i was going to try and use that Plastidip coating stuff with bolts in the holes so the treads don't get plugged up but i wasnt sure howw ell it would work. Any opinions are welcome.

-AJ

[hk'dontoys]

that has to be the cleanest '98 engine compartment i have ever seen!! now you can update your sig for the redtop.

[tacotoy]

thats what i was thinking.... makes me wanna go spray a bunch of armorall in my compartment just to not look bad lol

[tacokid1187]

I try to keep my toys in good shape. I havent actually cleaned it in a while but I havent driven it much with being at Wyotech and stuff I have been driving my Raider. Anyway, thanks for the compliments.

[tacokid1187]

Anyone have any ideas on what to cover the positive terminal with that won't look like crap???

[Super Doody]

some big diameter shrink wrap?

Try this for battery tie down:

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28012

Read the entire post.There are some aftermath pictures of a fire in the engine compartment.

[boylem002]

Just a thought, but you could find some heat shrink tubing that fits over the bar, shrink it, cut a hole in the bottom for the terminal post.

[Super Doody]

Shrink wrap and propane torches rule.

[tacokid1187]

That sounds like a good idea. I'll have to try that. I'll see if i can find some big enough to slip over.
Also, How exactly/what causes the battery to collapse the metal underneath it. I can see how prerunning/desert wheeling and jumping etc would cause it to become weak from the jumping etc but i dont do any of that. The truck is mostly a street queen but I like to go camping and mild wheeling and do road trips etc. I would say I baby my truck compared to most people on here. I do use it to haul a good bit and tow trailer etc but I don't beat it. Should I be worried about the mount bending and letting ti move around? I was planning on making one like enroffroads in the future but i ddint think it was something urgent?? What do you think?

[Super Doody]

I dont think you should be worried. Maybe he was using the plastic optima spacers?

[tacokid1187]

I know there is always some assemblence of risk but that could happen with the stock battery if you "wheel hard enough" My theory is if you keep up with maintenance and make sure it stays tight if it cant move and create a pounding action the stock sheet metal should be fine. Should you let it get loose and beat around then it will bend stuff up untill it gets so loose it causes problems. I'm still going to make a mount sometime in the future but I think i will be fine for the time being. This battery is not that much heavier than the one i took out either. It is heaveier but not insanely. I should weigh the stock one and compare the weights.