Since you guys are the only ones on TR that have a clue about actual racing... what are the rules pretaining to having a rear mounted battery? What requires the use of a kill switch mounted on the back? And what are your thoughts as to where a drive shaft loop goes?

 

go home R I C E R


oh, sorry, um, rear mounted battery.


If you use a vented battery (most made), you have to have a sealed box for the battery to sit in, but it must be vented outside the cars body.

If you use a dry cell battery (Optima), then you can just fasten it securely to the car and be done.

Either way, if the battery is in the trunk, you have to have a battery cutoff switch outside the vehicle in an easily accessible location, must be clearly marked, AND MUST TURN THE ENGINE OFF WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED OFF (thats the one that usually catches people). Not sure if it has to be instantaneously or if it can be a second or two (if it can, just wire your fuel pump to the cutoff switch) otherwise there is a way to wire up your alternator to kill the whole vehicle at the switch, but I'm not sure about how that is done.

 

ok, here's what im planning... for my truck, i was wanting to mount the battery under the box, up against the frame. It wont be enclosed "in" the vehicle like a trunk, it will pretty much be outisde. Do i still need a box? I was going to make a platform coming off the frame, and strapped and secured to the frame. Does that still require a cutoff?

 

You may want to ask the SY/TY guys cause they do that quite often. I believe you won't need a sealed box because you are sealed from the battery by the trucks cab. You SHOULD be good, but remember, everything comes down to the tech guy. What truck is it? Whatcha got planned for it?

 

i doubt i'll ever race at an NHRA event anyway... only TnT night where no one cares.

I FINALLY have a home for my built to hell 340. Its going in the 93 Dakota I got (see avatar). Those FWD turbo cars are nice and all, cheap too... but im just sick of them. I need a V8 and RWD. And its been killing me that this engine has been sitting for so long. Im first just putting in a stock 318 just to sort out the electronics (going from FI to carb) and transmission and rear end. (all is getting replaced). After thats all set up, i can just slide the 340 right in and not have to worry about something else breaking while im breaking in the engine.

Do you know any SY/TY guys? any web pages? Thanks for your help!

 

I know Keith on this board, I think his SN is SY2173 or something like that. There is a Sy/Ty mailing list, but that won't do any good.


Good luck with the Dak, my whole family owns them and we've never had any problems with them. In fact my dad has one just like yours, its a V6 auto with very bad paint. Still runs great though and never been in the shop.

 

mines a 2.5 5-spd. I needed a 5-spd because the V8 will be one, and the 2.5 is way more use to me than a V6 after I pull it. most our other cars are 2.2s and 2.5s... a v6 is a door stop for me.

And yes, mine has bad paint too... all dodges do!

 

any thoughts about the driveshaft loop? by the trans? by the rear?

 

well, most of the time the driveshaft would break at the rear end. The problem is, if the driveshaft drops at the tranny, you have a catapault under your car. So I would keep it near the tranny. This is where most bolt-in styles go so it must be for some good reason.