Why is the battery on the left?
07-11-2009, 03:33 PM
#1
Instructor
Thread Starter
Why is the battery on the left?
Seems to make more sense to put the battery on the passenger side to better balance weight and be a little closer to the starter. GM must have had some reason.
07-11-2009, 04:38 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Mar 2007
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You're talking GM here...some things don't have to make sense. I don't know the answer but there had to be some cost/manufacturing reason for it. Try jump starting a manual shift C3 where you have to have the clutch fully engaged before it will start.
07-11-2009, 04:55 PM
#3
Le Mans Master
plus if you have a kill switch or need to pull a post right quick...passenger side makes alot more sense
07-11-2009, 05:19 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Why? Not 100% sure; but I'll take a stab at it...
- so you can reach into the empty compartments while sitting in the drivers seat.
- so the cables can be routed through the existing holes.
- so you can maintain a better weight distribution with a passenger who weighs more than the driver.
So; do you feel the need to relocate or move it, or is this a rhetorical question?
- so you can reach into the empty compartments while sitting in the drivers seat.
- so the cables can be routed through the existing holes.
- so you can maintain a better weight distribution with a passenger who weighs more than the driver.
So; do you feel the need to relocate or move it, or is this a rhetorical question?
07-11-2009, 06:51 PM
#6
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The battery exploded. WHAT A MESS!
07-11-2009, 06:54 PM
#7
Safety Car
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The best location probably would have been in the middle, but I don't remember exactly why that compartment is shallower. Probably the driveshaft or differential.
Rick B.
07-11-2009, 07:00 PM
#8
Race Director
07-11-2009, 07:35 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
it is probably there for weight distribution. All the A/C equipment is in the front right, so the rear left would offset it....has anyone put there car on a 4 pad scale?
07-12-2009, 12:14 AM
#12
One reason I can think of is that the jack is located in the right side compartment. If you get a flat and pull off to the side of the road you can open the right hand door and get the jack out easily. If it was in the left compartment, you would have to open that long door into traffic to get the jack out.
07-12-2009, 02:16 AM
#14
Melting Slicks
Perhaps it is to compensate somewhat for the weight of the engine ( The engine being offset to the right/passenger side relative to the center of the frame).
07-12-2009, 07:29 AM
#15
Race Director
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The engine was offset to right for weight balance. Moving battery back can help ft./rear weight dist. & no trunk to put battery. The oil dipstick & battery were both on left which would allow fast service by driver. Jack on right as mentioned would be "safer" when pulled over to change a tire. Battery on left allows lifting out/in w/ right hand.
Anyway we may never know why left instead of right for battery. I thought about relocating battery to right side when I bought mine.
Anyway we may never know why left instead of right for battery. I thought about relocating battery to right side when I bought mine.
Last edited by Ganey; 07-12-2009 at 07:40 AM.
07-12-2009, 08:52 AM
#16
Melting Slicks
07-12-2009, 03:24 PM
#18
Team Owner
The battery being in the 'cockpit' facilitated weight distribution (frt/rear), kept the battery better protected from weather, and made it more difficult to steal! 
(Yes, that was a problem back in that era.)
(Yes, that was a problem back in that era.)
07-13-2009, 04:14 PM
#19
Pro
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Sounds good if you can always arrange to have your flat tires on the right side. As you are jacking up the left side your butt is sticking out into traffic so you can get nailed after all!!
07-13-2009, 04:34 PM
#20
Le Mans Master
There isn't much advantage to having the battery on the right side in regards to being closer to the starter. You would probably save less than a foot of battery cable. One reason I can think of is that the jack is located in the right side compartment. If you get a flat and pull off to the side of the road you can open the right hand door and get the jack out easily. If it was in the left compartment, you would have to open that long door into traffic to get the jack out.
The best location probably would have been in the middle, but I don't remember exactly why that compartment is shallower. Probably the driveshaft or differential.
Rick B.
The best location probably would have been in the middle, but I don't remember exactly why that compartment is shallower. Probably the driveshaft or differential.
Rick B.