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Old 01-19-2011, 05:55 PM
  #41  
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Originally Posted by kotomile
I had one of those in the back of my CRX, worked well.

I know I'm going to get some flak for asking this, but has anyone relocated a Miata battery (other than the MiataBusa)? Seems like you'd want that big lump of lead as low and centered as reasonable. Under the passenger seat maybe? Methinks you could pull it off with a PC680 laid on its side.

Of course this would be pointless in a track car, being that you're using batteries < 5 lbs anyway.
yes theoretically, but some guys run bigger batteries back there to get better weight distribution.

can't find the video, but one of our pca/nasa buddies went to nasa nationals and lost the championship because his little battery wouldn't crank his engine over. he actually went to feet in, he's not a newb, but he had a brand new twin disc clutch and ultralight flywheel, and with the adrenaline and new clutch he stalled his 993 and was out the race.....and the championship!
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Old 01-20-2011, 01:47 AM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by y8s
The D51R is too tall for the NB.
I've got a D51R in my 99, but then I pulled all the trunk liner stuff out ages ago.

It's great, way better than the useless WestCo I suffered with for several years. The early Hydra in my car doesn't start it properly if the battery is at all low (gets confused and fires the spark at the wrong time, stopping the engine or something like that). The Optima fixed all that.

--Ian
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Old 01-20-2011, 02:03 AM
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Originally Posted by shlammed
i had 3 optimas die on me in the past... all were less than 6 months old and after changing to a different brand i had no issues.

no more optima for me.
This.

Exide Orbital only for me now.
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Old 01-27-2011, 02:20 AM
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Originally Posted by rharris19
Mine is in the cabin on the passenger side of the trans tunnel in my track car.
Cool. Do you have any pics to upload?

Originally Posted by spoolin2bars
yes theoretically, but some guys run bigger batteries back there to get better weight distribution.
Something about that just seems like a band-aid fix to me. This is a terrible comparison, but you won't see any formula cars hanging ballast over and behind their rear wheels.
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Old 01-27-2011, 02:21 AM
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My battery preferences?

Female and with lots of cranking amps...
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Old 02-17-2011, 11:21 AM
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I prefer to forgo the battery all together and just find people to help push start me. Saves me money on buying a battery.
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Old 04-20-2011, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by HKSturboMiata
I prefer to forgo the battery all together and just find people to help push start me. Saves me money on buying a battery.
lol

I'm trying to order a battery now and need to make sure I'm ordering the right one. Normally I use the OEM Westco (I think it is) but I'm thinking its time for something a bit beefier.

Looking at a Yellow top Optima D51R on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Optima-Batteri...owViewpoints=1

I see a couple reviews from miata guys on there and they say the rod needs to be extended but that it fits the tray otherwise. I just measured and it seems it'll be too wide for the Optima.

Can you guys just verify for me that this is indeed the correct yellow top.
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Old 04-20-2011, 05:30 PM
  #48  
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A yellow top D51R will fit my 93 or my 94. I don't use a plastic tray. Just use the existing factory metal brackets that hold the factory battery base in place to hold the base on the Optima.

I did need to buy a longer battery hold down bolt and reused the upper battery hold down without any modification.

So, basically you just need to buy a D51R Optima and a battery hold down bolt to make it work.

John
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Old 04-20-2011, 05:51 PM
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The Odyssey PC680 is a nice compromise between race and street. I've let mine drain way down several times by forgetting to hook up the trickle charger. So far it's recovered fine.
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Old 04-20-2011, 06:22 PM
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Ok cool, thanks guys.

I'm gonna go ahead and order the Optima yellow top and 2 K&N cone filters from Amazon. The filters are on sale for $15 each and the battery is listed for more than $50 less than FM has it listed for.
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Old 10-22-2011, 11:30 AM
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I making this a Jesus thread... Will a D75/25 yellow top be an overkill? I am tired of having electrical issues
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Old 10-22-2011, 11:54 AM
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Originally Posted by buffon01
I making this a Jesus thread... Will a D75/25 yellow top be an overkill? I am tired of having electrical issues
kind of, you probably have some other issue. i'm running a lawn tractor battery, plus only drive my car a few times per month.
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Old 10-22-2011, 12:43 PM
  #53  
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Get the D35. It'll outlive your electrical problem.

I've drained mine twice due to complications with power flowing backwards through a boost solenoid into the megasquirt and then charged it up and let it sit for almost a month.

Car started right up.
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Old 10-25-2011, 01:12 PM
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Originally Posted by y8s
Get the D35. It'll outlive your electrical problem.

I've drained mine twice due to complications with power flowing backwards through a boost solenoid into the megasquirt and then charged it up and let it sit for almost a month.

Car started right up.
The D51R is lighter and the yellow top Deep cycle starting battery is way more resistant to abuse than the larger red tops in my experiance.

Bob
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Old 10-25-2011, 02:03 PM
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I've had better luck with Duralast in my turbo car than Optima, and that car sits for weeks at a time, and gets lots of cranking.
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Old 10-25-2011, 02:51 PM
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Originally Posted by bbundy
The D51R is lighter and the yellow top Deep cycle starting battery is way more resistant to abuse than the larger red tops in my experiance.

Bob
I'm talking yellow top... that is the right size for an NB trunk with stock mounting hardware (minor mod required) and correct post orientation.

fits like glove!
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Old 10-25-2011, 04:12 PM
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Originally Posted by y8s
I'm talking yellow top... that is the right size for an NB trunk with stock mounting hardware (minor mod required) and correct post orientation.

fits like glove!
D35 => 36.4 Lbs

D51R => 26.0 LBS

They are both heavy as I think the stock battery is ~24 lbs. Severe abuse of the D51R has not killed it for me. the D51R fits in the stock loacation for an NA, might be too tall in an NB to be just like stock.

After trying a few super light batteries in the 5 and 6 lb range I now have a Bikemaster True Gel I think YTZ14S
It’s 7.8 lbs. It most of the time gets the car started but with very little margin. The car can sit for a week and it starts right up but turn it off for a short time and sometimes it won’t. I have found the Hydra ECU is extremely picky about not having enough voltage while cranking. The car will crank just fine but the ECU wont give it spark or fuel unless it sees ~11 volts. This is a problem for small batteries while cranking.
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Old 10-25-2011, 04:40 PM
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Run a jump pack while your in the pits?
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Old 10-25-2011, 04:40 PM
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Originally Posted by bbundy
D35 => 36.4 Lbs

D51R => 26.0 LBS

They are both heavy as I think the stock battery is ~24 lbs. Severe abuse of the D51R has not killed it for me. the D51R fits in the stock loacation for an NA, might be too tall in an NB to be just like stock.
The D51R fits in an NB, but you need a slightly longer bolt for the hold-down. I keep meaning to cut a length of pipe to use as a spacer, but that's not really necessary.

And yeah, my Hydra is also very picky about starting voltage.

--Ian
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Old 10-25-2011, 04:46 PM
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you keep your ten pounds, i'll keep my 37% more cold cranking amps.

also the 35 costs a bit more. but whatever, i love it.
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