Battery Re-Location Project
I decided a while ago I wanted to re-locate my battery to the trunk to clean up the engine compartment as well as help with weight distribution. Since I don't have a spare tire anymore with the C4 chassis conversion I figured the spare tire well would be as good a location as any so I researched battery sizes to see if there was a standard size that would fit in there. I found a few that would work but not any that would have enough cca amps without spending a small fortune on a lithium battery. I also wanted a battery that was available in an AGM type so venting would not be an issue. So what I decided to use that was close to fitting and would be easy to get anywhere in an AGM type is a group 48 size. My 2007 Sierra used this size as well as our 2009 Cadillac CTS.
So I made up a cardboard mock up of a group 48 size battery to see how it would fit knowing the spare tire well would need to be modified.
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As you can tell it sits up way to high as is.
So I decided to go for it and remove the spare tire well to widen it out to fit the battery.
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So after drill out about 40 spot welds I got it out to make it easier to work on.
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A couple of temporary braces tacked on and sliced down the middle with pie cuts at the ends to widen it out enough to fit the battery.
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Center filler piece #1 fitted up and tacked in place. Throughout the process I screwed the spare tire well back in place to make sure it would still fit in the end.
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Back out and tacked up a little better.
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Back in place to check how the battery fits. Should work good now.
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Another filler strip fit up ready to tack in. The Gorilla tape works great to hold odd shaped things in place when a conventional clamp won't work.
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Another view.
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All tacked up ready for lots more welding and grinding.
Next up will be to make the battery tray for the tire well.
Brian 8-)