battery placement in the c3

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clutchdust

Millionaire Playboy
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Anybody here ever figured out why the engineers decided to put the battery directly behind the driver in a c3? I mean, it has all the pretenses of being a sports car and I find it so hard to believe that Zora didn't look at that and think, "hey, the first weekend racer is going to pull the jack and crap out for reduced weight. So why don't we put the battery over here to help offset driver weight?"
I'm just mystified as to why that seemed like the right thing to do when it would have been so easy to simply put it behind the passenger seat. At least, that's where mine is now.
 
My completely uninformed opinion is that it is more convenient for the driver to reach for stuff in the storage compartment when it is not right behind the seat. Obviously the right side compartment can be accessed even while driving.

Now, for performance, yes I wish the battery was on the right side.
 
Ive heard it said it had to do with the safety of getting to the jack when pulled off the side of the road.
I would imagine with the weight of the door if the jack was behind the driver you would have to open the door fully to get the seat forward and get the jack out. The door sticking out in the road might get hit.
Most roads are crowned in a way the passenger door would stay open.
 
Seems like the "serious weekend racer" might also:

1. Pull the Aircon -- open a battery spot in the engine compartment,
2. Have shorter leads to starter, alternator, ignition, shut off
3. And better balance too?

Well - I don't know their thoughts - but those are mine - for better or worse.

Cheers - Jim

JACK - Whats That? Isn't that what roadside service/ONSTAR is for? :noworry:
 
phantomjock said:
Seems like the "serious weekend racer" might also:

1. Pull the Aircon -- open a battery spot in the engine compartment,
2. Have shorter leads to starter, alternator, ignition, shut off
3. And better balance too?

Well - I don't know their thoughts - but those are mine - for better or worse.
Cheers - Jim

JACK - Whats That? Isn't that what roadside service/ONSTAR is for? :noworry:
Click to expand...

My vote is they're for worse. Moving thirty pounds of weight about four feet forward is not conducive to good handling.

BTW, I did the math for this question over at CF C3 General, for anybody that's interested.
 
69427 said:
My vote is they're for worse. Moving thirty pounds of weight about four feet forward is not conducive to good handling.
Click to expand...

I agree but I replaced the cast iron heads with aluminum, I removed the AC and I installed a lighter aftermarket hood... currently I'm removing the heavy vacuum tank and replace that monster with smaller lighter tubing and brackets.... I think that makes up for the battery's weight :smash::thumbs:
 
Also keep in mind the center of the engine is also not balanced, It is two inches to the passenger side of the car. So the battery pulls the CG a bit back to the left.

George
 
Corvettes White said:
Also keep in mind the center of the engine is also not balanced, It is two inches to the passenger side of the car. So the battery pulls the CG a bit back to the left.

George
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Unless someone has actual weight data showing that the car is right side heavy, it's my speculation that the car is left side heavy with a driver in the car. The battery there (left side) only makes it worse.
 
69427 said:
Corvettes White said:
Also keep in mind the center of the engine is also not balanced, It is two inches to the passenger side of the car. So the battery pulls the CG a bit back to the left.

George
Click to expand...

Unless someone has actual weight data showing that the car is right side heavy, it's my speculation that the car is left side heavy with a driver in the car. The battery there (left side) only makes it worse.
Click to expand...

No argument here. Just adding to the conversation. But overall you can tell there was thought given to the placement of the components.


George
 
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