[Cloud9...68]

I'm interesting if peoples' experience with the lightweight batteries available out there. My car will primarily be used as a track car, but to be honest, I'll probably end up driving it on the street several times a week. I'd like to install one of the many available lightweight batteries to take some weight off the front end. I'm not interested in going to the trouble of relocating the battery to the rear at this time. I live in a very warm climate (Austin, TX), and don't mind keeping it on a trickle charger when it has to sit more than a day or so. I'm currently running the smallest, cheapest (and surely crappiest) conventional lead acid battery I could find at Autozone, weighing 27 lb, with a CCA rating of 520 amps, and it has never given me the slightest bit of trouble. But I'm a little concerned over the fact that my engine is now freshly rebuilt, with slightly higher than stock compression pistons (a true 11.1:1, based on combustion chamber and piston top volume measurements). I know battery technology truly hasn't evolved all that much in the last few years (or even in the last century...), but I'm wondering what peoples' thoughts are on this subject. Thanks.

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[pmason]

I have the Odyssey PC680 7.27"W x 3.11"W x 6.67"H 15.4 lbs in the race car and in the 911 track car. It can be mounted on it's side, this is how it I have it in the 968. Now I do disconnect them when not in use.

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='pmason' timestamp='1342662901' post='129574']

I have the Odyssey PC680 7.27"W x 3.11"W x 6.67"H 15.4 lbs in the race car and in the 911 track car. It can be mounted on it's side, this is how it I have it in the 968. Now I do disconnect them when not in use.

[/quote]

How much, if at all, do you have to "baby" this battery? By leaving it disconnected when not in use, have you ever had it not been able to start the car? Since your 968 is a pure race car, I assume you don't drive it during the winter. What's the coldest temperature you'd be comfortable with this battery being able to start the 968? It doesn't get terribly cold here in Austin, but it can on rare occasions get into the 20s, although this past winter never saw anything below 40 (when it drops below 40 here, I swear all the local news stations careen into full panic mode - lock your doors!! Hide the children!! We're all gonna die!!!). I suppose I could keep my current battery for use on really cold days. Thanks.

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[pmason]

If you are still going to drive the car on the street I wouldn't using this battery. I'm taking the one out of the 911 just for that reason, from time to time I forget and it's dead. Oh, they also use a different trickle charger, you can't use like a battery tender.

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[Cloud9...68]

OK, thanks for the input. There are a lot of choices out there, but I'm sure there's no magic - they all have significantly reduced reserve capacity. I'm just surprised I've gotten along so well with the crappy little 27 lb conventional lead acid battery I bought a few years ago, so I'm hoping I can find one that's a little lighter still, for not too much money, that I can rely on as long as I either disconnect it when not in use, or keep in on a trickle charger.

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