DIY Lightweight Battery Hold-down
 

Just finished making this to fit a VoltPhreaks battery. If there’s any interest in a more detailed DIY let me know, but it was pretty easy. You just need about 48” of 2” wide and 1/8” thick 3003 aluminum (don’t use the regular 6061 from your local hardware store as it doesn’t bend cold), a power saw, a drill and a riveter with rivets. Cut the aluminum to lengths needed, hammer the bends with a vise and wood block, drill holes and rivet up. I saw some posts in the past year about fitting a Braille or other lightweight battery, and it’s pretty easy to do yourself for whatever kind of battery you’re using, and properly secure it around all 4 sides in the factory location as required for track driving.

Going to clean it it up a bit and paint it. Will add more pics once it’s in the car.

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Ah the dieting continues. Nice! I need to do similar once I get a battery but I’ve got the benefit of having a brother that’s handy with welding so many press him into service. Riveting great solution for pure hand tool diy. Is that battery you reference fancy shmancy Li?

All done. That battery ain’t going anywhere. :y

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Yup. It’s a VoltPhreaks VPH750 and weighs 7lbs.

Here’s what the interior looks like now. Have the seats and harnesses ready, waiting on the rollbar to get done. Next little project is to drill holes in the floor for the harness mount points (eye bolts). Then in go the rollbar, seats and harnesses. I think I’ll come in about 180lbs lighter, even with the addition of the rollbar.

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If you run a vacuum over that carpet you'll save another 1-2lbs...

Why clean it if I’m just taking it out anyway

Does coupe front section (the bit at the join forward) carpet fit the sedan?

Edit: this part
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It should. If I take that out do you want it?

That’s a pretty cool DIY. Nothing beats making something from scratch and having it work like it’s supposed to.

Very cool stuff!

I am looking to save every pound that I can on my build so this is a great tip!

Looks like you still have weight to cut in the interior... carpets, pads, center console, panels, dash, panels, headliner, glass...

Carpets, pads, rear trim came out tonight. They don’t all weigh as much as I thought they would, I’d guess 20lbs total. I might put the carpet back in to keep things civilized. Next thing I need to do is to dig out all the airbags from the back of the car which should offset the readdition of the carpet.

Center console staying. Pano glass will be replaced with aluminum next winter, just ran out of time this year.

Tried to take the dash out last winter. Got about halfway, it was a huge pain in the dick.

Nice to know was thinking of deleting my carpets but yeah for 20 lbs might not be worth it 👍

Doh, I missed this reply but looks like you're keeping them anyway.

Yeah, there’s a ton of stuff under there - control modules, wire looms, etc - and the carpet doesn’t weigh enough to deal with the hassle of moving all that. You’ll be the first to know if I take it out.

Aren't the voltages for these really low?

Send some more pics please :)

Exactly! Gotta update that build thread Jim!! Everyone loves seeing someone else strip out their interior. Lol

What's the circled piece? That looks like an additional bracket?
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Yeah that’s the bracket the previous owner made. It’s just 2 L-brackets and 2 rods that hold the battery upright about 1/2” from the base. Just totally insufficient, I would never drive it on the street like that, let alone the track.

So I didn’t know how it was all going to come together or if I’d need to use that base. In the end the design I came up with rendered it useless. The only reason its there is because I already had it, so why not, but it’s not at all critical to this design. The battery is held down from the top, and secured on 4 sides.

Thanks for the inspiration man! Here’s our take based on your concept. Appreciate the guidance. Heading out tomorrow for a day at Sonoma Raceway. :wootrock:

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That looks good dude! Man I really need to teach myself how to weld this year.

Jealous that you’re getting out there, have fun. :y I’d like to get up your way and do Laguna Seca before the end of the year - will let you know.

That battery looks very small compared to the stock battery. Does it have enough juice for all the electronics.

Yes. Plenty.

I've got a 15lb braille setup plus Braile mount in classifieds BTW..... perfect for our cars as a DD - like BKLROKT I went with a lighter version for just track days as I do leave the car for weeks at airports etc... I suspect it would be fine but....

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