Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Battery/BHAF location/lower EGT?

[Whitmore]

Was liiking under the hood of the All Mighty Cummins today and was wondering if anyone has made an attempt to put the battery where the BHAF currently is, looks like to me there is enough room only problem I see is not enough heigth. I was thinking that the sheet metal there could be cut out and then install a custom made dish or well to fit in the hole, then the batterie could sit in it. . I dont know if there is enough clearence between the sheet metal and the plastic wheel well but I bet there is.

If this could be done than we could straighten the 4"hose out and put the BHAF in the corner where the battery was, It has to be cooler there,think of this the moter runs 200 and the turbo is way hotter and the outside air is say 100 so we loose 100 degrees right there,I run a temp to the cab from my air horn and on a 100 degree day it will run around 125 but not any hotter,acording to every thing I have learnrd about air exchangers the best you can ever do 100% efficiency you can get ambient +20 so that tells me that our intercooler is a very efficient piece of equiptment . currently the filters in the hottest part of the compartment , this move would certainly help to lower EGT and a guy could then build some kinda ram air off the front for cooler air ? Just a thought... ... ... ... Kevin

 

[Lsfarm]

A different battery

I ran my truck at Muncie this year with a single battery and the BHAF up where the second battery normally is. I noticed a drop in turbo noise [good for me] and maybe a drop in temps.

The drop in EGT's is hard to say for sure, since it was very hot [in the mid 90's] and I was playing with my brand new Drag Comp Box.



I'm planning on changing to Optima batteries and putting the second one on it's side where the BHAF is normally mounted. This will allow me to put the BHAF back up front behind the headlamp and creating some ducting to feed it as much outside [cool] air as possible.



I'd rather buy new batteries that can be laid on their side than cut sheet metal on my truck. I just have an aversion for cutting holes in my truck.



Greg L [The Noise Nazi]

 

[Whitmore]

cool Greg

I didnt know the optima could be side mounted, it looks to me that the cables may reach if you re-route them across the firewall cowl a zip tie them away from all the other stuff to preserv them from heat generation from cold cranking in the winter, the batt leads do get hot from all those amps. keep us posted on your results... ... ... . Kevin

 

[Lsfarm]

New Cables

I think I will just make new longer battery cables. I have a roll of cable and need only to get a solder on end or two. I think any Napa or full service auto parts store carries cable and ends to make up cables to order.



The Optima battery is a gell cell battery, they can [according to their literature] be mounted any way you wish. But they shouldn't be mixed with a lead-acid battery, they wouldn't get charged properly.



I'm not sure when I'm going to find time to do this mod, but will post with my results when I do.



Greg L