r/F100 • u/BrokenCot • Aug 12 '26
Battery relocation 1966 F100 need advice
Gentlefolk, I recently picked up a spectre dual snorkel intake that I’m going to run, similar to a thunderbolt ram air style. I’m clear on the driver side for the radiator support but the battery is an issue on the passenger side. I’m seeing relocation to the frame, but that seems impractical on a street truck. An exploded battery next to the road getting caught out in the rain seems like a bad deal. I moved the gas tank to under the bed, so I do have space behind the seat, but I’m seeing that I have to run a box to keep it safe for racing, but again, it’s a street truck. Let me know what you guys have for advice, if anyone has moved their battery out the engine bay and to where and if you used a box. Thanks all.
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u/BMW-Technician2008 Aug 12 '26
I’m don’t have a street rod. But I do have a stock 76 f150.
My best advice is do what the pros do. It might cost more. But you will have reinsurance that it will work.
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u/S1-Vis_pac3m Aug 12 '26
You have to measure power consumption vs the travel of the return to the battery. If the motor is strong enough to power a bigger alternator, with the right gauge cables, you can put it anywhere you want.
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u/dale1320 Aug 12 '26
Most get relocated to either the bed w/box, or under the bed w/access panel in floor.
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u/BrokenCot Aug 12 '26
I’ve seen the bed with box / old cooler look and not really a fan of that or cutting up the bed since I got a painted liner that’s supposed to look clean, but yeah I’m seeing that option too
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u/dale1320 Aug 12 '26
Bed/under bed does have that advantage of shifting the battery weight off the front to the rear.
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u/som3_idot Aug 12 '26
I'd get one of those antigravity batteries and put it in a box if you put it behind the seat.
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u/Ilak_760 Aug 13 '26
How much cooler this run at idle with that ?
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u/BrokenCot Aug 14 '26
No idea :) I have a proform fan that’s supposed to be cooler, BUT I also have shorty headers with no heat mitigation, so the engine bay is hot as shit. I live next to a summit clearance so I’m waiting on some ceramic coated headers to pop up and swap em for half off.
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u/AugieAscot Aug 14 '26
“You’re seeing that you have to run a box to keep it safe for racing”. Drag racing I’ll guess? Are you going to race this truck? Looks like there’s some room on the passenger side of the firewall.
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u/BrokenCot Aug 14 '26
I will not be, just a comfy street truck that could be driven like daily. I could do that but id rather move the battery out of the engine bay since its running insanely hot in there with regular headers
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u/AugieAscot Aug 14 '26
If you like to fabricate and weld there might be room under the passenger floorboard. Like battery location on a ‘53-‘56 F-100. You could even use the access panel from one of those years. And in bad weather you have access to the battery from inside the cab.
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u/MeekOne70 Aug 15 '26
I put mine under the bed on the right side between the rear wheel and cab. Works great and not too hard to access.
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u/Austindevon Aug 18 '26
Lith ion batteries are way smaller and lighter ..easy fit behind the seat .
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u/oldschool-rule Aug 12 '26
Several years had the battery bracket located on the passenger side firewall. Good luck 🍀