Building A Charging System - Take Charge! - Tech

Moving forward, here's the remote disconnect tucked up nice and high in the frame, hidden from view and reach. Without access to this or the hidden button that will be connected to it ensures that the battery remains isolated from the rest of the electrical system when disconnected.

I decided to mount the remote-battery disconnect button in the glovebox. This keeps it within easy reach of the driver while the ability to lock the glovebox door ensures that it will be harder for a thief to access.

A good ground cable between the engine and the frame is also a must. Not shown here, we also installed a ground strap between the body and the frame.

Mounting the forward battery junction terminal near the starter makes two things possible. First, it's down low, so the battery cable running from the battery mounts easily to the bottom of the terminal. Secondly, it allows the few wires that normally would connect to the large lug on the starter to connect to the top mount of the terminal. A short battery cable connects the terminal to the starter, along with the solenoid wire. Now, instead of wrestling a handful of larger gauge wires along with the battery cable when removing or installing the starter, there are only two.

To ensure the system stays charged is a PowerGEN alternator from Powermaster Motorsports. Rated at 75 amps with 60 amps at idle, its old-school look combined with contemporary technology makes it a great fit in an old-school engine compartment.

But what would a charging system be without a great battery? An Optima yellow top D34 provides 750 cold-cranking amps in a small 10 x 67/8 x 713/16-inch package and the unique Sprailcell AGM design offers the advantage of mounting the battery in any position. Here, we've used a Speedway Motors aluminum battery mount to install the battery on the floor.