I just realized that was on the G8 site. I know racers, etc. put it back there in an attempt to counter some of the weight of the driver. Is there just not enough room under the hood?

My guess is that it was done for weight distribution to get that near 50/50 ratio. I love that it's back there. It's so out of the norm I think it's cool. I'd love to see the look on somebody's face if I pulled up to give them a jump and then popped the trunk. :-)

I think it is only there on the GT, not the V6, since the V6 trunk has a spare tire to help balance the weight distribution while the GT does not (have a spare tire). Over time (years and years, maybe 10-15)expect to have to replace the battery cable as there will be additional corrosion and reistance buildup in an overly long postive cable that the car will require. I had one of the disastrous Chevy attempts at converting Olds V8s into diesels and it had twin batteries under the hood, one in each front corner. Well it took the amperage and CCA of both together to spin the high compression. I had starting problems and until I determined that the cable from one side to the other needed replacing I could not even jump it with a tractor battery if I hooked up to the wrong side.

All VE commodores have the battery in the trunk......

bmw has been putting batteries in trunks for years

Whoa, the GT's not going to have a spare? I missed that too.....

Whoa, the GT's not going to have a spare? I missed that too.....

Okay I was wrong about the battery only being in the GT trunk - but I had read somewhere once that the GT had the battery in the trunk (never mentioned the V6), read about the lack of spare tire (which is true, see attachment)and sort of put 2 and 2 together to make 5. Sorry for misconfusion.

Regarding spare tire. Most makes of cars do not come with spare tires anymore but come with an inflate kit. If you notice they charge you about two to three hundred dollars for that and when you order your car you can order without he spare. My M3 did not have a spare, my GTO does not have a spare and the wife's BMW five series does not have a spare. Come to think about it not many cars I know of have spares. As for the battery in the rear of the car BMW has been doing this for years. Nothing new here.

Regarding spare tire. Most makes of cars do not come with spare tires anymore but come with an inflate kit. If you notice they charge you about two to three hundred dollars for that and when you order your car you can order without he spare. My M3 did not have a spare, my GTO does not have a spare and the wife's BMW five series does not have a spare. Come to think about it not many cars I know of have spares. As for the battery in the rear of the car BMW has been doing this for years. Nothing new here.

That said, is it standard practice to keep the space under the trunk where the spare would fit in a car that doesn't come with it standard? More relevantly, do you guys think the GT will still include a space under the trunk to store the spare if you buy it?

It wouldn't make much sense if it didn't, but hey, you never know...

My M3 did not have a spare, my GTO does not have a spare and the wife's BMW five series does not have a spare.

The only way your GTO came without a spare is if you or a previous owner (if bought used) removed it.

That said, is it standard practice to keep the space under the trunk where the spare would fit in a car that doesn't come with it standard? More relevantly, do you guys think the GT will still include a space under the trunk to store the spare if you buy it?

If memory serves me correctly, the Commies in Oz still have the compartment for a spare. It's only been a couple of years since Holden went to using skinny temporary spare tires. I will be getting an extra wheel & full sized tire & put it into the empty space.

The battery being in the trunk isn't anything new. In fact, there are cars with the battery underneath the rear seat.

Or underneath the front driver seat like the VW Toruag, behind the wheel wells like the PT cruiser. Underneath the truck bed like in the SSR.

Or underneath the front driver seat like the VW Toruag, behind the wheel wells like the PT cruiser. Underneath the truck bed like in the SSR.

That must make jump starting interesting... or do they provide locations under the hood? Does the G8 (commodore guys?)

This also makes me wonder about tech inspections at drag strips. Most tracks require a clearly marked external power shut-off switch for any vehicle with a battery located in the trunk. I believe that it is required so safety crews can quickly kill the electrical power to the vehicle in the event of a crash. Can any of you Aussies who are already drag racing Commodores tell us how tech inspectors are handling this?

This also makes me wonder about tech inspections at drag strips. Most tracks require a clearly marked external power shut-off switch for any vehicle with a battery located in the trunk. I believe that it is required so safety crews can quickly kill the electrical power to the vehicle in the event of a crash. Can any of you Aussies who are already drag racing Commodores tell us how tech inspectors are handling this?

I would assume that rule would only apply to vehicles that attain a certain time/speed. Like the rule that if you hit 11s or 12s (I can't remember), you are required to wear a helmet.

I would assume that rule would only apply to vehicles that attain a certain time/speed. Like the rule that if you hit 11s or 12s (I can't remember), you are required to wear a helmet.

Actually, helmets are needed if you run faster than 14.0, so I even need one in my GTP, and may just need one for the Sunbird with the new race engine in it. From my recollection, this rule was not based on your ET. Can anyone else confirm or deny?

Actually, helmets are needed if you run faster than 14.0, so I even need one in my GTP, and may just need one for the Sunbird with the new race engine in it. From my recollection, this rule was not based on your ET. Can anyone else confirm or deny?

Link to the rule about half way down the page: http://www.nhra.com/contacts/tech_faq.html

I think the keyword is relocated. Since it is factory and not relocated, it should be fine. And you are right that there are no ET provisions around the rule.

Chip

That must make jump starting interesting... or do they provide locations under the hood? Does the G8 (commodore guys?)

On the VE Commodore there are positive and negative connections under the hood. Positive is directly behind the air cleaner...negative is beside the air cleaner on the fender skirt.

Actually, helmets are needed if you run faster than 14.0, so I even need one in my GTP, and may just need one for the Sunbird with the new race engine in it. From my recollection, this rule was not based on your ET. Can anyone else confirm or deny?

Ooops. I guess I've been running illegally ever since I got my GTO. :gr_jest:

Ooops. I guess I've been running illegally ever since I got my GTO. :gr_jest:

Most sanctioned tracks are pretty anal retentive about this. If they don't enforce it, I hear that they are in violation of their insurance policy. They tend to be a little more lenient if it's just a Test-N-Tune, but not always. If you've been running your GTO, even bone stock, without a helmet all along, I'm surprised they haven't given you a hard time yet. Your track must be REALLY relaxed!

Most sanctioned tracks are pretty anal retentive about this. If they don't enforce it, I hear that they are in violation of their insurance policy. They tend to be a little more lenient if it's just a Test-N-Tune, but not always. If you've been running your GTO, even bone stock, without a helmet all along, I'm surprised they haven't given you a hard time yet. Your track must be REALLY relaxed!

I usually go on T & T days. I don't get into the full race days. I think I'd be happy if I can break the 12's stock.

On the VE Commodore there are positive and negative connections under the hood. Positive is directly behind the air cleaner...negative is beside the air cleaner on the fender skirt.

Thanks... Figured so.

Ok I just realized I forgot about this thread.

And yes I know, different companies have been putting batteries in crazy places for years. I just hadn't heard that the G8 was putting it back there. The trunk still looks enormous, and there'll be more room to work under the hood.