Going to Interstate to pick up a new battery today. Am I a victim of all the drugs I did in college or are the poles reversed on the battery to keep the positive pole away from the metal fender? Did I dream it or does the Z take a reversed pole battery?

Thanks,

Eric

The stock configuration is with the positive pole closest to the fender, the battery leads do not extend far enough to reverse it. I always thought that was a bit scarry. I have read in at least one thread of people replacing with longer leads and reversing the poles to make things a little safer.

I don't know if + under the fender was "stock".

But you CAN buy a reversed pole battery and put the Negative under the fender.

FWIW

E

The stock configuration is with the positive pole closest to the fender, the battery leads do not extend far enough to reverse it. I always thought that was a bit scarry. I have read in at least one thread of people replacing with longer leads and reversing the poles to make things a little safer.

I can confirm this. My car still has the factory battery cables on it, and the negative cable will not reach if you use a battery that places the positive out from under the fender. No idea what the reasoning behind doing it this way was.

$100 later at the local Interstate dealer, and she remained stock with the positive pole next to the big, metal, electrical conductor.

I don't know if + under the fender was "stock".

But you CAN buy a reversed pole battery and put the Negative under the fender.

FWIW

E

Or switch to side posts like I did.

I did some research on battery post placement before I got my last one.... Yep, the positive is under that fender. That's why having it secured very well is of such great importance on these cars. Even well secured, it's not a great situation, so I took the precaution of insulating that area of the fender with a small double thickness of tire tube. I feel much better about it that way.

Think right hand drive and right hand battery box.

As to moving the posts all your need is a 24F battery (same size just reversed posts) and two new cables (red as long as the old black one and black as long as the old red one). Real simple, real safe. IMHO, not doing this when you have a chance to do so is plain outright dumb.

The stock configuration is with the positive pole closest to the fender, the battery leads do not extend far enough to reverse it. I always thought that was a bit scarry. I have read in at least one thread of people replacing with longer leads and reversing the poles to make things a little safer.

I purposely reversed my battery to do just this, but the problem now is the poles are close to the firewall. You can buy a reverse poled battery to resolve that issue though.

Think right hand drive and right hand battery box.

As to moving the posts all your need is a 24F battery (same size just reversed posts) and two new cables (red as long as the old black one and black as long as the old red one). Real simple, real safe. IMHO, not doing this when you have a chance to do so is plain outright dumb.

Just ordered new cables.

Or switch to side posts like I did.

Stephen, do you have a picture of the side post installation? I'd like to see that.

Here's a couple of quick shots: