The rules for putting the battery is side the car,as its in NSW i want to keep the engine bay tidy on the escort.It will be a gellcell battery.And its in a panel van

i think it has to vent to the outside of the vehicle and must be in a "battery box" or something like that! i could be wrong though! :)

If its a dry cell(racing battery) you can install it anywhere(under your seat!) as it does not vent fumes, which is the main reason RTA dont like batteries in the boot non vented(boxed)....tho the Lotus Escort has the battery in the boot not boxed up, just some amo if your pulled over

mk2 Escorts fitted with factory air conditioning had the battery factory fitted in the boot(drivers side wheel well),no venting as far as Im aware ,I had 2 stock rally packs with A/C and this set up.

I was questioned by a few policing officers several years ago about this and explained this is Escorts a/c configuration and they were happy with that.