Which Optima battery for a 62
10-20-2011, 06:03 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Which Optima battery for a 62
I would like to put an optima battery in my 62. Can anyone recommend what model number works best as far as fitting the tray and cranking power, thanks
10-20-2011, 11:53 PM
#7
Red Tops, six years and 100,000 miles in my truck, and a show car that sits in the garage for months between starts, the high-compression 388 SB fires up instantly, no charger used!
10-21-2011, 10:52 AM
#11
Melting Slicks
Get a Group 24 size battery made by Johnson Control (Costco Kirkland, Everstart Maxx ) for about $80.Spend the money saved from not buying the Optima to upgrade the battery cables to 1/0 size welding cable and a Wirth Co. knife lever disconnect switch.
Last edited by Donald #31176; 10-21-2011 at 04:43 PM.
10-21-2011, 01:30 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
CAREFUL WITH WALMART BATTERIES
Different area walmarts buy their batteries from different companies and label them all as EverStart.
I know the locations in south Louisiana & Mississippi buy from GNB and they are total junk. I have seen the same battery purchased in Arizona, and it was made by Johnson Control which is a very good quality battery.
Different area walmarts buy their batteries from different companies and label them all as EverStart.
I know the locations in south Louisiana & Mississippi buy from GNB and they are total junk. I have seen the same battery purchased in Arizona, and it was made by Johnson Control which is a very good quality battery.
10-21-2011, 01:43 PM
#14
Le Mans Master
I've been using a Yellow Top for many years that I bought used. Still works great.
Yellow Top is better for cars that sit a lot. Yellow Top can be discharged down to nada and sit, but will still come back and take a charge. (Mine has.)
Will not work with the stock (non-a/c) battery hold-down (in a '64) without modification to the hold-down. The Tri-5 group markets a billet aluminum hold-down that works perfectly (about $110 IIRC).
Yellow Top is better for cars that sit a lot. Yellow Top can be discharged down to nada and sit, but will still come back and take a charge. (Mine has.)
Will not work with the stock (non-a/c) battery hold-down (in a '64) without modification to the hold-down. The Tri-5 group markets a billet aluminum hold-down that works perfectly (about $110 IIRC).
10-21-2011, 06:20 PM
#15
IMO - The BEST batteries out there are made by ODYSSEY.
I trashed my 2 bad red tops (each one lasted only 2 years) and went with an Odyssey. It is a combo deep charge and Optima type battery. It sits idle at 12.85v for months on end..
The best battery I ever had in the car for the past 45 years! One thing is that they are very expensive!!
Check em out - http://www.odysseybattery.com/
Compared to spiral-wound batteries of equal
size, ODYSSEY® batteries pack 15% more
plate surface area into the case. Avoiding the
“dead space” between cylinders in “six-pack”
designs means ODYSSEY batteries deliver
more power and 40% more reserve capacity.
I trashed my 2 bad red tops (each one lasted only 2 years) and went with an Odyssey. It is a combo deep charge and Optima type battery. It sits idle at 12.85v for months on end..
The best battery I ever had in the car for the past 45 years! One thing is that they are very expensive!!
Check em out - http://www.odysseybattery.com/
Compared to spiral-wound batteries of equal
size, ODYSSEY® batteries pack 15% more
plate surface area into the case. Avoiding the
“dead space” between cylinders in “six-pack”
designs means ODYSSEY batteries deliver
more power and 40% more reserve capacity.
10-21-2011, 10:02 PM
#16
Le Mans Master
As others mentioned, really never found anything special about Optima's myself. Usually stick with Gold batteries from major auto parts chains like Advance and Auto Zone, as have 3 year free replacement. With codes from other members, recently got a 78/34 Power Frame from Advance for $85 bucks. Had to order online, but on the local store counter next day. For that kind of money, I just replace it every 3 years for the heck of it.
10-21-2011, 10:07 PM
#17
Le Mans Master
I wouldn't use an Optima if you gave it to me for free. The local auto parts store quit carrying them years ago because of the over 50% failure rate and all the warranty returns.
Jim
Jim
10-21-2011, 10:39 PM
#18
Intermediate
Member Since: Oct 2011
Location: Maumelle Arkansas
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I have had a red top Optima in my '57 Chevy since 2004. It only gets driven occasionally but so far it's still going strong. I unhook the cables when it's sitting.
10-22-2011, 05:23 AM
#19
Team Owner
As others mentioned, really never found anything special about Optima's myself. Usually stick with Gold batteries from major auto parts chains like Advance and Auto Zone, as have 3 year free replacement. With codes from other members, recently got a 78/34 Power Frame from Advance for $85 bucks. Had to order online, but on the local store counter next day. For that kind of money, I just replace it every 3 years for the heck of it.
10-22-2011, 09:35 AM
#20
Race Director
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Optimas=overpriced and overrated IMO. Extremely high failure rate right out of the box. When they go dead they are tough to revive. If you've had good luck with them you are very fortunate.