C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Best battery?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 2, 2006 | 07:20 PM
  #1  
CoolShark's Avatar
CoolShark
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: Gotham City CA
Default Best battery?

I have an Optima in my '63 and my '72. The one in the '63 seems to be doing fine, but the one in my '72 seems to have trouble holding a charge for long periods, even if disconneced. I may replace it. What batteries have you found best?
Reply
Old May 2, 2006 | 07:42 PM
  #2  
Roscoe's Avatar
Roscoe
Race Director
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 14,509
Likes: 9
From: OIB, NC
Default

I know you won't believe me but.. DELCO
Reply
Old May 2, 2006 | 07:51 PM
  #3  
BlkBird's Avatar
BlkBird
Racer
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
Default

The best one Ive found is an Optima. Which one do you have? If your car sits alot Id get a Yellow Top. My Firebird sits undriven for long periods of time and always fires right up. I dont even disconnect it. Ive had a couple of Red Tops and I liked them but Im sold on the Yellows now.
Reply
Old May 2, 2006 | 07:52 PM
  #4  
Corey_68's Avatar
Corey_68
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
Default

I've had good luck w/ my Optima. Even having the car sit a month without driving it cranks on the first try.
Reply
Old May 2, 2006 | 08:07 PM
  #5  
shafrs3's Avatar
shafrs3
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 0
Default

If your original clock is working it will eventually pull down the battery. I keep one of those battery float chargers on mine if I think I won't be driving it within more than a weeks time. I have an Optima red top by the way...




Last edited by shafrs3; May 2, 2006 at 08:10 PM.
Reply
Old May 2, 2006 | 08:13 PM
  #6  
CoolShark's Avatar
CoolShark
Thread Starter
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 594
Likes: 0
From: Gotham City CA
Default

I put in a new quartz clock. There shouldn't be any other draw. Maybe I got a lemon, a red-topped one.
Reply
Old May 2, 2006 | 08:30 PM
  #7  
Sprzout's Avatar
Sprzout
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 0
From: Santee CA
Default

Optima here as well...I ran it down dead about 3 weeks ago when I was trying to get the throttle cable installed, but that was due to me forgetting to disconnect the battery, while I had both doors open to get up under the dash. However, I charged it up again on the battery charger, and it holds a good charge now; even threw in a battery disconnect switch to prevent any further drain.

I thought that my Red Top was going bad in my Vette because of the drain; turns out that the alternator's charging post was loose from a rebuild and not making good contact. Opened up the alternator, tightened down the post, and I'm getting no problems with the car now!

Soon as the battery in our Jag dies (it's on its last legs, I'm sure; the guy who owned the car before us bought the battery back in 95) we're gonna replace it with an Optima Red Top.
Reply
Old May 2, 2006 | 09:01 PM
  #8  
shafrs3's Avatar
shafrs3
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,441
Likes: 0
Default

Pull the fuses on the components you know draw voltage and see if you've got something drawing voltage you weren't aware of, before you condemn the battery.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 2, 2006 | 10:09 PM
  #9  
I'm Batman's Avatar
I'm Batman
Team Owner
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Default

I wrecked an Optima red top with a parasitic drain from a short in the starter. New starter, new battery...all is well. The Optima lasted much longer than a regular battery with the drain problem.
Reply
Old May 3, 2006 | 03:05 AM
  #10  
jr9170's Avatar
jr9170
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 13,238
Likes: 1,092
From: YANKEES UNIVERSE 70 454-LS5 500 ft-lbs Torque
Default

Optima yellow top....
Reply
Old May 3, 2006 | 09:33 AM
  #11  
gq82's Avatar
gq82
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Default

Originally Posted by Roscoe's C3's
I know you won't believe me but.. DELCO



This is a 6yr battery....that's an awfully long time.


Last edited by gq82; May 3, 2006 at 10:22 AM.
Reply
Old May 3, 2006 | 09:40 AM
  #12  
lowbuck72's Avatar
lowbuck72
Drifting
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
Default

For the money, the best battery is a Kirkland Signature from Costco. They're made by Johnson Controls and have a 100 month warranty, free replacement for 3 years, rated #1 by Consumer Reports. Costco sells Optimas as well in case you plan on driving upside down.
Reply
Old May 3, 2006 | 09:52 AM
  #13  
rihwoods's Avatar
rihwoods
Race Director
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Default

Me too...Delco...not saying it's the best,but never had any issues...
Reply
Old May 3, 2006 | 09:58 AM
  #14  
yellow 72's Avatar
yellow 72
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 5,202
Likes: 10
From: cincinnati ohio
St. Jude Donor '09
Default

Champion brand from Sam's Club, dirt cheap and last forever. Been one in the rarely driven Vette for over 8 years....
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Best battery?





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:57 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE