Battery replacement for 70 lt1
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Cruising
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 13
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Battery replacement for 70 lt1
I need to replace my battery on a 1970 lt1. Can anyone recommend a good choice. Also, should a battery tender be used during the driving months. What is the proper way to store a battery in the winter. Should the battery be pulled and placed on a charger or tender?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,656
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I typically just recommend going to walmart for the past decade, but I had to get a battery for my regular car last week and a friend told me to compare with costco. Sho' 'nuff..... Costco had a better deal..... about 30 bucks better deal for a 3-year vs a 2-year warranty...so even he warranty was better.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,101
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From: Chapel Hill NC
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I have good luck with Walmart batteries. I leave all my collectibles on battery tenders all the time and don't remove the batteries during the winter.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Omaha NE
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I have four cars & four Walmart batteries but I'll check out Costco next time...
No need to ever remove, I just set the charger to 10 amps a couple of times during the winter for an hour...
No need to ever remove, I just set the charger to 10 amps a couple of times during the winter for an hour...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,656
Likes: 1,356
Yeah, I'd been defaulting to Walmart for at least 10 years. The Walmart battery in my 68 is from january 2013.....it just won't die and I don't even drive it a lot. I do have a 140-amp CS-144 in it that probably has kept it buffed up when I do drive it.
On my car I leave outside I installed a solar trickle charger for the battery. It is about wonderful.
On my car I leave outside I installed a solar trickle charger for the battery. It is about wonderful.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
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From: Cool Northern Michigan
Partly true. Different color cases, different labels on the case.
However, the internals are of different quality according to price and CCA. You can not tell me that a $225 battery has the exact same internals as the $29.95 unit.
I can tell you that the more cranking amps in a given size case, the thinner the plates are inside. Plate quantity is what determines CCA. You can only get so many plates inside a spcific size case. So, huge CCA have thinner plates and the quality can faulter. The thinner plates vibrate loose and cancel amps.
Having said that, you are better off staying in the 650 - 800 range of CCA as opposed to 800-1200 with thinner plates.
However, the internals are of different quality according to price and CCA. You can not tell me that a $225 battery has the exact same internals as the $29.95 unit.
I can tell you that the more cranking amps in a given size case, the thinner the plates are inside. Plate quantity is what determines CCA. You can only get so many plates inside a spcific size case. So, huge CCA have thinner plates and the quality can faulter. The thinner plates vibrate loose and cancel amps.
Having said that, you are better off staying in the 650 - 800 range of CCA as opposed to 800-1200 with thinner plates.
Last edited by HeadsU.P.; May 14, 2023 at 05:01 PM.
Advanced
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 58
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For hobby vehicles that are stored for extended periods, an AGM battery holds its charge longer and has a longer lifespan overall vs. a flooded lead acid battery. AGM's typically last up to seven years where the latest lead acid batteries are usually good for 3-5 years. They also hold up better in low temps if that is a factor. They have up to 5x faster re-charging as well.
An added safety feature is the lack of a spillable liquid acid during an accident considering the battery is in the passenger cabin and they have little to no off-gassing as well which is better suited to their location.
AGM's are a bit more money out of pocket, but considering the overall cost of the hobby not enough to pinch pennies on. .02
An added safety feature is the lack of a spillable liquid acid during an accident considering the battery is in the passenger cabin and they have little to no off-gassing as well which is better suited to their location.
AGM's are a bit more money out of pocket, but considering the overall cost of the hobby not enough to pinch pennies on. .02
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 158
Likes: 82
From: North Coast
Well that’s a bummer!
My optima was purchased 10/11/2012,still going strong.
i don’t use a battery tender or charger, car gets driven once a week unless it’s raining, I must have got lucky with mine!
My optima was purchased 10/11/2012,still going strong.
i don’t use a battery tender or charger, car gets driven once a week unless it’s raining, I must have got lucky with mine!
Dr. Detroit
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 10,090
Likes: 4,015
From: New Braunfels Texas
I use the cheapest series Available from O'Reilley's.......I get 5-6 years out of them for less than $100....
I do not use a tender, I have the blade style disconnect.....
I do not recommend Optima batteries......aside from the fact that there is no real reason to own one (Unless you have a 2000watt stereo in your C3).......you can purchase 3 El Cheapo's for the cost of one Optima......
Some people swear by them......but not me.
Jebby
I do not use a tender, I have the blade style disconnect.....
I do not recommend Optima batteries......aside from the fact that there is no real reason to own one (Unless you have a 2000watt stereo in your C3).......you can purchase 3 El Cheapo's for the cost of one Optima......
Some people swear by them......but not me.
Jebby
Advanced
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 58
Likes: 39
You can get an AGM battery from Walmart for $170 bucks .
Regarding Optima.... yes they had issues when they first moved to production to Mexico...15 years ago. Those issues have been fixed long ago but the stigma remains. Similar to Fram oil filters. Fram has revamped their entire lineup yet people still link stories to pics of their failed old filters with the old crappy construction.
Regarding Optima.... yes they had issues when they first moved to production to Mexico...15 years ago. Those issues have been fixed long ago but the stigma remains. Similar to Fram oil filters. Fram has revamped their entire lineup yet people still link stories to pics of their failed old filters with the old crappy construction.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 8,336
Likes: 2,809
From: Cool Northern Michigan
I use the cheapest series Available from O'Reilley's.......I get 5-6 years out of them for less than $100....
I do not use a tender, I have the blade style disconnect.....
I do not recommend Optima batteries......aside from the fact that there is no real reason to own one (Unless you have a 2000watt stereo in your C3).......you can purchase 3 El Cheapo's for the cost of one Optima......
Some people swear by them......but not me.
Jebby
I do not use a tender, I have the blade style disconnect.....
I do not recommend Optima batteries......aside from the fact that there is no real reason to own one (Unless you have a 2000watt stereo in your C3).......you can purchase 3 El Cheapo's for the cost of one Optima......
Some people swear by them......but not me.
Jebby
However, I do not enjoy removing el cheapos and taking them to town and have the store test and then tell me its shot. That is not fun.
I would rather do that once every 10, 12, 14 yrs.
At almost 13 yrs I returned my Red Top due to starting issues. Counter person says its still fine, lots of life left. But I bought another anyway.
(turned out to be a solenoid issue)
Batteries are like tires. You can keep buying cheap **** over & over & over or buy something decent once.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,656
Likes: 1,356
non-optima never again. Fool me once - shame on you...... Fool me twice --- not happening.
I use the cheapest series Available from O'Reilley's.......I get 5-6 years out of them for less than $100....
I do not use a tender, I have the blade style disconnect.....
I do not recommend Optima batteries......aside from the fact that there is no real reason to own one (Unless you have a 2000watt stereo in your C3).......you can purchase 3 El Cheapo's for the cost of one Optima......
Some people swear by them......but not me.
Jebby
I do not use a tender, I have the blade style disconnect.....
I do not recommend Optima batteries......aside from the fact that there is no real reason to own one (Unless you have a 2000watt stereo in your C3).......you can purchase 3 El Cheapo's for the cost of one Optima......
Some people swear by them......but not me.
Jebby