Optima Battery What Size?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 207
Likes: 13
From: Belmont California
Optima Battery What Size?
My battery is dead again and I want to replace it with a sealed Optima. What is the max size that fits with side terminal posts in a 68?
Thanks in advance.
TT
Thanks in advance.
TT
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
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From: Columbia Missouri
I have a '77 with a Yellow top Optima. It fits great, and even though I converted to top post, I use the side posts for battery and tender. Also note that with the engine off, and it sitting on a shelf for six months prior to install...it held a 13V charge. With the tender on it, I get 13.4V. I would not get anything less than a Yellow top for your car.
Veteran
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Nashville, TN
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Last edited by King Lear; Jan 24, 2007 at 01:12 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,242
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From: Kalispell MT
The Optima website has a good tool for idnetifying the right battery for the application. I think you will find 3 batteries list for your car. Two redtops and one yellow. The yellow tops are deep cycle units, and from what I recall had a lower CCA rating than the largest red top that fits your application. Costco is now a distributor for Optima and their price beat my local store by $30. I bought the red top, but I don't think you can go wrong with either unit.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
I am pretty sure mine is a Red Top Optima. I put the Battery Tender on mine to keep it topped off and ready to go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,165
Likes: 950
From: Keizer Oregon
I got the Optima yellow top a couple of years ago. I pulled my engine and tranny over a year ago and left the negative lead hooked up to the battery (helps fight frame rust) I got pre-occupied and the battery remained in the car for over a year (garaged ). I got around to charging the battery last week...........It didn't even need it! Still read almost 13 volts
Last edited by oregonsharkman; Jan 24, 2007 at 09:04 AM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The red is smaller than the yellow but not by much. I've been using top post batteries in my Vette since I bought it. That was one of the first things I did was ditch the side post terminals.
The top posts of the Optima don't have to be used, but I think they make it very handy when trying to jump yourself or another car.
The top posts of the Optima don't have to be used, but I think they make it very handy when trying to jump yourself or another car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 17
From: Inlet Beach, FL
The Optima website has a good tool for idnetifying the right battery for the application. I think you will find 3 batteries list for your car. Two redtops and one yellow. The yellow tops are deep cycle units, and from what I recall had a lower CCA rating than the largest red top that fits your application. Costco is now a distributor for Optima and their price beat my local store by $30. I bought the red top, but I don't think you can go wrong with either unit.
I bought mine at the local Costco also. The price can't be beat. I paid more for a 6volt Optima red top used in my Farmall Cub tractor by buying from an internet vendor than I paid for the vettes 12volt Optima red top from Costco.
I also bought a CTEK US3300 battery charger to keep the Optima fresh during non-use periods of extended duration.
Last edited by Brass Pass; Jan 24, 2007 at 12:48 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
I agree. If you spend the coin for a good Optima battery, then get a good battery tender. You can get an easy five or six years out of a good tended battery, and that's with 13V+ the whole way.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
The stock hold down may not work, and a custom one will need to be worked up...but it'll fit in the cavity just fine.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Maybe only a few models come with hold downs. Or, maybe at some vendors, they remove the caps and sell only the battery.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
This is what I have and it keeps my Optima right at 13.5V.
http://batterytender.com/product_info.php?products_id=2
