I have a 10 year old Kirkland Battery in my '71 (468 ci hi compression) and its still going strong - I think Costco (Kirkland) does their homework for the best quality & value.

 

I have not paid for a battery in my DD's for over 10 years thanks to Walmart Maxx batteries and there 3 year warranty. Typically the battery's do not last 3 years and they replace them once you bring them in. I installed the biggest one I could fit into the Vette. So far its working fine.

 

Yep: Optima. I bought the Yellow top which has 50 CCA less than the red, but is has more charge holding capacity.

 

I have had several.I like the fact that they will not eat your cables up.If you let it discharge it will take a while to charge it back up.a good 100amp charger will do it fairly quick.I just replaced one that was going on 7 years old.I have 2 in my truck.one in the vette and my othere car and 2 in the boat.If you keep them charged up in the first place it won't be a problem.I keep a battery tender on any of them that sit a lot during winter.

 

Have an Interstate battery. Can sit for months and then start up. Will charge up and be fine.

 

I've been doing the Costco thing, no problems. Next, I'm going to try one of those lightweight (11 lbs) Briale batteries or equivalent. I just need it to start. I have electric water pump and fan, but I also have a CS133 alternator. Also, with the fuel injection, it starts right up. Never needs long cranks.
Bee Jay

 

Ya, same here, a longer crank

 

The biggest difference in batteries is the price. You would be suprised how few actual battery manufacturers there are.

 

Like I said earlier, buy a kirkland (Costco) and save your money-going on 13 years now on the 78 C3 and the 1994 Mustang GT. What else do you need to know? Both cars have battery quick disconnects on the negative terminal and neither one has ever not started the car, got me stuck, or needed to be charged. All they have done for very little money is worked-period!

 

My son did a lot of research on batteries. Here is what he sent me:

My Jeep Battery is waning, so I started doing some research re: best car batteries. Since it's coming to winter, I figured I would share my research to save you time if you need a battery this year.

There are only three major battery manufacturers these days, and nearly all of the brands come from these three (Delphi, Exide & Johnson Controls).

I've attached the following best value rankings list from from CarsDirect. Many other sites had similar value rankings (perhaps one or another in a different order), but almost always Kirkland at the top because of the warranty. Some other brands are stated to be better (quality) batteries, but those can cost 3-4 times as much.

Obviously, I'm not a Costco member, but Walmart's EverStart is #2/#3 on mostof the lists, too. It has a three year warranty, and that's what I'll be getting for my Jeep. (My OEM went about 4.5 yrs and so did my last Walmart battery.)

You can continue selecting "Next Article" at the bottom of the CarsDirect articles and learn more about car batteries than you ever wanted to know...

Pops, Please note: Several sites indicate that you should disconnect your battery for the winter if you won't be using the vehicle (e.g. - Vette, Tractor). This prevents discharge.

======================================== ======================================== ================

From: http://www.carsdirect.com/car-mainte...ng-performance

The Best (Value) Car Battery Brand to Use for Lasting Performance

The type of car battery brand you choose is important as some batteries are better than others and there are many different types. There are many different features you want to compare such as the car battery life, amp hours of the car battery, amount of charge left and more. Different cars will require different batteries, so it is important you purchase one that will work for your vehicle.


1.Kirkland Signature: The Kirkland Signature is only available at Costco and is an excellent battery for the price. The amp ratings and performance match many of the super premium brand batteries, though the price is half. These batteries are excellent for cold weather and you can feel confident knowing your car will always start, even when the temperature is below freezing. You also get a full refund if the battery should fail, no matter what the cause.
2.EverStart: EverStart batteries are available at Walmart and are made by a company that also produces some of the premium brand batteries. These have excellent performance and are very affordable. The amp ratings are perfect for extreme weather and below freezing temperatures. There is no maintenance involved and very easy to use.
3.AC Delco: AC Delco batteries are one of the best brands. These all pass vigorous quality tests, so you will never have a problem with a battery. The terminals are free of corrosion and the reservoir is quite large, so the charge holds for years. There is no maintenance and there is a limited warranty that will fully replace the battery should something go wrong. The 6 series offers a great punch for your buck, as they are high performance but very affordable.
4.Duralast: The same company that makes DieHard and Sears car batteries produces Duralast car batteries. These can be found at AutoZone stores. This battery matches the performance found in the DieHard batteries, so you have 800+ cold cranking amps. This will start most cars in below freezing temperatures. It has a large reserve and is maintenance free. This budget battery offers excellent performance.
5.DieHard: DieHard batteries are marketed from Sears and are considered a premium car battery. These are supposed to last forever, and while this may not be quite true, they last much longer than other batteries. They offer a range of car batteries including a heavy duty line, premium line and medium duty car batteries. DieHard also produces battery boosters, battery chargers, and batteries for other non-automotive vehicles.
6.NAPA Car Battery: The NAPA performance line has one of the longest battery lives and one of the best cold cranking amps scores. The warranty lasts for 2 years. This battery can handle a wide range of temperatures and comes in many different sizes. NAPA Legend batteries are the best performance for value. No matter, your car there is a NAPA battery that will fit it.
7.Optima: Optima batteries are expensive, but they are known for working in all conditions, orientations, and last a long time, many times longer than the car. They have batteries for SUVS, trucks, and other vehicles besides just a standard car.

 

I bought a Braille last spring thru Jegs and it works great and if you want to remove it for winter storage it's a lot less strain to get it out. I now use the extra space for carrying a few tools in that compartment. They are not cheap but so far I really like it.

 

Can you tell me which Braille you bought, how much it weighs, and how you like it. I'm also looking at XS batteries.
Bee Jay

 

It was the B3121C. I put it on just before installing my new engine last spring. It has no problems starting the 10.3:1 CR on 555 cu in. It's not cheap, but it's light and small. I'll buy another one when this one goes. 2 of my buds up here are running them since I got mine also without issues.

Link attached:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Braille+Auto/147/B3121C/10002/-1

 

Optima Red Top. Be sure to get a CTEK Charger to charge it. They are designed to charge the Optima Batteries.
I have on in my 82. Love it!!

 

Here is what I can tell you from my 10 years of experience in battery sales and service.

Delphi - never sold them myself, but I have owned them with no complaints. The OEM battery in my 2005 Silverado lasted 6 years.

Exide / GNB - garbage! The more expensive GNB is better than the cheaper GNB, but none are as good as a mid-range Johnson Controls battery.

Johnson Controls - Probably the best of the big three. As with most products, stay away from their cheapest line, but their mid-levels are good and their upper levels are great.

Wal-Mart batteries - Walmart buys from more than one manufacturer, depending on region. In Louisiana and Mississippi, GNB supplies Wal-Mart's batteries, and they are trash. I have seen Wal-Mart batteries from other regions that were not made by GNB. I remember seeing one sold in Arizona made by the same company that makes Motorcraft batteries.

 

Something else you all need to consider!

C3 batteries are mounted inside the cabin, not under the hood. You NEED either a sealed non-vented battery like an Optima, or you need to make sure whatever battery you buy is compatible with your vent hoses.

 

A WalMart battery was in my 68 when I got it in Dec 2003, and still in there and working fine. Previous owner installed it in 2001. When my Tahoe (now gone) needed a new battery, well, I went and got a WalMart one...

 

I can’t believe how many posts this site has on battery issues, some going back four or five years. It took me awhile to read through most of them and I’m still left with a few unanswered questions. My C3 has a dead Kirkland installed, but it’s been there for well over 10 years. I need to stop by the local Costco tomorrow to see if they still make a model that fits my car with dual-posts. As someone else mentioned, dual-posts make it very easy to attach a battery-maintainer and that should be mandatory for all seasonal users. I haven’t read anything about the Interstate Mega-Tron Plus battery and they appear to be less expensive than the Optima. The “Braille” brand seems to be priced so far above everything else (almost $300) and I’m not sure I understand the additional benefit at that price. For those of you buying ACDelco batteries, who are your suppliers? Is that a dealership item? Summit Racing sells ACDelco items, but not batteries. I found some suppliers on the internet, but the shipping is astronomical. I never penny-pinch with my Vette, but I’m not in the habit of throwing money out-the-window either. Everyone seems to have different stories concerning the longevity of their batteries and all things being equal, I guess it’s a matter of climate, maintenance techniques, use, etc. Like Chuck (My 76 Ray) stated earlier, there are only so many manufactures of batteries; how long they last in your car, no one can tell in advance. Thanks for all your input guys. I learn something new every time I go on the forum.

 

Yes Sir; I buy mine at the local GM dealers. Part # ACD3478BA Dual post,. The last one I bought was 4-20-2010 75.71 Plus tax of 5.89 & old battery. I don't know what they are today,. I have one in my 1957 , my 1979, & my 1982. Have a great day. Gene

 

happy with my ac delco. been going strong now for some time and i like the green light that shows battery charge