What is the largest battery I purchase?
03-02-2018, 11:31 AM
#21
Actually, the more CCA, the thinner the plates.
The increased CCA is due to more plates. To accomplish this in the same case, the plates are thinner. Thinner plates do not last as long as a lower CCA battery with thicker plates.
Either way, when the plates corrode and eventually fill the dead space below, and short out the plates, they are done.
I use batteries with adequate CCA, and have good luck.
The increased CCA is due to more plates. To accomplish this in the same case, the plates are thinner. Thinner plates do not last as long as a lower CCA battery with thicker plates.
Either way, when the plates corrode and eventually fill the dead space below, and short out the plates, they are done.
I use batteries with adequate CCA, and have good luck.
03-02-2018, 11:57 AM
#22
Le Mans Master
Optima batteries are way overpriced and as others have stated, Optima's have a high failure rate as well as a much shorter life than traditional lead acid batteries. Most batteries are made by the same manfacturers using different labels. Buy a reasonably high CCA amp battery (no, you don't need 1000 amps BTW).
The best batteries BY FAR that I have used over the past 20 years were Costco Kirkland batteries that would last on average 12+ years each. Unfortunately, Costco no longer sells Kirkland batteries so I can't make a recommendation for the brand they sell now. My last Kirkland battery that I still own is installed in a DD car, my 2001 Pontiac Grand prix 3.1 V6 motor that is on its 11th year and showing zero signs of weakness...incredible!
I have also had good luck with Walmart batteries and Interstate.............BUT nothing beat the old Kirkland batteries.............Of course, they are gone now...THEY WERE GREAT BATTERIES AND WERE CHEAPER THAN ALL THE OTHER BRANDS. go figure??????????!!!!!!!!!!
The best batteries BY FAR that I have used over the past 20 years were Costco Kirkland batteries that would last on average 12+ years each. Unfortunately, Costco no longer sells Kirkland batteries so I can't make a recommendation for the brand they sell now. My last Kirkland battery that I still own is installed in a DD car, my 2001 Pontiac Grand prix 3.1 V6 motor that is on its 11th year and showing zero signs of weakness...incredible!
I have also had good luck with Walmart batteries and Interstate.............BUT nothing beat the old Kirkland batteries.............Of course, they are gone now...THEY WERE GREAT BATTERIES AND WERE CHEAPER THAN ALL THE OTHER BRANDS. go figure??????????!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by jb78L-82; 03-02-2018 at 12:31 PM.
03-02-2018, 01:06 PM
#23
Melting Slicks
When you walk into Walmart and you count 27 dead Optima batteries sitting in a pile on the floor, that was a pretty good indication that they are junk. Not one car guy here has that crap in his car.
Last edited by Grumpy 427; 03-02-2018 at 04:08 PM.
03-02-2018, 03:09 PM
#25
Le Mans Master
Same ol' forum crap by the same ol' forums self centered opinions:
My carb is the best ever, never fails me blah-blah-blah
Such & such oil is the best and you should not use any other blah-blah-blah
Only use a certain oil filter. No other will perform the same blah-blah-blah
My battery is the best, numero uno, all others are junk blah-blah-blah
If you don't use what I use, you are nobody blah-blah-blah.
To the orginal poster: do some research on brands, read the reviews, check prices, check the warranty, make your own decision.
My carb is the best ever, never fails me blah-blah-blah
Such & such oil is the best and you should not use any other blah-blah-blah
Only use a certain oil filter. No other will perform the same blah-blah-blah
My battery is the best, numero uno, all others are junk blah-blah-blah
If you don't use what I use, you are nobody blah-blah-blah.
To the orginal poster: do some research on brands, read the reviews, check prices, check the warranty, make your own decision.
You may want to try the approach of, Jeez, may be I should reevaluate my recommendation based on some of the thread's comments rather than going on the offensive.....................Just a thought.............
Last edited by jb78L-82; 03-02-2018 at 03:09 PM.
03-02-2018, 03:32 PM
#26
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Apr 2001
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Grumpy,
Sure like to see some documentation, graphs, charts & reviews of your statement.
A quick Google search shows 82% of Optima customers were happy with their purchase. The other 18% were not happy with the return policy offered by mail-order companies whose name I will not mention. (Who wants to pay the return shipping anyway, right?) My past experience is to purchase a battery through a store and let them fight with the company about return shpg.
I have had very good luck with the Red Top. I keep a trickle charger on it all winter.
Most people do not know how to recharge any AGM batteries. You can bring them back from the dead. You have to trick the charger into charging, but that's another story.
Extreme Off Road web site fellas virtually beat the Optima to death. Hard jolts, bumps, lots of cranking and discharged it several times with headlights left on and could not kill it. But that was the Yellow Top.
Sure like to see some documentation, graphs, charts & reviews of your statement.
A quick Google search shows 82% of Optima customers were happy with their purchase. The other 18% were not happy with the return policy offered by mail-order companies whose name I will not mention. (Who wants to pay the return shipping anyway, right?) My past experience is to purchase a battery through a store and let them fight with the company about return shpg.
I have had very good luck with the Red Top. I keep a trickle charger on it all winter.
Most people do not know how to recharge any AGM batteries. You can bring them back from the dead. You have to trick the charger into charging, but that's another story.
Extreme Off Road web site fellas virtually beat the Optima to death. Hard jolts, bumps, lots of cranking and discharged it several times with headlights left on and could not kill it. But that was the Yellow Top.
Most folks don't know how to charge them. All those dead batteries are probably that one reason. I have a red top optima I've been using since 2006. Its all about taking care of the battery properly.
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HeadsU.P. (03-02-2018)
03-02-2018, 03:39 PM
#27
Le Mans Master
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I hear ya. I am guilty there. I do not know nor have I tried to charge a complete dead Red Top. Saw some videos on Youtube, something about running another battery next to any AGM battery in series perhaps? Or in parallel? I do not know. Anyway, the idea is to trick the charger into charging some how.
03-02-2018, 03:53 PM
#28
Safety Car
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2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have always had great luck with Sears DieHard batteries. With everything that seems to be happening at Sears, I hope my luck continues. I have a Die Hard Platinum in my Sport Trac and it has been really good but seems to be giving me some problems this winter.
03-02-2018, 04:07 PM
#29
Le Mans Master
Costco, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club...etc
These batteries are all made at the same factories and labeled differently. Quit throwing money down the toilet. Wal-Mart sells at reasonable price and has a good warranty with it. Get a battery that is the same size and configuration called for in your Owner's Manual.
The battery with a lot of cranking amps is good for low temperature starts. If your car is left out in upper Minnesota in the winter, you might need one. Otherwise, about any decent battery will start your engine.
These batteries are all made at the same factories and labeled differently. Quit throwing money down the toilet. Wal-Mart sells at reasonable price and has a good warranty with it. Get a battery that is the same size and configuration called for in your Owner's Manual.
The battery with a lot of cranking amps is good for low temperature starts. If your car is left out in upper Minnesota in the winter, you might need one. Otherwise, about any decent battery will start your engine.
03-02-2018, 04:16 PM
#30
Le Mans Master
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I hear ya. I am guilty there. I do not know nor have I tried to charge a complete dead Red Top. Saw some videos on Youtube, something about running another battery next to any AGM battery in series perhaps? Or in parallel? I do not know. Anyway, the idea is to trick the charger into charging some how.
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HeadsU.P. (03-02-2018)
03-02-2018, 06:41 PM
#31
Le Mans Master
03-02-2018, 06:49 PM
#32
Melting Slicks
https://www.autozone.com/batteries-s...archText=34DLG
7yrs old and still cranking my BB. Has a better warranty than most.
A little bigger and stronger that the stock mod.
7yrs old and still cranking my BB. Has a better warranty than most.
A little bigger and stronger that the stock mod.
03-02-2018, 07:47 PM
#33
Team Owner
Skip over all the crappy batteries posted above and buy the best new technology. AGM batteries are not a wet cell. I think the one I have is 850 or 900 CCA
As to the hold down bolt in block. Maybe try looking into Rick's corvettes
AGM batteries
As to the hold down bolt in block. Maybe try looking into Rick's corvettes
AGM batteries
03-02-2018, 08:27 PM
#34
03-02-2018, 08:32 PM
#35
Team Owner
I don't think anyone answered the OPs question correctly! 
I would say measure how big your battery box is!
I would say measure how big your battery box is!
03-02-2018, 08:40 PM
#36
03-02-2018, 10:17 PM
#37
Safety Car
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2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I have a group 78 Interstate in my 68 BB and it works and fits just fine.
None of the newer battery case bases are configured for our older GM hold downs that I am aware of. I did my best to secure it but it probably would come dislodged in a roll over. In that case I have bigger problems.
Marshal
None of the newer battery case bases are configured for our older GM hold downs that I am aware of. I did my best to secure it but it probably would come dislodged in a roll over. In that case I have bigger problems.
Marshal
If you roll your C3 and it rests upside down after the roll, you probably have bigger issues than the battery.................
03-03-2018, 07:02 PM
#39
Team Owner
This is what I have
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/durace...prod3590233.ip
Rik's corvette parts. I get to work on older vettes and they have hard to find stuff
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~partsort
https://www.samsclub.com/sams/durace...prod3590233.ip
Rik's corvette parts. I get to work on older vettes and they have hard to find stuff
http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~partsort
03-03-2018, 08:19 PM
#40
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '22
Actually, the more CCA, the thinner the plates.
The increased CCA is due to more plates. To accomplish this in the same case, the plates are thinner. Thinner plates do not last as long as a lower CCA battery with thicker plates.
Either way, when the plates corrode and eventually fill the dead space below, and short out the plates, they are done.
I use batteries with adequate CCA, and have good luck.
The increased CCA is due to more plates. To accomplish this in the same case, the plates are thinner. Thinner plates do not last as long as a lower CCA battery with thicker plates.
Either way, when the plates corrode and eventually fill the dead space below, and short out the plates, they are done.
I use batteries with adequate CCA, and have good luck.
i worked as a sears battery/tire guy in my youth.
the bigger amp longer life diehards were the ones that
failed.
the low amp 3 year ones rarely had any trouble.