OPTIMA: GO or NO GO!!!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
quote:
Sounds like that store definitely got a "Friday" batch.
I would never buy any battery again(including sears die hard gold) if I knew their quality control let 3 bad ones in a row out.
Seriously, if you guys like hacksawing off battery posts, defacing your battery trays and keeping up with the latest buzzwords in ricer junk (the optima batteries), then thats your business.
But, when im in the staging lanes with my engine off and nitrous bottle heater 'on' I want the best. Optima didnt cut it on three occasions.
Sounds like that store definitely got a "Friday" batch.
I would never buy any battery again(including sears die hard gold) if I knew their quality control let 3 bad ones in a row out.
Seriously, if you guys like hacksawing off battery posts, defacing your battery trays and keeping up with the latest buzzwords in ricer junk (the optima batteries), then thats your business.
But, when im in the staging lanes with my engine off and nitrous bottle heater 'on' I want the best. Optima didnt cut it on three occasions.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 1
From: Tracy CA
Exide 84 month in the 'Vette, Die Hard Silver in the 
Toyota Pickup . Both replaced within 10 months of each other.
If you disconnect the effen underhood lights, and watch your interior lights when the engine is off (you know... don't leave the hatch open for, say, 3 hours while you run all over town looking for 3rd brakelight bulbs that cost too much anyway
... ), you should be fine.
If I'm gonna be doing something that requires a door to be open for a short while, I'll just keep the engine running (garage door open, of course). If it's gonna take a little while, I hook a trickle charger up. I try not to disconnect the battery. Don't wanna loose the codes it took me sooo long to collect!
-Eric
Toyota Pickup . Both replaced within 10 months of each other.If you disconnect the effen underhood lights, and watch your interior lights when the engine is off (you know... don't leave the hatch open for, say, 3 hours while you run all over town looking for 3rd brakelight bulbs that cost too much anyway
... ), you should be fine.If I'm gonna be doing something that requires a door to be open for a short while, I'll just keep the engine running (garage door open, of course). If it's gonna take a little while, I hook a trickle charger up. I try not to disconnect the battery. Don't wanna loose the codes it took me sooo long to collect!
-Eric
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Since I started this mess 
, and if I go with the Optima:
1) What color?
and
2) What size?
Now for those who believe I am making the biggest mistake of all time (I did buy a 2001 F150
), lead to the promised land? 
What and What?
, and if I go with the Optima:1) What color?
and
2) What size?
Now for those who believe I am making the biggest mistake of all time (I did buy a 2001 F150
), lead to the promised land? What and What?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Since I started this mess, and I do decide to go with the Optima:
What size?
and
What Color? (It does sit for an extended period of time! and it is a '91)
For those that believe I am making the biggest mistake of all time (I did buy a 2001 F150) Lead me to the promised land of well equipped batteries 
!!!!!
What? and What?
, and I do decide to go with the Optima:What size?
and
What Color? (It does sit for an extended period of time! and it is a '91)
For those that believe I am making the biggest mistake of all time (I did buy a 2001 F150
) Lead me to the promised land of well equipped batteries !!!!!What? and What?
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
Since I am the one that started this mess: And I decide to go with the Optima battery:
What color?
and
What size?
For those of you that think I am making the biggest mistake of all time(I did buy a 2001 F150), Lead me the the promissed land of well equipped batteries for a '91 "turquoise beauty" that sometimes ists for long periods of time!!!!!
What make?
and
What size?
And I decide to go with the Optima battery:What color?
and
What size?
For those of you that think I am making the biggest mistake of all time(I did buy a 2001 F150
), Lead me the the promissed land of well equipped batteries for a '91 "turquoise beauty" that sometimes ists for long periods of time!!!!! What make?
and
What size?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,059
Likes: 2
From: Texas
Originally Posted by dizwiz24
quote:
Sounds like that store definitely got a "Friday" batch.
I would never buy any battery again(including sears die hard gold) if I knew their quality control let 3 bad ones in a row out.
Seriously, if you guys like hacksawing off battery posts, defacing your battery trays and keeping up with the latest buzzwords in ricer junk (the optima batteries), then thats your business.
But, when im in the staging lanes with my engine off and nitrous bottle heater 'on' I want the best. Optima didnt cut it on three occasions.
Sounds like that store definitely got a "Friday" batch.
I would never buy any battery again(including sears die hard gold) if I knew their quality control let 3 bad ones in a row out.
Seriously, if you guys like hacksawing off battery posts, defacing your battery trays and keeping up with the latest buzzwords in ricer junk (the optima batteries), then thats your business.
But, when im in the staging lanes with my engine off and nitrous bottle heater 'on' I want the best. Optima didnt cut it on three occasions.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,680
Likes: 752
From: NEwhere Ohio
go to sears and get the die hard gold.
I dont know what size. I do know they stock 2 versions. One for nothern and one for southern climates.
The nothern version has more cold cranking amps. The southern version has a longer reserve capacity.
Although I live in the north, I preferred the longer reserve capacity(corvtte is a summer only car), but had to go with the more cold cranking amps version.
I dont know what size. I do know they stock 2 versions. One for nothern and one for southern climates.
The nothern version has more cold cranking amps. The southern version has a longer reserve capacity.
Although I live in the north, I preferred the longer reserve capacity(corvtte is a summer only car), but had to go with the more cold cranking amps version.
Pro
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 682
Likes: 1
From: Annapolis MD
i just put an optima in my vette. one thing they didn't give me till i went back for the alternator (replaced both at the same time) they gave me the tie down piece you need for it. it fit right in with no problems. about 20 mins later both the alternator and battery were in the car with no problems.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,277
Likes: 1
From: Santa Maria CA
got OPTIMAs in both my cars. work great. no complants and no trimming for my 84 vette.i used the REDTOP 75/35 version,it was a direct replacement that fit perfect. my vette has had it for 1 year and my pontiac has had it for 3 years. never had to charge either of em' for any reason. the pontiac has been neglected sometimes and still starts after a month of sitting.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,491
Likes: 1
From: prescott AZ
I have the red top Optima for a little over 2 years in my 88. Cutting off the top post is not needed and will damage the battery. All I had to do was to trim 2 small plastic tabs from the battery tray. I used a chisel and it took 10 seconds each tab. The top post did not hit the cruise control or any other part. i recommend this battery. You do not have to worry about it leaking and damaging the electronics under the battery. It is $99 at my Costco.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 16,950
Likes: 0
From: Stafford, Virginia Kittah, Kittah, Kittah...
Originally Posted by dizwiz24
If these are built with such quality in mind, then why did I have 3 in a row defective? Apparently, (just like at Ford), if quality is job 1, Id sure hate to know what job #2 is......
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,397
Likes: 22
From: Rockledge Florida
St. Jude Donor '07 thru '14, '24
Page 23 latest Corvette Fever claims that the Optima 75/25
Yellow-top will fit all corvettes except 90 to 96. due to battery post
interference. A few hours ago I installed an Optima 75/35 red top in my 86 coupe & it fit like a charm.The hardest part was re-installing the side panel.Last week I called Optima & they said that only the 75/25 would fit. But Sears had a chart that said go with the 75/35.
$109.00
Yellow-top will fit all corvettes except 90 to 96. due to battery post
interference. A few hours ago I installed an Optima 75/35 red top in my 86 coupe & it fit like a charm.The hardest part was re-installing the side panel.Last week I called Optima & they said that only the 75/25 would fit. But Sears had a chart that said go with the 75/35.
$109.00
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
I've got a Red Optima in the 90 and my Dad's 86. The 86 fit with no trimming at all. The 90 required that I slightly notch (just a tap with a die grinder) the support that runs over it - the support on the 86 was smaller and not in the way. I did not want to hack up the battery incase I had to use the warranty.
The reason I got the Optima is that it will not leak. The previous owner put in an Interstate (I think?) and it really screwed up the mounting hardware for the battery tray - took 5 hrs to remove the tray (4 bolts) to get to the SRS sensor (INFL REST Light prob).
The reason I got the Optima is that it will not leak. The previous owner put in an Interstate (I think?) and it really screwed up the mounting hardware for the battery tray - took 5 hrs to remove the tray (4 bolts) to get to the SRS sensor (INFL REST Light prob).
Pro
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
From: Oregon
Originally Posted by jrscott
After posting this in the wrong section (and catching grief for it{must have been a rookie mistake}) I thought I would try the real thing and see what flies:
Has anyone tried to replace their battery with one of the Optima batteries and how did it compare to the original? How was the install? This would be in a '91!!!
Has anyone tried to replace their battery with one of the Optima batteries and how did it compare to the original? How was the install? This would be in a '91!!!
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Is it any better / worse than any other battery? Flip a coin. I believe that it is, others will tell you that they are complete crap. As for trimming the battery tray, you don't have to if you buy the right battery. You also don't have to trim the positive battery post, just leave the plastic cap on it!
Safety Car
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,651
Likes: 5
From: Atlantis
Cruise-In I Veteran
Red Top in my '84 for the past two years. No trimming. It fit right in there.
It sits for weeks sometimes and always starts right up.
If I was going to let one sit for months at a time, I'd get the Yellow Top Optima.
The design is a GREAT idea!
It's simple enough to understand that's a much better way to build a cell than the old plate style cells.
Not arguing with anyone but, the ONLY reason I'd not ALWAYS use an Optima battery is the increased cost over standard batteries.
It sits for weeks sometimes and always starts right up.
If I was going to let one sit for months at a time, I'd get the Yellow Top Optima.
The design is a GREAT idea!
It's simple enough to understand that's a much better way to build a cell than the old plate style cells.
Not arguing with anyone but, the ONLY reason I'd not ALWAYS use an Optima battery is the increased cost over standard batteries.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 5,726
Likes: 46
From: Waukesha WI
St. Jude Donor '15
I also left the red cap on the post for awhile but I noticed that after a few thousand miles the support was wearing the cap so I notched the support a little - perfect now.