Stock Battery Replacement
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Because the original battery in these cars became a potential problem, I went to a gel battery.. Ive had two Red Tops...in my 14 years of owner ship. the first one lasted 7 years and only replaced it because it was 7 years old, Ive had the second one for 6 years. Ive never used a battery tender in the winter..and Ive never had a non start issue... ( I rarely drive the car in the winter. ) Ive never had an issue with either red top. OH and BTW I still have the first one in my garage. I bought it in 2000 so its 12 years old and still lights up bulbs and 12 V items. Ive not tested it on a heavy load .. I recently use it when testing my seat track motor, switch and replay pack( and its 12 years old).. So I cant say enough about red tops.. but you will hear horror stories from many who bought a red top or yellow top. I would buy another one in a heart beat.
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,985
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
I replaced my factory battery within a year of having the car. I was worried about the factory one leaking and I was putting in a decent stereo. I went with a Optima yellow top. That battery has been going strong for 9 years now.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,415
Likes: 24,798
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
In my '00, I went with a Red Top and it lasted for 7 years and when I sold the car it was still working fine. When I bought my '03, it came with a Red Top and just after the 3 year mark, it went belly up. I replaced it with a Sears DieHard Platinum and in the two years I've had it, no problems. I do keep my car hooked to a Battery Tender when I'm not driving it.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,062
Likes: 104
From: Southeast, Tennessee
St. Jude Donor '09 thru '26
Because the original battery in these cars became a potential problem, I went to a gel battery.. Ive had two Red Tops...in my 14 years of owner ship. the first one lasted 7 years and only replaced it because it was 7 years old, Ive had the second one for 6 years. Ive never used a battery tender in the winter..and Ive never had a non start issue... ( I rarely drive the car in the winter. ) Ive never had an issue with either red top. OH and BTW I still have the first one in my garage. I bought it in 2000 so its 12 years old and still lights up bulbs and 12 V items. Ive not tested it on a heavy load .. I recently use it when testing my seat track motor, switch and replay pack( and its 12 years old).. So I cant say enough about red tops.. but you will hear horror stories from many who bought a red top or yellow top. I would buy another one in a heart beat.
i originally added an optima yellow top in my 78 because i didn't want a battery with the potential of leaking acid fumes into the car since the battery is located in the car behind the driver's seat (yes, i know there are vents in the battery box). it seemed like a no brainer. i got 6 years out of that one and never looked back. i have replaced every car battery when needed since with a gel optima both red and yellow. they make a great, dependable product.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
No need to spend big bucks....
I am running a $70 Costco Kirkland battery, a couple of years ago and it is running strong. My son had a Costco Kirkland in his car for 6 years - no problems at all.
Rule of thumb: You don't have to spend $200 for a battery. Even the Walmart Max performs well and lasts over 5 years.
Leaking is no longer an issue, as all major batteries have significantly-strengthened cases.
Rule of thumb: You don't have to spend $200 for a battery. Even the Walmart Max performs well and lasts over 5 years.
Leaking is no longer an issue, as all major batteries have significantly-strengthened cases.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,774
Likes: 363
From: Midland TX
I have had 3 Red Tops in my 2001. None of them ever failed to start the car; however, I was having trouble with the voltage gauge dropping as low as 11.2 at red lights after usually 2-3 weeks.
I replaced with a Die Hard Platinum with a higher RC rating and so far the gauge stays at about 13volts.
I am sure there is something else at the root of my 9 year old gauge problem, but I replaced the Starter, Alternator, Ignition Switch - everything I could think of and nothing improved the voltage drop at red lights after about 15-20 seconds except once cleaning the throttle butterfly helped immensely.
I replaced with a Die Hard Platinum with a higher RC rating and so far the gauge stays at about 13volts.
I am sure there is something else at the root of my 9 year old gauge problem, but I replaced the Starter, Alternator, Ignition Switch - everything I could think of and nothing improved the voltage drop at red lights after about 15-20 seconds except once cleaning the throttle butterfly helped immensely.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,058
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
battery
)so now almost 6 years later it still works fine so far...I may change it out this spring just for the heck of it and I will prolly go with the A/C Delco again...never had a bit of trouble with A/C Delco in decades of ownership of lots of vehicles
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 167
From: Rochester Hills Michigan
Because the original battery in these cars became a potential problem, I went to a gel battery.. Ive had two Red Tops...in my 14 years of owner ship. the first one lasted 7 years and only replaced it because it was 7 years old, Ive had the second one for 6 years. Ive never used a battery tender in the winter..and Ive never had a non start issue... ( I rarely drive the car in the winter. ) Ive never had an issue with either red top. OH and BTW I still have the first one in my garage. I bought it in 2000 so its 12 years old and still lights up bulbs and 12 V items. Ive not tested it on a heavy load .. I recently use it when testing my seat track motor, switch and replay pack( and its 12 years old).. So I cant say enough about red tops.. but you will hear horror stories from many who bought a red top or yellow top. I would buy another one in a heart beat.
I have basically the same story
, except my original Red Top is in the basement----reminds me ---- I should put it on a trickle!
Plus the Red Top looks cool in a RedC5!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 820
Likes: 5
From: Iowa
Die Hard Platinum-----just put it in, got one made this past month. Last Optimas lasted 3 and 4 years hooked up to tender routinely. I have a big stereo system and am just convinced that no battery is going to last on mine very long. I would rather not get stranded. Prevent is cheaper.
If your car is sitting, and constantly charging on the tender or often charging, you don't have very long. As soon as I changed the battery very little charging while sitting.
If your car is sitting, and constantly charging on the tender or often charging, you don't have very long. As soon as I changed the battery very little charging while sitting.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Is this a DUAL POST
REVISED Sams 78 battery specs.
BCI Group Size:78
CA at 32 degrees F:1020
CCA at 0 degrees F:850
Reserve Capacity:115
Volts:12
Cost $82.88
BCI Group Size:78
CA at 32 degrees F:1020
CCA at 0 degrees F:850
Reserve Capacity:115
Volts:12
Cost $82.88
Last edited by bighank; Dec 20, 2012 at 08:59 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
Being a long time boater and abuser of many batteries putting them to the test, I use Interstates exclusively in boat, bikes and cars.
I have heard about the leakage issue in vettes but in all my years I have never known a battery to leak acid.
As far as battery manufacturers, as long as you steer clear of Exide, the only batteries I have known to be total junk, you will be fine.
I have heard about the leakage issue in vettes but in all my years I have never known a battery to leak acid.
As far as battery manufacturers, as long as you steer clear of Exide, the only batteries I have known to be total junk, you will be fine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 820
Likes: 5
From: Iowa
I have personally researched and have never seen a type 78 battery with 1000 CCA's or even close. Possibly you are looking at some rating otherwise. Please correct me if I am wrong, but the highest I have seen in a 78 is in the 800 range for sustained CCA's.