Optima Battery Tie Down
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Branchburg, NJ
Optima Battery Tie Down
Anybody else have problems with the Optima "V" shaped tie-down holding their battery? I try to tighten it down pretty good, but not too much, but the battery always seems to slide out from under it.
Has anybody come up with a better tie-down solution for these batteries?
Has anybody come up with a better tie-down solution for these batteries?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,995
Likes: 61
From: Fort Wayne IN
I've got the same tie down and don't have any problems although I see how it could slip out since it angles up to the battery. You might try to raise the bolt down end up so it's not angled as much. You could use washers or a spacer on the bolt. That's what I was going to do if it did not hold. Hope this helps. $.02
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
Likes: 2
From: Hollywood Maryland
Optima Tie Down
I have a Red Top with no issues. I make sure the battery is slid all the way back such that it catches the lip at the back of the battery tray and it won't lift up. Next I hand fit the hold down puck so it rests against the middle can of the battery. I tighten the bolt until just before tight and push the puck back towards the battery to make sure. I've never seen the battery move around in the tray. Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
I have a Red Top with no issues. I make sure the battery is slid all the way back such that it catches the lip at the back of the battery tray and it won't lift up. Next I hand fit the hold down puck so it rests against the middle can of the battery. I tighten the bolt until just before tight and push the puck back towards the battery to make sure. I've never seen the battery move around in the tray. Good luck.
Not sure if GM made any significant changes between the model years but on my 04, I've had no trouble with my Optima Redtop moving while using the stock battery holddown hardware.As Hollywood mentioned, you need to make sure the back part of the battery is pushed all the way back (toward the firewall) to ensure a proper fit
Larry
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Branchburg, NJ
Not sure if GM made any significant changes between the model years but on my 04, I've had no trouble with my Optima Redtop moving while using the stock battery holddown hardware.As Hollywood mentioned, you need to make sure the back part of the battery is pushed all the way back (toward the firewall) to ensure a proper fit
Larry
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
Pro
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 710
Likes: 1
From: Fremont (Livin' On The Fault Line!) CA
This is what mine looked like while I was installing my Optima (the holddown piece and the bolt are not in place just yet but you can see how the Optima is seated perfectly on the tray; it's hard to see the lip of the Redtop in this pic but it's there and the factory holddown piece fits perfectly):
Larry
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Branchburg, NJ
Here's the way my tie down looks w/ the battery pushed all the way back towards the firewall. Maybe it's because I have a diff model battery? (I go the one w/ the side and top posts)
As you can see, the tie down just misses the bottom lip of the battery.
So.... Any suggestions??
As you can see, the tie down just misses the bottom lip of the battery.
So.... Any suggestions??
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 0
From: Branchburg, NJ
I'm an idiot! That was it! I thought it was seated all the way down in the tray but you were right- it was on top of the back!Thank you VERY much for the help!!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
For future reference, OPTIMA has available a variety of adapters which allow for different sized batteries in battery trays...
http://www.optimabatteries.com/_medi...s/adapters.pdf
http://www.optimabatteries.com/_medi...s/adapters.pdf
1st Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Optima tie down problem
Anybody else have problems with the Optima "V" shaped tie-down holding their battery? I try to tighten it down pretty good, but not too much, but the battery always seems to slide out from under it.
Has anybody come up with a better tie-down solution for these batteries?
Has anybody come up with a better tie-down solution for these batteries?
