best and worst batteries

[AmadeusCharger500]

Anyone have any suggestions on what brands to get and what to stay away from.
THis is going in a 440 car with small stereo, no special amps or anything.

[Sinister68]

Worst batteries: Die Hard.  When I used to work as a mechanic, the only batteries that I came across that exploded (one of which exploded in front of me) were the Sears Die Hard batteries. 

Best batteries: So far, the Optima red top battery has been execellent. 

[Wakko]

Optima Red Top or bust.  Interstate makes a good battery though.

[resq302]

Always had good luck with the interstate batteries.   Have had really bad luck lately with the Antique Auto Batteries.  They basicaly would last to the day the warranty runs out.  A day after, you are screwed.  That happened to me twice with the Antique Auto Batteries.  Never again.

[John_Kunkel]

 
In regular batteries I run nothing but Interstate; Optimas are probably the best but are more expensive.

I've also had terrible luck with the repop Antique batteries.

[Chryco Psycho]

I have had a Red Top Optima in my Cummins for 10 years , yes they are about  60% more expensive but when they last for 10+ years they are the best deal
lead acid are the worst 

[Silver R/T]

whatever brand comes stock in chevy s-10's. They always cause problems

[myk]

I know the Diehards aren't well liked, but I've got Diehards in all 3 cars and the youngest one is 5 years old.  The one in the Charger I had since '95 but I decided to change it out last year as a measure of safety...

[Ghoste]

I've been noticing at shows more recently a lot of people using an Optima and putting one of those fake antique style shells over top of it.  I like that idea and I think that is what I'll end up doing for my own car.

[resq302]

Ghoste,

I tried that idea with my old antique auto battery after I gutted it.  Optima does not have a battery that is small and thin enough to fit inside the original style casing.  You can go with something about the size of a motorcycle battery but the cranking amps are almost half of what the correct rated battery should be.  I just gave up and went with a new Mopar 6 yr battery.  At least it is still Mopar under the hood.

[Ghoste]

Somebody must make a case that looks like the old one but fits the Optima then because I have seen it.  I don't know the size so I suppose there could be some folks out there using the motorcycle battery?

[resq302]

Ghoste,

It is not a true motorcycle battery, just about the same size as one, very similar in size to a lawn tractor/mower batterty.  The place in the town that I work has a battery only store called Batteries Plus.  I brought them my shell of the old Antique Auto battery and they took out the Optima size chart with size specs and the could not get or even locate an Optima battery that would fit.  They did say they had some smaller, less cranking amps, gel cell batteries that could be mounted on any angle but the problem was the cranking amps were only in the mid 300's to 400's range.  If I remember correctly, the factory sized battery had something like 790 cca.

[Ghoste]

Well I'm going to be watching more closely at the shows now.  I'll have to find out either which battery they are using or where they got the case.

[MorePwr]

Interstate and Delco make great batterys. Exide makes junk.

I bought my optima red top off the interstate truck....So I'm thinking the two companys have merged or they always have been built by interstate??

[jmanscharger]

Kirkland 100 month batteries run $54 from Price Costco. They go bad on me within three years and they replace for free, pro-rated after that. My cars still kill them, but great warranty.

[smokinrt]

Somebody must make a case that looks like the old one but fits the Optima then because I have seen it.  I don't know the size so I suppose there could be some folks out there using the motorcycle battery?

The battery cover company is called Toppers, you can find them on the net, they also make post extenders if needed.

Good luck
smokinrt
bryan

[smokinrt]

Anyone have any suggestions on what brands to get and what to stay away from.
THis is going in a 440 car with small stereo, no special amps or anything.

If your looking for exact match, look Delco, Mopar

[MorePwr]

Yep Optimastate

http://www.interstatebatteries.com/www_2001/content/products/product_optmain.asp?js=1

[Schuler]

I've had good luck with mopar batteries. They look good on a mopar too an come with a good warrenty. Worst I ever had was an everstart (walmart) for the boat. I set it down and it started leaking wrecking a new jacket and some carpet on the boat. One came in my Jeep too and when it died (fine the day before) it wouldn't take a jump and stay running.