Battery choice

[Ghoste]

Short and sweet, what do you run for a battery and why?

[b5blue]

I match factory spec.

[BrianShaughnessy]

Optima.   No spilled battery acid / no fumes / no rusted battery tray / (mostly) lasts longer  /  cranks longer / faster.   

[Ghoste]

When you say "no rusted battery tray (mostly)", what do you mean exactly Brian?  That is, do any of the rust issues with it have anything to do with the Optima?

[Topher]

Right now I have an Exide group 31 post battery in there. I did have to "relax" the battery tray a bit for it to fit, but it works great. It's a 700 cca and has been in the car for 5 or so years now. I have found a truck battery supplier that has group 27s for a VERY good price.

[Ghoste]

That's a big un Toph.  What made you go to that size?

[resq302]

When you say "no rusted battery tray (mostly)", what do you mean exactly Brian?  That is, do any of the rust issues with it have anything to do with the Optima?

I believe that Brian is referring to the Optima gel cell technology that is maintenance free and will not leak battery acid and cause your battery tray to get rusty and corroded.  There are a couple of companys now that use gel cell technology. 

[bill440rt]

I have the sealed repro stock looking group 27's in the '68 & '70 for the "period" correct stock look.
I'm going to use the current Mopar off-the-parts-shelf group 27 for the '69. They're made by Interstate, and at least have the Mopar logo.

[mauve66]

i always wanted to get an Optima and put the hollow stock case over the top of it but the posts aren't spaced the same

[Ghoste]

I'd like to do that myself.

[Topher]

Let's just say it was laying around, and I was in need.

[tan top]

think mine is 700 cold cranking amps also  might be a little bigger !! 

[Just 6T9 CHGR]

Mine......little sucker cranks my 440 over with NO trouble...hot or cold

PS---gutting a lead/acid filled battery isnt for the timid

[motorcitydak]

Optima red top. My last one lasted for 7 years and only went out because a fuse block I had shorted out to a mount screw and killed one of the cells. I bought another one

[BrianShaughnessy]

When you say "no rusted battery tray (mostly)", what do you mean exactly Brian?  That is, do any of the rust issues with it have anything to do with the Optima?

Lead acid batteries are the main cause of rusted battery trays and driver side inner fenders.   

I recommend a new tech battery especially if somebody just done with a nice resto...  doesn't have to be an Optima.

Chris' battery mod is really cool for those that require a factory look.   


 

[Ghoste]

That's what I was checking Brian.  The way it was worded made me wonder if you were alluding to the Optima not living up to the claims and that you suspected it was causing rust as well.

[mauve66]

Mine......little sucker cranks my 440 over with NO trouble...hot or cold

PS---gutting a lead/acid filled battery isnt for the timid

i wasn't going to gut one, i heard once that someone could get just the hollow case BEFORE it was made into a battery

[resq302]

No, the battery companies do not do that.  I wanted to get a case of a group 24 yellow or green capped ones to use as a cover for my toaster in my garage.  So I am still looking for a dead or weak one that still has its guts to remove.  If anyone has a yellow or green capped Mopar battery, I'd be willing to buy it off of you.

[1969chargerrtse]

Mine......little sucker cranks my 440 over with NO trouble...hot or cold

PS---gutting a lead/acid filled battery isnt for the timid

I have the optima Yellow, I think, inside the repro case.  I hope I can do what Chris did in the long run when mine weakens.