walrus108

The cheap mexican made batt that came when I bought it is going bad. I was thinking I would go to a dry cell. Has anyone done this to theirs already? I live in SC and it gets very hot in the summer. It would be at or above 125degf almost everytime it's parked. I can take the time to park in a shady spot and in the garage overnight in the summer but I fear this might limit it's life. I was hoping a few here have done this and could tell me of their opinions now. Would you do it again? How did you mount it? Can you keep the side post? To me, if it works well and only has to be replaced every 3 years or so, the weight alone would make it worth it.

Vader

There is really no such thing as a "dry" cell battery. Even those used in flashlights and portable equipment are not truly dry. They are called "dry" since they contain no liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte used in these cells and batteries is in a paste form. The closest you can find suitable for automotive starting is a gel cell battery - Similar to a "dry" cell in many respects. They still usually require some venting, even if it is in the form of a blow-out vent plug.

Reportedly, they work just fine, but the cost may not be justified by any additional benefits. I've seen a lot of them fail just as quickly as wet cell batteries.

walrus108

I'm specifically thinking of a Odyssey PC680MJT.

coolram62

iTrader: (2)

I have Optima Red Tops in both my '83 Z28 and my '95 Jimmy.The one in the Jimmy I've had for over a year with no problems.It has done well in the SC summer and last winter.And it had to deal with a starter that was giving me problems(this has been replaced).The '83's battery is about 6 months old she is only driven once or twice a week,depending on the weather,Hasn't given me any problem starting.

Al Hasse

I also have the Optima Red Top in my 92 RS. I've had it in there for about 6 years. I drained it a couple of times by leaving the lights on overnight, but once charged, it works like a champ.

walrus108

I'm gonna go for it. The weight savings alone is just worth the risk. This things only 15lbs! It's supposed to work as well as and last longer than a regular battery. It will also take 30+lbs off the nose of my car. If anyone is interested in what it is look here http://www.odysseybatteries.com/battery/pc680mjt.htm Somebody online says they use the same battery in F-16 fighter jets. Not sure if that's true but it would be cool if it is. I found it for $99.95 shipped at www.thebatterybarn.com. I'll post back after it's been in for a while and let you all know how it works.

walrus108

Just as an update: I got this battery in. This thing is TINY and LIGHT. I compared it to the Optima redtop at autozone and the Optima looks like a hog next to this thing. It's a third the size and weight of the Optimas. It is an actual dry design. There is no liquid or gel of any kind that can leak out even if broken open. The cool thing about it is when laid on it's side it's very close to the same size as the base of a standard battery. That's how I mounted it. I used part of a HELP! battery holddown kit from advance auto and some 7/32" bolts and wingnuts. I used existing holes in the stock battery tray and pushed them through from underneath. I put a nut on them and threaded it all the way down to keep the bolts from falling back through. The holes are off center from each other by about 1/2" but this isn't a problem. This gave me 2 studs to tighten down the strap I got from advance. I laid the battery on it's side between these studs. I installed terminals facing towards the wheel well. Then I just put the rubber part of the holddown kit from advance stretched over the battery with the studs through it, put the wingnuts on the studs, and tightened them down. This thing is flat to the stock tray and held very securely. I can't budge it. I moved the stock plastic positive side shield on the wheelwell down for added protection. There is a healthy 1/2" gap between the positive terminal and the shield. And the best part is it cranks better than ever even this morning with record low temps(for SC low 20's). I'm very pleased so far and I don't forsee any problems at all. If I drove it less I'd want to install a neg terminal disconnect but I drive it enough that it shouldn't be an issue. I'll keep you all posted from time to time and feel free to ask any questions if you might want to do this yourself. When I get my camera back I'll take a pic of the finished install and try to post it. This is a great way to lose 30-40lbs off the nose of any car!

el_muerte

Hate to dig up an old thread, but could OP post an update on how the battery is doing now, over three years later? I'm thinking of getting one of these and would like to know how they hold up over time.

walrus108

That's what the search is for!

Unfortunately, it is hard for me to answer this. About a year ago, I thought that the battery had failed. It did however still read 12.6v. I bought a new battery for it from wallmart, one of the Johnson Controls Yellow ones) and it started fine. About a week later though, same problem with the new battery. The factory starter just quit.

I do believe that the battery was fine all along. I do plan on reinstalling the dry-cell this spring and I'm sure it will work fine still. I'll let you know.

I especially think that the dry-cell is a great match with a hitachi gear starter. You will also save even more weight with both.