http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=8036526838

wondering if anybody is running an optima battery in stock location or a top terminal for that fact, and if there is any problem I would run into with it..

thats the battery I want to buy, and just wanted to check and make sure optima's fit in there fine, and all I should have to do is swap my side mount ends to top mount ends right??

sorry for the dumb fitmet question, but I'm up at school, and away from my car, so I can't just go out and meausre the space..

also, swapping ends is just a matter of cutting the old ones off, and crimping on the new ones am I right?

thanks

 

Why not get the right battery? He has a yellow top (if I ever thought about buying another Optima I'd do that instead) in the correct size.

The right size fits fine in the car. That one has a slightly longer case but thats probably ok. I think I had a little room left.

 

well the thing is, my ends are strripped out and corroded, so i need to replace them no matter what. And i've always like top mount batteries, just because of the ease to work on them..so thats why I was leaning towards a top mount, but if there is gonna be issues with it I obviously won't get one, but I can't really picture any issues with a top mount in there, can you guys?

so a yellow top is better than a red top??? i was kind of browsing through the specs, and it looked to me the red tops were better, could be wrong, like i said i briefly looked through them...

 

I've had a red top Optima,class 75/35 with top/side terminals, in my '95 Jimmy for the past year.I haven't had a probelm out of it.One thing I might suggest is have your alternator checked before buying a new battery and vice/versa.If you can afford it,and it's not an emergency,it's better to do both.You can burn up a new alternator trying to keep a marginal battery charged(remember that's all the alt really does/designed for is to maintain charge on the battery).And a new battery will not be fully charged on a marginal alt.Especially with cold weather here.

 

dont go with the optima i went through two in 3 years they are defective and cost way to much money, i even used a voltmeter to see if there was any kind of drain on the battery and nothing came up (and this was in two different cars the first a 86 SS and then the 2nd in my 82Z and the batteries were brand new)
when i took it to get checked out the place i went to said they quit carrying them because they were defective and customers kept bringing them back.

 

well its not an emergency or anything like that. I'm just looking for something to spend my money on, and i'm not going another summer on my walmart chapion battery cuz if the car doesn't start on the first few cranks, the battery doesn't have enough juice to spin her over. So if I flood it out for any reason, or it gets heat soaked, I'll never get it started cuz the battery just doesn't have enough juice to last when I crank it over for extended periods of time...

so what would you guys recommend then for a battery?

 

I had one in my camaro for 3 years now, never had any problems, and I went to korea for a year, so my car had to go into storage, I disconnected the battry before I wend, I got back, re-connected the battery (went deaf from the alarm going off) and cranked it for about 30sec before it stared right up....good battries

 

Klumb you may have something draining the battery when she's sitting idle.Have you checked into this?Also have you checked the voltage output from your alternator.It should be 12.5 to 14.3 at idle).Most auto stores will check the alt for free and offer a charging/test service for the battery(unless you have a battery charger at home).

 

like i said its not like any of the components are worn out or anything like that. The alt is new, the battery is somewhat new, but I only spent like 50 bucks on it, so you can't expect too much..it only has like 500 cca, so you can't expect much out of that with a higher compression motor...

The battery I have simply just isn't big enough, and works fine when my car is running right. But as soon as my car starts acting up, and doesn't want to start on the first few cranks, the battery ends up dieing fairly quickly..

my car is 14.3 volts at idle, so no problem there...

I just figured it would be a good idea to upgrade the battery for this summer, so its one less problem I could have...

My dad brought up a good point last night, and told me to mount the battery in the hatch, and just get the biggest battery optima has to offer, then it'll never give me troubles, and have enough battery capacity to do anythign with..like play music for extended periods of time at car shows and whatnot..

what is the model number to the biggest one they make, does anybody know?

 

I have used & sold AC Delco for the past 25 years or so. Have had very few problems.

 

I have used red tops in the past few cars, including my camaro. I used to compete with a 02 S-10 in IASCA competions with it. Good batteries, I drove my S-10 1,500 miles a year and never disconected the red top, Started up every time. Alarm armed the whole time not being driven.

 

'88 IROCZ, yellow top fits fine, but I use the side terminals because that's the cables I have. I use the top terminals to feed other stuff like Stereo amps.

 

I'm on #2 (red top), the first one failed within a year. I'm doing a voltage study right now, so far so good. I sure dont have a drain, so it was likely a bad battery I got before.

 

Did you ever consider that the main problem is the cables, and not the battery?

And if they are corroded now, wait until you get top mount connectons. There is a reason GM went with side terminals back in the '70s - It's better. They last a helluva lot longer without corrosion, and carry more than enough current.

And if you simply crimp the terminals on the cable with no antioxidant/conductive compound, you'll be asking for even more trouble.

 

I have an Optima in my Bronco, and it rocks - wouldn't ever trade it! I drove 2 hours at 75mph, with lights and radio, with NO alternator belt (it broke and I didn't know it), and my Optima cranked up the next morning, and got me to the parts store for a new belt!

 

Optima red tops all the way! I have one in my 83 Z28, My Wife's 2000 Camaro 3800 II, and my sons 95 3.4 Camaro. Never let any of us down!

 

so red top or yellow top....that is the question...

 

Red top for cranking power, yellow top for deep cycle/storage. I have yet to see a optima fail, but theres always a first. Then again they all have a 3yr warranty. I got my 75/35 (i think) From Advance Auto, for $120-$125 before the $10 core. I do with it what they do in the ad, i carry it between my cars .

Go to optimas site, and read about them. I have only seen one discharge once, its was 5yrs old, and we were playing a 2200watt stereo system for 10hrs strait for 2 days. Roll started the car, and its been doing just fine ever sense, 1yr later.

 

I would also recommend the optima red top, I've had mine for 4 yrs with no problems due to excessive electrical drain and vibration due to application it's in. I no longer charge between rounds of racing like I had to do with a standard battery-due to high electrical demand and short burst of recharge due to only running in staging lanes and down the track.

Everything in the car is electrical, pwr windows, fuel pump, 800W stereo, water pump, dual electric fans, line locks, transbrake, guages, etc...red top was best replacement battery I've evee purchased and have since converted my work trucks over to them as well. Every application these batteries are beat to death since it's racing and towing/plowing...the battery in my main plow truck is 3yrs old and has outlasted every other battery I've ever tried in there from the high dollar napa brand-interstate, die early(diehard), and motorcraft.

red top should easily fit in stock location and dual mounting posts make life easy when hooking up accessories

 

red top it is..thanks guys