I noticed the battery space is very small, right behind the passenger headlight. Only a smallish battery will fit in there i even see a nie 750CCA i want (maybe its 725CCA) and it is likely too big.

What battery do yall like for the car?

 

I have a optima yellow top in the 1988 and a red top in my 1997 z28

 

been running a interstate battery for the last 3 years but when this one is toast im going with optima.

 

I've run Autocraft Gold batteries in my last 3 GM cars and had great luck with them. Since I'm a bit of a stereo geek too, I usually grab the 75/35 series batteries since they have both the stock side terminals and a set of top post terminals as well. Makes for adding more wires easier.

 

Interstate, AC Delco, Optima. From cheapest to most expensive, those are the brands I prefer.

 

With the exception of the Optima and Odyssey (and maybe 1 or 2 other obscure hi-end batts), all batteries are the same basically. Every battery known to mankind are manufactured by about 12 places, and 98% are all made in china. Some brands will have slightly higher/lower amperage ratings, and slightly different warranties - but that is just different chemical mixtures. So any lead/acid battery is about the same as any other - unless your going to drop $150+ on an Optima, grab the best deal from Walmart, AZ, Advance, whatever that you find.

Even most Interstate batteries are manufactured in China, although Interstate is one of the rare US battery manufacturer's, they make 80% of their batteries in China (low labor cost, no pollution/environmental standards to maintain).

The hi end jobs use different innards, and thus the cost and better performance. Optima for example is a spiral cell battery - there are 6 cells inside that each look like a AA battery, the metals are spiral bound instead of being plates, and they use a different chemical compound for acid, thus the great life and performance. But you pay dearly for it (not that they aren't worth it if you can afford/justify the cost).

I too am running a Gold from Advance with no issues.

My wife works for a very large US battery reseller - and is the "Battery Queen" as I call her - after several years at this, she knows all there is to know about any battery.