After using a bad battery since August between the Electra and parts car its finnally dead. I was thinking of getting a new battery anways so no big deal. Since the previous is a side post battery which is a pain in the rear I was thinking of getting a top post battery, and get new cables while i'm at it. Now to choose which battery? o No: At work we use Interstate and I've never had any trouble with any of the vehicles that use them. I think we list the 750cca for $99 But I was also thinking about a semi-maintenance free top post AC Delco for originality. I dont want to go the vintage/original route, to much $$$ and didnt want to go the Optima route either out of scepticism. What do you guys use? Brand, top or side post, CCA rating, years you had it, vehicle you have it in? o No: Thanks in advance.
red top omptima for 6 months and it has both side and top terminals. i use the side ones for the car and the top ones for all the extra stuff that ive put on the car. it the best way to go as far as im concerned
Rob, I always use the top mount batteries and switch the cables as you are thinking about. If you are doing a resto on a car then perhaps, I would use the correct type. I like the Interstate batteries the more cold cranking power the better. I would suggest you get the best suited CCA for your car. I am assuming it has power everything, so you should get the biggest for the buck you can afford. As with the Optima's, 1 big thing is they are dry cell and wont leak fluid out to be able to destroy the battery tray.Do your self a HUGE favor...Do NOT get a Walmart Ever Start one. My Tacoma came with one and it was still under warranty, so I took it back 3 times till I got fed up and went to Napa(on a sunday of all times to quit) and got the biggest Cold CCA I could. I rely on my truck to start in the winter so I can go plow the roads, and I was tired of keeping the charger handy and carrying jumper cables with.
Original ones had side terimnals. I use the largest Delco battries I can find. "78DT84" or "78DT 7 years" I think. Mine have top and side terminals, I use the top terminals on my 60's cars and the side ones on my 70's cars. I don't know when they switched to side terminals but I know that 73's had them.
My 76 Electra has a Costco battery in it. I have never had any problems with it, it has side and top posts which is nice you can use the top for anything extra you might want to add, or the sides. They are cheap and Costco will return almost anything.
i am an optima red top user. after rebuilding a couple of core supports i decided to fight the (core support AND T-shirt) rot as much as i can. :bglasses:
My car has a walmart brand everlast in it, been in there for 5 years and haven't had any trouble with it. I think next time though I might get an A/C delco. I am beggining to love AC Delco's products!
I think that's the one I got too. I first bought the cheapest battery they recommended for my car at autozone, and I had to charge that thing every three weeks. Eventually the charges came closer and closer, and I just had to get another battery. That on was about six months old then, and had cost me 35$. So I decided to go with the 7 year warranty 1000 amp deal for 75$. Much better, they gave me a pro rated refund on the first one, so I got like 28$ back, that felt good.
Checked at work and for my car I can get a new Interstate 78 series, 875 cca, side post for only $65. :bglasses: Im probably going to go with that. Thanks for everyone's input.
Duralast Yeah, I put a Duralast Gold in mine back in 98. It just recently died. I think 7 years from a battery is pretty good! Autozone is always "the ole' standby" for me!
I have a Duralast gold in mine too. It's been in there (well, the last car, now this one) since 1999 and is still going strong. Can't say the same for my alternator though...
optima the best because no acid to damage anything aslo you can crack the case mount them upside down and they are still good but like i said the best part is no acid
Interstate is very good :TU: . I had one of their BIG 5-year batteries in the 2NABOT for over 8 yers before I stopped checking it and let it go dry. ou: AC Delco - stay away from them. I've known of several of their side-posts to just snap off. Optima has a very good reputation, I replaced the AC Delco in my wife's '01 LeSabre with one (side-post snapped off...). It's been working fine for 6 months... Autozone's top-line batteries are also good, I've had good use out of them. I usually get the most CCA I can fit under the hood, figuring that more is merrier. Think I've got an Autozone 950 CCA in the 2NABOT now... :TU:
I think that even more important than your battery is the state of your charging system. :Smarty: The best battery on earth won't survive being undercharged or boiled for very long, and a good charging system can really make a marginal battery look good. For ideal battery life, you don't want to be zapping it with much more than 14.4 volts, or you'll cook the battery, and less than about 13 volts won't really keep it full. I think you want a slow and steady charge of 13.5 to 14.2 volts, which the stock wiring should deliver if its connections are clean and tight, and no frayed wires. Check the back of the alternator, at the voltage regulator (or is a '73 an internal regulator?), at the starter, and at the battery. Also make sure you've got good grounds at the block and from the block to the chassis.
Optima My vote is for the Optima. Although it costs a bit more, it will also last longer. It gives you two extra posts, has no acid issues and you can mount it in any direction.
Rob, I see that you are from IL. On second thought, maybe you should install a dual 1000cca battery setup with 1 ga cables, and a block heater. :grin: I'm originally from Maine so I understand the weather...just don't care for it much now that I'm in San Diego :bglasses:
It gets cold here but not cold enough to warrant the use of an engine block heater. :laugh: San Diwhat? Is that one of those "warm" places? o No: :Brow:
