Optima Battery Help - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

raidermanny · 02-21-2006, 01:56 PM

My optima was delivered from Summit yesterday and I cant figure out how to install it. It came with 2 different base plates and neither one seems to work. The thick one seems to be the closest but it wont get locked in in the back. The part # I ordered was 9022-091 its a 75/35 thats what the Optima website said would work. Anybody else have some experience with these?

454_72_4X4 · 02-21-2006, 02:05 PM

I have no experience with Optima's myself but, (a shot in the dark), have you tried it without either baseplate?

**Captkaos** · 02-21-2006, 02:30 PM

Unless my eyes are decieving me, the one on the right is the top plate. Technically for a 67-87, you don't need any plates for it to fit correctly. The back should slip under the lip and the front should be clamped down with the bolt.

cdowns · 02-21-2006, 03:01 PM

looks to me the one on the left is for mounting the battery in a horizontal(laydown) position with the terminals pointing up

raidermanny · 02-21-2006, 03:52 PM

Both plates say to be used at bottom of battery. I have tried both plates and no plate and nothing works. When I use no plate it slides in the back good but it seems too short up front and the clamp cant go down far enough to get enough pressure to hold it in place. Never thought I'd have this much trouble installing a battery.

speedracer · 02-21-2006, 04:07 PM

I'm running a 78 optima I think its a little bigger. It fit in the stock battery tray with out plates. I had to bend the holddown clamp to fit the round contour of the cells. Its snug and looks great. hope that was helpfull

boundstaffpress · 02-21-2006, 04:39 PM

The plate on the left is designed for stacking these batteries during shipment. It keeps the posts from possibly making contact with a metal surface. Wal Mart and other batteries come with a similar plastic "base"

As to mounting the battery, I don't know. Measure it against your previous battery? You could use battery mat as a shim and raise the battery up some. Good luck.

454_72_4X4 · 02-21-2006, 11:10 PM

Another idea!
Man, don't flame me for this, but are you sure you are installing the clamp the right way?
(Again, I have zero experience with Optima's)

Question about the Optima, Which is better, the Red top or Yellow top? Or what's the difference?

raidermanny · 02-22-2006, 02:34 AM

Its been so long since I took the old battery out that at first I wasn't sure how the clamp went so I looked it up in my assembly manual. I actually tried both ways anyway. Since I didn't get the "this is how its done" answer I was hoping for I'm just gonna do some cutting and grinding and make it fit. Thanks to everyone for the replies.

jsbgump · 02-22-2006, 02:50 AM

You won't need the plates just mount the battery without them and you will have no probs

ozzyracing · 02-22-2006, 03:02 AM

Red is for automotive, yellow is for deep cycle.

Mudder · 02-22-2006, 07:32 AM

I have the red top and it mounts just the way the old battery did.

raidermanny · 02-22-2006, 02:03 PM

The problem is there are a bunch of different types of red tops. I think I just got the wrong one.

02-21-2006, 01:56 PM	#1
raidermanny Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fremont, Ca Posts: 260	Optima Battery Help My optima was delivered from Summit yesterday and I cant figure out how to install it. It came with 2 different base plates and neither one seems to work. The thick one seems to be the closest but it wont get locked in in the back. The part # I ordered was 9022-091 its a 75/35 thats what the Optima website said would work. Anybody else have some experience with these?

02-21-2006, 02:05 PM	#2
454_72_4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: N.E. MO Posts: 1,749	Re: Optima Battery Help I have no experience with Optima's myself but, (a shot in the dark), have you tried it without either baseplate? __________________ 72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey

02-21-2006, 02:30 PM	#3
Captkaos www.73-87chevytrucks.com Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Birmingham, AL Posts: 6,935	Re: Optima Battery Help Unless my eyes are decieving me, the one on the right is the top plate. Technically for a 67-87, you don't need any plates for it to fit correctly. The back should slip under the lip and the front should be clamped down with the bolt. __________________ Chris Lucas 1973 Chevy C-10 1978 GMC Jimmy (2WD) - SOLD 1987 R10 twin turbo LS 1991 R3500 SRW CrewCab 1985 K5 diesel swapped project 1989 K5 2WD conversion w/ Vette susp Project Captkaos Customs 73-87chevytrucks.com

02-21-2006, 03:01 PM	#4
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	Re: Optima Battery Help looks to me the one on the left is for mounting the battery in a horizontal(laydown) position with the terminals pointing up __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY

02-21-2006, 03:52 PM	#5
raidermanny Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fremont, Ca Posts: 260	Re: Optima Battery Help Both plates say to be used at bottom of battery. I have tried both plates and no plate and nothing works. When I use no plate it slides in the back good but it seems too short up front and the clamp cant go down far enough to get enough pressure to hold it in place. Never thought I'd have this much trouble installing a battery.

02-21-2006, 04:07 PM	#6
speedracer Blank Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southington, CT Posts: 221	Re: Optima Battery Help I'm running a 78 optima I think its a little bigger. It fit in the stock battery tray with out plates. I had to bend the holddown clamp to fit the round contour of the cells. Its snug and looks great. hope that was helpfull __________________ 1969 lwb 4/6 drop 17x8-18x10 torque thrust II's 327-420hp 2004R 3.73 posi. 1977 Corvette 350-375hp 4speed, silver show car. 2002 S10 xtreme, work truck 2004.5 VW jetta GLI 1.8T 6speed, weekend warrior. 2013 Audi A3 TDI, the wife's car

02-21-2006, 04:39 PM	#7
boundstaffpress Jamie Hyneman is my twin Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: La Junta, Colorado Posts: 705	Re: Optima Battery Help The plate on the left is designed for stacking these batteries during shipment. It keeps the posts from possibly making contact with a metal surface. Wal Mart and other batteries come with a similar plastic "base" As to mounting the battery, I don't know. Measure it against your previous battery? You could use battery mat as a shim and raise the battery up some. Good luck. __________________ Justin SOLD 1967 K10 Fleetside, 283, Front and Rear Posi SOLD Color Wiring Diagrams Now in High Resolution V8 and Cab and Cab and Chassis

02-21-2006, 11:10 PM	#8
454_72_4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: N.E. MO Posts: 1,749	Re: Optima Battery Help Another idea! Man, don't flame me for this, but are you sure you are installing the clamp the right way? (Again, I have zero experience with Optima's) Question about the Optima, Which is better, the Red top or Yellow top? Or what's the difference? __________________ 72 C20 4X4 454 4 speed 89 Trans Am (was) 305 TPI 700r4 93 C1500 2wd Extended cab 350 700r4 98 Sonoma (TPI outa the Trans Am) 03 Yamaha 660 Raptor 03/04 660 Raptor 07 700 Raptor 85 Honda Odyssey

02-22-2006, 02:34 AM	#9
raidermanny Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fremont, Ca Posts: 260	Re: Optima Battery Help Its been so long since I took the old battery out that at first I wasn't sure how the clamp went so I looked it up in my assembly manual. I actually tried both ways anyway. Since I didn't get the "this is how its done" answer I was hoping for I'm just gonna do some cutting and grinding and make it fit. Thanks to everyone for the replies.

02-22-2006, 02:50 AM	#10
jsbgump Gone Fishing Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fort Worth, Texas 76135 Posts: 12,361	Re: Optima Battery Help You won't need the plates just mount the battery without them and you will have no probs __________________ 68 Chevy Short Fleetside LSX Swap Under Way 3.73 posi 2.5/4 drop Frame of resto has been started 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited 2019 Chevy Traverse Redline Edition Wifes Ride Build Thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=1#post3483616

02-22-2006, 03:02 AM	#11
ozzyracing Registered User Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Arizona Posts: 260	Re: Optima Battery Help Red is for automotive, yellow is for deep cycle. __________________ 65 SWB 454 350T

02-22-2006, 07:32 AM	#12
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	Re: Optima Battery Help I have the red top and it mounts just the way the old battery did.

02-22-2006, 02:03 PM	#13
raidermanny Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fremont, Ca Posts: 260	Re: Optima Battery Help The problem is there are a bunch of different types of red tops. I think I just got the wrong one.

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