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04-27-2005, 05:25 AM
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#1 |
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Life is a gamble
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Lee's Summit, MO
Posts: 796
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Battery
Hey everyone,
My battery died in my '70 and I'll be purchasing a new one shortly. Does anyone have any suggestions? Any favorite brands? Are they all about the same? Should I go for the cheapest, Highest priced or somewhere in the middle? Thanks Arthur
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1970 Orange CST C-10 w/350, posi, Longbed The torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice, by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by wine. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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04-27-2005, 05:34 AM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada
Posts: 1,086
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I would go with a Optima. I've had mine a couple years now and super happy with it. A nice bonus with them are no more battery acid leaking everywhere, their more $ but worth it imo. Doug
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04-27-2005, 05:50 AM
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#3 | |
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Life is a gamble
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Lee's Summit, MO
Posts: 796
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Optima
Quote:
Is Optima sold through Summit or can it be bought through a local parts dealer (eg: Advance Auto parts)?
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1970 Orange CST C-10 w/350, posi, Longbed The torpid artist seeks inspiration at any cost, by virtue or by vice, by friend or by fiend, by prayer or by wine. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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04-27-2005, 05:52 AM
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#4 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Kelowna B.C. Canada
Posts: 1,086
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Oh yes, if you go with an Optima battery and store your truck over the winter don't pull the battery and store it inside where its warm. Optima batteries like to be stored in cool or cold locations when not in use it will increase their longevitey (sp?). I was told this from the Optima representitive.
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04-27-2005, 07:36 AM
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#5 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: TONEY ALA
Posts: 307
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I Have A Optima And Love It, To Me It Worth The Money.
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JUST HAPPY TO BE ALIVE. |
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04-27-2005, 07:40 AM
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#6 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Vacaville, CA
Posts: 2,745
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^ Got mine a Costco.
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 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI |
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04-27-2005, 07:52 AM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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Optimas last approximately 3 times as long as a normal lead/acid battery. However they cost approximately 3 times as much.
If you can solve the acid leaking problem, you're better off saving your money IMHO. I bought a "bat mat" and put it under my battery. My two plus year old battery tray that I bought new looks like the day I bought it. What ever the bat mat is doing it must be working.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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04-27-2005, 08:43 AM
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#8 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Arvada Colorado
Posts: 1,321
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I have an Optima in my 49 Jeep. It's probably 10 years old now and still works great.
When I go to buy a battery, if I'm going to keep the vehicle for a while, I buy the largest CCA rated battery that I can find. In my opinion, the more amps the better. JMO 
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Larry 1949 Willys CJ2A, Kubota Turbo Diesel engine, Warn Overdrive, 11 inch brakes, 12volt, Warn M8000 Winch "Little Green" 1970 Rustoleum Roller Red C20 Custom Camper 454 TH400 "Big Red" 1971 K20 6.2 Turbo Diesel 4x4 4spd Ranger Overdrive "Pumpkin Wagon" 2005 VW Beetle Diesel 44+ MPG "Silver Bullet" |
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04-27-2005, 09:19 AM
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#9 |
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Got Light Emitting Diode?
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 2,485
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if you buy an optima, the red top has a 2 year free replacement warrenty (110ish) and the yellow top has a one year free replacement (160ish) you will be happy that they have that 9 months after you buy that and your alternator takes a dive and drains your battery dead more than once while you are trying to find the problem. ask me how i know. (the battery still worked just the cca werent what they used to be)
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1968 1/2 ton 2wd lwb 6 lug disc and bags up front. Next c notch and rear bags '02 Chevy Silverado LT ext cab short bed 2WD 5/7 drop on 22's  (the family car)1993 Cherokee work ride/weekend wheeler |
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04-27-2005, 06:34 PM
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#10 |
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its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,690
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Optima.
No acid leaks means no acid drim means no rotted out gender pocket. Also means the battery tray will hold up much longer too. (forever-ish) calling an optima battery just a battery is like calling a snap on wrench just a wrench. |
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04-27-2005, 08:17 PM
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#11 | |
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Car O'Holic
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Austin, Tx.
Posts: 692
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Quote:
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04-27-2005, 08:22 PM
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#12 |
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'68 C10 SWB/FS 396/TH400
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: SC
Posts: 90
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If you decide to go conventional, I recommend Interstate. I usually get about 4 years service out of the big ones (Model 27, I think). Those Optima look out of place in a classic car/truck IMHO, but they look trick if you have the customized look.
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'68 Custom/10 w/396/TH400 matching #'s '00 C3500 Dually 454 Crew Cab '99 Chevy Tracker 4x4 (1 tuff little muther!) |
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04-28-2005, 04:09 AM
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#13 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: "Under Montana skies."
Posts: 1,836
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I've used several Optima redtops amongst my "fleet." I really like the lack of battery acid, but they can be a bit tempermental to recharge after a complete drain down. The redtops don't like to be discharged all the way. Even a trickle charger has difficulty bringing them back from the dead.
Next battery purchase, I think I'll try a Hawker Odessy. The mfr claims the Odessys can handle both starting and deep cycle duties. I think the PC1200MJT fits 67-72 battery trays, but check to be sure.
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'71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. |
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04-30-2005, 09:46 AM
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#14 | |
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Left Foot Functioning
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Duncan, OK
Posts: 350
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Quote:
 (Sorry, Andy) Good thread. I've always thought these might be worth the money, but never had testimony from past owners. SSOW
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69 C10 (#1 son's ride) 72 C20 (Dad's farm truck) 82 K30 (Ex - brush pumper project) |
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04-30-2005, 01:05 PM
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#15 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 1,534
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Yes, that rotted out gender pocket thing always did annoy me...
I like the optima red top. I painted and installed a new batt. tray and within 6 months the sears die hard battery had corroded the crap out of it, man was I pissed. No more conventional batteries for me!
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'72 GMC SWB C1500 Custom, frame-off in progress. 383 SBC, 9:1CR, Comp Cams XE262H, Scat internal balanced crank, Eagle SIR 6" rods, Keith Black dish pistons, Dart Iron Eagle 72/180 heads, Weiand Stealth intake, Stewart stage I water pump, Holley 4bbl vac sec, TH350 with B&M Shift Improver Kit. 12 bolt positraction.   
Last edited by Sweet72; 04-30-2005 at 01:06 PM. |
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04-30-2005, 05:06 PM
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#16 |
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its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,690
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Hmmm, gender pocket....that is almost as good as the cordless brill everyone was givin me flack over a couple years ago on here.
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