The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What's that funny looking battery?

What is that funny looking battery with those cylinders? I ordered a drop-down battery box from CCP and one option was for a box that held the ________ battery. What is that????

Hubby said its an Optima battery.

Those are Optima batteries. I don't have any experience with them yet. Have any of you tried/use them now? What do you think of them?

66stepside,

In my opinion, probably the best automotive battery you can get.

Particularly in the 6 volt. I know that doesn't effect you, as your truck would be 12 volt, but they're absolutely awesome.

My experience has been they've got more CCA's and last alot longer than regular batteries.

Added bonus is they don't give off any fumes and can be mounted in any postion including upside down. They are a very tough battery, and you'll find the great majority of guys that really use their 4x4's hard all run Optima's.

Downside is they're a bit spendy.

Rene

I've got one of the red top batteries, no I didn't buy, it came in my wife's Jeep Wrangler I bought a couple years ago. It's always done real well and provides plenty of CCA. But for just about a third of the price, I've had real good luck with the higher cca batteries from Wal-mart as well.

i have an optima and it is great. before the time when i didn't drive the truck that much it held its charge very well. if you look at the price in magazines they are costly but at auto zone it is as much as 30.00 less. ron

They are a great battert, hold up to vibration well, good CCA, mainly they don't leak, no matter what position they are in. Work real well in my dirt track car, had that thing in every conciveable position. Last thing I want is to get on my lid and have a battery leak on my fire suit, or in my helmet.

very spendy

I dunno what kind of battery you cats are talking about.. I just buy batteries from Advance Auto Parts.. and I never look at the 'book' to tell me which one I need.. I just grab the cheapest one they got that's the right general size to fit in the battery spot.. and they generally don't cost more than $50.

The 6 volt batteries, I pick up from the local farm store.. they're $39 a piece.. my father in law has had one sitting on the back of one of his tractors for 15 years.. nothing covering it, and it sits outside 365 days a year.

I put a 6 volt Optima in my 53 and it spins that 216 engine with authority. They are expensive but well worth the money.

I have never had a battery to compare to the Optima. A bit pricey but worth every penny. The 6 volt Optima I have in my 1954 GMC starts the 248 engine with authority even with the headlights on. Optimas are absolutely the best batteries money can buy.

Put a 6 volt Optima in my 50 five years ago and haven't touched it. Sits all winter and fires right up in the spring. Never seen a charger or had the terminals cleaned. Another plus is it seems to not drain much at startup. Sometimes it takes a few cranks to start the old girl after sitting for a couple of weeks and the ammeter shows a slight charge for just a few seconds after startup before it drops back down in the normal range.

Bob

I have an Optima battery in my plow truck well over 5 years now. The terminals never corrode and the battery accepts a charge twice as fast from the alternator. Works great for plowing with headlights, strobe light, and electric plow motor all going at once for extended periods!

They are spendy BUT its money well spent, Ive got one in my 86 C20 and also in my camper "deep cycle" Im also looking at the drop down battery box myself let us know how you like it
Todd

I will buy one if it will fit the drop down box. CCP offered a box for a "regular" battery and one for the "optima" battery. Not knowing what the "optima" was I selected the regular drop down box. Is the optima larger than a regular battery.

Big Chevy,

Aat least on the 6-volt, the Optima is quite a bit narrower than the standard 6-volt battery case.

I'm just going from memory here, but I think it might be just a little bit shorter also.

Again, I would advise if you can spring for the extra bucks, it's well worth it to go for the Optima.

My 6volt red top is some of the best money I've spent on Sweetie. 800 CCA is awesome!!!!!! It fixed 95% of my hot start problem. I would highly recommend one to anyone with a 6volt system.

Measure your box first! I put a red-top Optima in my truck but I had to make the battery holder on the frame wider first or it wouldn't have fit.

These are the best! I left my headlights on one day for like 6 hours ... ran out to the truck when I realized they were on ... got it and she started up like nothing ever happened.

What Alan said. The Optima in the 34/78 BCI size, which is what fits most of the 12 volt trucks, is slightly larger around the top perimeter than a standard battery. The stock hold down can be tweeked to fit, however. Just slightly spread the sides of the top frame out a bit. The trucks that use the cross bar type hold down should be ok wiht no mods.
While the Optimas are the best on the market, there is one precaution to charging them. You can not "fast charge" them. They have to be charged slow.
As far as how tough they are-I saw a demonstration once where they shot a hole through the battery with a .357 Magnum, then put it into a car and started it! That sold me on one.

I'm sold, and I'll buy just as soon as i measure an make sure I can maake it fit.

If your testimony is this glowing...I am going for it!

Now.. all you AD truck owners... does the Optima 6v battery fit within the existing battery tray under the floor or did you have to modify the tray to suit width or length?

Greg

The 6 volt Optima fits the battery tray on the AD(under the floor) on a diagional just perfect.

Niagara,

It easily fits into the existing tray under the floor in my 52. The 6-volt Optima is actually smaller in width than a standard 6-volt battery.

As AD says, it fits real nicely diagonally.

AD_Pickup & Jed, thank you for the replies.

Greg

The Navy quit using the lead acid batteries in our aviation support equipment ages ago due to the relaibility, power, and longevity of these batteries. Sure our old beasts can run just fine with a cheaper battery, really depends on the load you put on it too. If you have a lot of electrical accessories they can be a real life saver. If the electric needs you have are your headlights & the coil, not so much. I'm putting one in each of my vehicles when the current batteries croak.
Sure would be nice not to have to clean & worry about leaking out & adding more rust to my rust!

For those interested, while at Sams this afternoon I noticed they are now selling the Optima battery. The price was $135.00.

I don't know ANYBODY who's had anything bad to say about 'em,except that they're expensive. I've always used the purchase of an Optima as my last option if I couldn't get something to start reliably,but so far I've been lucky and everything I've owned has been starting easily and reliably on cheap batteries. This Mack may change that,but I doubt it. I'm blessed.
Speed

I did a post in the electrical section on my drooling Walmart battery. It was installed with a coat hanger hold down by the previous owner. After cleaning this thing up and replacing the battery tray and testing the alternator (tested out fine), it still drools and makes a mess under there. Is that just what batteries do in these bouncy trucks? If so, you sold me on the Optima. Also, you never know when you might take small arms fire...

That's $10 more than I paid at my FLAPS.

Had one (optima) in my surplus wagoneer that was 'et by the cold up here in the frozen north (interior ak). I prefer the good 'ol lead acid, no strychnine, no flashbacks!

optima batteries are lead-acid, its just the construction that makes them leak proof, plus they do not vent gas like a normal batery, thats why the posts do not corrode. they are vibration resistant too. btw i can get 2 batteries per year as an employee purchase, so anyone in or around the denver area that needa a good 6 volt(or 12) let me know and i can hook you up.

jamesgs4, just noticed this was your first post on the bolt. Welcome! Ed

yes welcome aboard

Jamesgs4,

Let me also add my warm welcome to the BOLT!

I sent you a PM. In the Denver area, and very interested in a battery!

Jamesgs4:
Welcome to the Bolt. What's ya driving? Got a project going on? Post some pictures, we love pictures.

Ditto ... welcome to The 'Bolt!

I looked at them yeaterday and was trying so see If I should pop for the yellow top.The only difference I could notice was the yellow was a whole bunch heavier.

The yellow top is a dual purpose starting/deep cycle battery. They actually have a lower cranking amps than the red top, but a longer amp/hour rating. They're also better for deep cycle use, such as running a winch, snowplow, RV use, or stereo systems. Unless you have alot of accessories that require operation without the engine running, get the red top. You'll also see a blue top. That's a marine use battery, pretty much strictly deep cycle. I have also seen an orange top that was 6 volt for ag use, but that was several years ago, and isn't listed in the catalog.

What I have trouble with is lawn tractor batteries. Do they make small ones?

John