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hi guys
well it's time to test the electrical system and get the engine timed, run for 20 minutes @ 2000rpm to break in the new cam. this means that i need a 12V battery. choices are few because i have left the battery box stock for a 1951 3100 series. i knew i should have made that box bigger when i had the cab off the frame. darn it..... I now have a 292 in place of the 216/235 engine. so i'm asuming that i'll need more cranking power to turn the larger displacement motor. while down at the 'little flaps' today i noticed that the batteries that fit are at most 250-290 amps. this is to say they DON'T have CCA ratings listed. now we know that amps is one factor for selection but what was written on the 'flaps' batteries is simply amps. the parts guy said we'd have to look up CCA for each battery. i'd like to know your opinions on CCA or cold cranking amps for a 292?? the batteries for late 60's 292 are a little longer than what will fit. at this 'flaps' so I may have to go to a battery only shop in the big city for what i need. my new cables are 2 gauge. She'll be a daily year long driver once she is up and running.
any help here is appreciated.
http://www.ibsa.com/www_2001/content/products/buying_tips.asp
if I have to I will drill out the batt box and increase the length. and yes i do have a couple of dodads like an electric pusher fan w/ 2 relays, set-o-fogs and a radio. not much else. oh i almost forgot her electric seats ... sheeeee doesn't know yet.

I am assuming you changed it to 12 volt, otherwise a group 1 6 volt is about your only choice. If you have changed to 12 volt, go to this web site http://www.rtpnet.org/~teaa/bcigroup.html and find the closest bci go group size to the group one which as towards the bottom of the page. Then go to the 12 volt batteries and see which one is dimensionaly close to the group 1. You will find you are rather limited as to what will fit. However almost any battery will turn it. Find the group size that will fit, and buy the largest CCA you can afford. A group 22 is a popular choice.

Jim,

I think the typical 12 volt starter in good condition will not draw anymore than 150 amps. Because your engine isn't running 11:1 pop up pistons, a average battery and a average starter would do just fine.

I thought most off-the-shelf 12 volt batteries were in the 400 CCA or CA spectrum...maybe not! Keep in mind it's not only the cranking juice you're after, but the capacity for all your fancy electric do-dads.

Your stock battery box should hold a battery that is more than adequate for your nice new engine in my unprofessional guesstimation.

Stuart

You might look at the Optima. There pretty compact.
Cleon

This recent thread lists sizes and links to 12v battery information.

I agree you should be able to find a good bat. to fit in that case. It should be 500 CCA or better. The 292 should use the heavy duty starter but usually they have been shoffled aeound & you wind up with the light duty. The HD has 2 terms. coming out of the motor that hooks to the selinoid & has a spacer between the terms. & the selinoid.

A group 26 is a perfect fit for the old group 1 (6 volt) battery tray. Other than Optima (not happy with quality), I'd look at an Odyssey if you were wanting to get spendy in a group size PC1200, but skip the MJT option. Should run you in the $200 range but it is compact and has plenty of CCA's. However, knowing what I know about batteries and Sunday drivers, I'd stick with a basic lead acid in a group 26 and call it a day.

Ask me how I know...

What about Sunday drivers?

What about Optima batteries?

I run the Diehards and have never had any problems.

Sunday drivers, unless putting a tender of any sort on the battery, the battery isn't getting enough time under charge, will likely fall under 12.6 volts and start the process of sulfation.

Sulfation, an act of crystals forming on the cells, seperates the active material in the battery (acitate) from the cell (lead) and creates a situation where the battery gets chubby and then won't start a vehicle (cca).

This can happen very rapidly and sulfation can kill a battery in a matter of months, rather than years.

Optima changed the build location three years ago. Myself, and the master distributor on the west coast have both seen enough issues and high documented failure rates to not recommend them highly. Quality control has slipped and the current product shipped to CA is short of junk. I recommend Odyssey only even though we make more money on Optima.

Diehard is Johnson Controls right now (contract build) and was, at one point Exide. Johnson Controls right now also builds Interstate and many other brands.

There are very few battery mfgs in the world right now, and even fewer domestically. If you buy a Diehard in the western US right now, it is made in Mexico. Plants and mfg is moving overseas rapidly.

Hate to hear that about the Optima. I put a 6 volt Optima in my '32 Chevy about 6 months ago. OK so far.
Cleon

I hate Walmart, but I buy their yellow batteries for everything. Forklifts, welders, electric winch,as well as my old vehicles. Free replacement for 3 years and and when they get weak we let them sit around a couple of weeks until they are completely dead. We have a computorized tester like they do. When they show not serviceable, we get another one no charge. We are thinking of putting 3 of them in our over the road trucks instead of 2 truck batteries that no matter what you pay, they just last 2 years.

The DieHard has been a JCI battery since 1965, wiht the exeption of late '94-'97, when it was manufactured by Exide. Unfortunatly, Exide manufactures an inferior product, which cost them the contract.
If you're looking fo an AGM battery in a DieHard, take a look at the DieHard Platinum, manufactured by EnerSys, wh manufactures military and industrial batteries. I've put in a few, and they are an exellent battery. I will admit, there are some fitment issues with hold downs that will need addressed, but nothing that can't be easily taken care of.
Personally, I'm running an Optima group 78/34 that came from Sears, didn't have an issue in the 4 years it was in the truck until a few months ago. The truck had sat for some time, and it drained down, had to get it warranteed. But when the truck was used regularly, it always started it, even if it was run down.