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Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 24 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 24 | Time to replace the 6v battery in my 55.1 chevy 3100. Been running the 6v farm/truck battery from Advance auto parts...Anyone out there who is still running 6volt batteries have any good recommendations...regular, dry cell, gel cell, etc or ??? Any info/recommendations greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-Paul | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | If you're willing to modify your battery box, this one will provide much greater cold cranking power than the stock 6V battery. It's the same one that's used in banks of 4 in older Diesel trucks to provide 24V for starting in cold weather. It won't fit through the hole in the floorboard, so you'll need to change it from underneath.
http://www.batteriesplus.com/product_search/23931-Ultra-Pro-Series-Fleet,-Heavy-Duty-Group-4-Hi-Capacity-6--Volt-Battery-SLI4A.aspx
(The link won't reproduce correctly- - - -do a copy/paste into your browser line at the top of the page!)
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,254 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2002 Posts: 2,254 | I use the regular 6 volt battery from Batteries Plus and found it to be a bargain at around $60.
Dennis
-there is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer-
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 | If you're willing to modify your battery box, this one will provide much greater cold cranking power than the stock 6V battery. It's the same one that's used in banks of 4 in older Diesel trucks to provide 24V for starting in cold weather. It won't fit through the hole in the floorboard, so you'll need to change it from underneath.
http://www.batteriesplus.com/product_search/23931-Ultra-Pro-Series-Fleet,-Heavy-Duty-Group-4-Hi-Capacity-6--Volt-Battery-SLI4A.aspx
(The link won't reproduce correctly- - - -do a copy/paste into your browser line at the top of the page!)
Jerry
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 | Time to replace the 6v battery in my 55.1 chevy 3100. Been running the 6v farm/truck battery from Advance auto parts...Anyone out there who is still running 6volt batteries have any good recommendations...regular, dry cell, gel cell, etc or ??? Any info/recommendations greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
-Paul I'm still running 6v and I recommend the Optima 6v. 1000 CCA and it'll fit in your battery box but you may need to make up a spacer because it's half as thick as a 12v battery. I used two 2x6s & zip tied them to the battery, one on each side. It's been 6 years now and it's still going strong.
Last edited by Tiny; 07/03/2012 2:05 PM. Reason: fixed bad info
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 422 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 422 | I have a 6 volt Optima in my 53 Chevy 3100 and it fits just perfect on a diagonal (no need for spacers.) And the hold down works with it. I have had this battery for going on 6 years and it's still going strong. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,262 |
I have been using the Optima 6v batteries for at least 6 years. They cost more but they last longer.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,383 | I have a 6 volt Optima in my 53 Chevy 3100 and it fits just perfect on a diagonal (no need for spacers.) And the hold down works with it. I have had this battery for going on 6 years and it's still going strong. Thanks for that. I should have qualified my reply that he "might" have to make a spacer. I did on my '38 because my battery box is a three inch wide strip of steel and without the spacer the battery would have fallen out the side. I don't know when Chevy went to a full battery tray but I changed my first post to hopefully prevent confusion for future readers of this thread.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 24 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 24 | Sorry it has taken me so long to respond...
Jerry- i like the 975 CCAs of the battery you recommended, but don't want to modify the battery tray.
Tim, AD_pickup and Tiny- I looked up the optima battery you guys recommended and really like that option. I am pretty sure my battery box is the same as the '53. So placing the battery on a diagonal might work or I will just make the mentioned spacers. Sounds like the optima works pretty well... so I see a new red top battery purchase in my near future.
Thanks for all your help. Much appreciated.: ) | | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 937 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 937 | I'm using the basic 6v from Autozone. Been almost two years and no troubles so far. Its sat disconnected for several months at a time as I work on the truck and its been fine. When I start driving more I'll switch to the Optima if this one gives me any trouble.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,629 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,629 | When all the connections are clean, the cables the right size, there should be very little trouble with the 6 volt system.
I have had as good luck with the basic battery as I have spending a ton of money on special batteries.
In fact, I have had better luck. Working in the parts store I have seen more of the spiral cell batteries come back for warranties than the regular batteries.
Maybe the six volt is different because it would have thicker cells. | | |
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