Optima Red Top Battery - doesn't fit :( ! Help !
 

Been struggling to fit the Red Top on my TA.. but it just keeps sliding around.. :mad:

How'd you guys put this thing on ?

ok, just looked this up...

http://192.132.24.107/UsingOptima/height_WCM.asp

looking under GROUP 34/78 [even though we use Group 75/35] we need a puck adapter ? Where can I get that ?

Any other way to do this ?

Depends on which RedTop you got. If you got the 75/25 use your battery hold down rubber clamp used for the original battery. If you got the 34/78 you will need a special puck from Optima. Call them and they will send one out. They sent one out for my YellowTop I use in my Tahoe (tailgating and running a powerinverter to power things, got to love those Optima).

I got the 75/35, but the OEM battery hold down rubber clamp bolt doesn't work.. I tried a different bolt, which did fit but the battery sits very loose and moves around :cry:

Call me (630.917.6107) maybe I can describe what I did

Is this the one you got?

http://www.optimabatteries.com/publi..._25_082304.pdf

Also, if you are using the height adapter, DON'T. This maybe why you have the problem. If you are using the height adapter then remove and use your original bolt. That is what I did.

yeah that's the one... I was calling you but my cell phone's battery died ... go figure :eyes: just my friggin luck lol

all I have is my laptop with a wireless card and I'm on lunch break doing this..

anyways, I didn't use the height adapter .. I used another bolt that did fit but the lip on the rubber clamp won't hold the battery firm so it just moves around..

So, yours sits tight with the stock bolt ?

http://192.132.24.107/images/usingOp...ptimaThree.gif

I think I might need that adapter..

forget the stock garbage completely. Get a year one battery hold down strap. it works great and the battery will never move around. If you take the car road racing or auto X the stock plastic tray always ends up breaking or comming loose.

year one part # BHFBLK its $16 and they are a sponsor too----->

I can snap a pic of mine if you are interested in seeing how it looks installed.

edit.. my old 95 camaro I had the same optima battery with the height adapter and year one strap. it worked fine. my LS1 though has a plain old battery with the same strap an dit still works fine.

maybe your battery tray/coolant reservoir is broken. Mine was broken at the front lip so I got a new one from the dealer. Have a look at the tray with the battery removed. I went to several salvage yards and all of their f-body battery trays were broken. apparantly this is a weak spot on the tray.

Good point. Make sure the front of the battery is in the lip. This holds the front and the rubber clamp holds the back. Factory clamp works for me and battery does not budge.

Can you snap a pic for us? I'm interested in getting something new for the old car

Yes they all break there. My new LS1's was broekn when I bought it. I grabbed the Year one hold down right away. I'll snap a pic in a few minutes I left the digicam on acident and ran the battery down gotta let it charge for a bit. then snap the pic.

My redtop came with the clamp specifically for our cars.

ok here's the pic. the strap goes across the top of the battery and mounts keeping the stock hold down still in place. the top mount goes into a threaded hole that is already on the car.

https://ls1tech.com/forums/attachmen...id=21106&stc=1

Thanks for posting the pic, I think I'm going to pick one of those up

Ditto...I wasn't even considering anything like this, but after seeing that pic, it makes me think I need one...hmmm :)

Update!!
 

ok guys, I went to Pep Boys [yeah! :P ] after work and they had a 34/78 Red Top with the supplied clamp for GM cars... and the 35/75 Red Tops didn't! :guns:

So, anyways, I got that clamp [puck adapter] and finished the install... was easy with the said adapter :nod:


that looks like something we all could surely use... Which of the sponsors has it ? I'm buying one.. just in case!

Finally, after all this hassle.... the damn voltage still hovers around the yellow mark [ just below 13V ] at idle!!! :bang: :bang:

So much for a new battery!! :eyes: atleast, it looks pretty!! :jest:

Thanks for ALL the responses guys... ya'll are the best!! :cheers:

Here's what lead me to change the battery in the first place!

https://ls1tech.com/forums/generation-iii-external-engine/257547-battery-power-drops-after-pulley.html

As soon as the fans kick on [ 168* first fan, 172* second fan ] the volts drop from 13 to the top of the yellow mark!.. even with the new battery!