Time for a New Battery
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,448
Likes: 0
From: Marysville, WA
Time for a New Battery Boy I tell ya, let someone borrow your car & it comes back ruined. 
joke 
I went to start the car after Don dropped it off & it went rrr, rrr....almost didn't start. I guess 5 years is about all you can expect out of a factory battery. 
So what's the consensus, an Optima Red Top?
Are they worth $130? I thought about getting one of the super lightweight ones & relocating it to the spare tire well, but I don't have the bread for that. (another $500+ mod)
joke I went to start the car after Don dropped it off & it went rrr, rrr....almost didn't start. I guess 5 years is about all you can expect out of a factory battery. So what's the consensus, an Optima Red Top?
Are they worth $130? I thought about getting one of the super lightweight ones & relocating it to the spare tire well, but I don't have the bread for that. (another $500+ mod) 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
get the Light weight one and use a the bracket they sell to put it in stock location 
Mine has been sitting here out of the car for over a year and still has a full charge
Mine has been sitting here out of the car for over a year and still has a full charge
TECH Addict
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 1
From: LaConner WA
I only got 2 years out of my factory battery, so you did pretty well I'd say 
I got a screaming deal on an Interstate thru my work or I'd have gone to an Optima myself. Don't have any personal experience with the lightweight batterys, are they gel cell or dry or ???
I got a screaming deal on an Interstate thru my work or I'd have gone to an Optima myself. Don't have any personal experience with the lightweight batterys, are they gel cell or dry or ??? Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,448
Likes: 0
From: Marysville, WA
I believe the light weights & Optimas are gell or dry cell. Since you can mount them in any oreientation. The light weight would be nice, but how much is 25lbs worth. I guess that would offset the big front sway bar....but the batt alone costs $175!!!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
no I paid much less let me dig up a link
EDIT:
Here is the 1200 many like. Heavy but good power
Here is the 925 I am using. Better specs then the Stock GM battery
Here are all your choices in this line
EDIT:
Here is the 1200 many like. Heavy but good power
Here is the 925 I am using. Better specs then the Stock GM battery
Here are all your choices in this line
Last edited by TwoFast4Lv; Jun 5, 2005 at 01:28 PM.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Verdad Gallardo
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin
Verdad Gallardo
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
TECH Veteran
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,954
Likes: 1
From: Kent WA
My stocker is still in good shape... I'd be looking at the lightweight batteries if I were replacing. Hell... if I'm not gonna lose any weight anytime soon, I figure I should help my car out with its weight as much as possible.
Thread Starter
10 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 9,448
Likes: 0
From: Marysville, WA
Well, I compared what Ellis linked to the Optima. About the same weight for what I wanted. On-line here you can get Optimas for $120, 130 @ Sears, $115 for Ellis's, and Costco sell the Optima for $100. SOLD! Going in the car now.....
http://www.gotbatteries.com/items.as...SL105/37L105S7
this is what a lot of the guys in the drag race section are running if you don't have a large stereo and don't leave just the ignition on for a long time. This is what's going in my car here in a week or two. I need the extra weight savings.
Nate
this is what a lot of the guys in the drag race section are running if you don't have a large stereo and don't leave just the ignition on for a long time. This is what's going in my car here in a week or two. I need the extra weight savings.
Nate
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 0
From: Lynnwood, WA (North of Seattle)
Originally Posted by WAHUSKER
Well, I compared what Ellis linked to the Optima. About the same weight for what I wanted. On-line here you can get Optimas for $120, 130 @ Sears, $115 for Ellis's, and Costco sell the Optima for $100. SOLD! Going in the car now.....
I am afraid that is going to be coming up on my list of things to spend more $$ on soon.........spent toooooooo much time with the parking lights on & the lights up when I got my HID kit installed.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
We just replaced Stephs recently. Having had two Optima's fail two years into there warranty we just choose a new Exide from a local dealer for $65. It does not look near as cool as the optima's but it is a daily driver
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (3)
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 0
From: Lynnwood, WA (North of Seattle)
Originally Posted by TwoFast4Lv
We just replaced Stephs recently. Having had two Optima's fail two years into there warranty we just choose a new Exide from a local dealer for $65. It does not look near as cool as the optima's but it is a daily driver
Wow, that is the 1st time I have heard of anything like that with the Optimas. Granted I don't go looking for stories about them, but everyone I know who uses one loves em..........At least you guys found something that is working for ya now though. Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 10,023
Likes: 6
From: LT1 land...the "409" of the 90s!
At first we heard of the problems on Show cars. We figured we would not have any issue as we were driving the car every day...no such luck
Oh well like I said if it works for ya!
Oh well like I said if it works for ya!
I must be doing something wrong...my stock battery crapped out just a year ago (uhh, 11 years!). Maybe having a battery conditioner helped it last so long.
What did I stuff in it Ellis? An Exide?
Something like that...
What did I stuff in it Ellis? An Exide?
Something like that...