Superformance Battery Replacement

[zzmac]

Hi all,

It's looking like I have to replace my battery. The one in there now is an Optima which I presume came from the factory and isn't available in Canada. What Make and model battery have you guys used as a replacement. Does it need a heavy duty battery? Also the posts on my battery appear positioned more towards the center as opposed to the corners on a regular battery and my cables don't look like they reach out to a corner post battery. Any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!

[Bob In Ct]

My next battery will be much smaller than the 10 year old Interstate now in the trunk. The batteries in these cars have little to do, so why lug them around? Once a year I get a hernia pulling the thing out of the hole it's in to add water and clean the terminals. When this battery finally quits it will be replaced with a much lighter model.

On the guy that's in there now I have cut off the excess plastic on the bottom so as to get a better fit and I have put a strap around it (rigged out of fiberglass tape) to help with the removal and installation.

So why did SPF put it on the left side of the car anyway?

Bob

[zzmac]

Are you saying that any battery will do as long as it fits? (and light to avoid hernias lol?)

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by Bob In Ct

So why did SPF put it on the left side of the car anyway?

Bob

Maybe because the first prototypes were right hand drive?

-Dean #747

P.S. I use an Optima Red Top with the reversed posts so I don't have to cross the cables. 34R.




Specs:
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/index.html#redspecs

[badrich]

My Cobra was purchased 7 years ago and came with an Optima. I moved it to the front of the boot for better weight distribution and it has been extremely reliable with zero maintenance. If you already haven't done so, I would contact the factory directly and see if they could assist you in purchasing one. Worth the extra effort. Rich

[Blas]

The right side of the car would help with weight distribution but would interfere with the fuel filler....There have been some issues with Optima batteries flaking out after a year or two...You might want to contact them and see what they can do for you...unless money and time are important...Any good battery will do...Compare the cold cranking amps and be mindful of the battery size & location of the posts unless you want to start lengthening them as part of your battery replacement adventure...Don’t eat any beans for 24 hours before attempting to remove/replace the battery…

[Got the Bug]

Originally Posted by zzmac

Hi all,

It's looking like I have to replace my battery. The one in there now is an Optima which I presume came from the factory and isn't available in Canada. What Make and model battery have you guys used as a replacement. Does it need a heavy duty battery? Also the posts on my battery appear positioned more towards the center as opposed to the corners on a regular battery and my cables don't look like they reach out to a corner post battery. Any suggestions?

Thanks a bunch!

These guys sell Optima have a phone number for Canada. Shipping might be expensive though.

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/

You might want to think about writing down the model number and contacting some auto parts or performance parts stores in your area to see what equivalent batteries they offer.

[RedBarchetta]

FWIW, I got my Optima from a Pep Boys. They had to order it for the reverse poles, but they can get it if you don't want to order and have shipped. I'm sure Autozone could do that, too, but it would take 30 more minutes to explain to the counter person there what you want and you would have to walk them through the order process.

[Woodz428]

I have an Optima in our Coupe, been there since we got the car in Jan 2003. Ran it down once leaving the ignition on while doing some test work, charged it up again and it has been going since, about 2 years ago. Set all Winter with out starting it and fired right up when I took it North last week. Expect the same on Sunday when I head North again. I like my Optima and will replace it with another unless I find some reason to change my mind.
The cars actually come WITHOUT a battery from the factory and is installed by the dealer. Our roadster is still battery-less, although it will get one this Spring

[Bill Wells]

I have used the Ford MOTORCRAFT battery which I used for 5 yrs before it had to be replaced . Since I had such good luck with it the first time around, I replaced it with the same type/model . 3 yrs on the latest one now and no issues and still cranking strong, even this week after 5 mos storage and no recharge during that time .

Mine is Motorcraft model : " BXT 58 R" , it was about $85 including tax and I ordered it thru a Ford dealer, one day delivery .

CAUTION ; There are two 'hold down' flanges on the bottom of the battery casing (assuming they have not changed it ) and these need to be CUT OFF flush to the side of the casing above the flanges....otherwise the battery will not fit into the trunk battery storage opening. It might get down part way, but it wont make it all the way - as Blas said, have fun getting it in and out ,even when correctly fitted . Bill

[Silverback51]

I bought a couple cheap battery cables that I attach to the battery to lift it out.

With these attached I can lift it up with one hand.

[madmaxx]

Be very carefull lifting batteries by there terminals or even tapping on them. If one turns and the plates inside touch, the top of the battery will BLOW off and you may very well become a blind person. I witnessed this first had when I saw a guy hitting the post terminals to free from a DEAD battery. If he had not worn prescription glasses he would have been blind, the burn on his face did heal. Sounded like a shotgun. He was not hitting the terminals any harder then I ever had.

[badrich]

Something else I like about my ancient Optima: a built-in strap for easy (and safe) carrying and side-mounts for the cables for a nice, neat installation. Banging on terminals unnecessary. Rich

[PANAVIA]

Napa has a Dry Cell replacement for Optima type batteries -We have had sub-optimal (no pun intended ) performance from the Optima Line, and less than stellar warranty services from Interstate.

However---- Motorcraft, Delco or NAPA have treated us well.

[poboy427]

I have had 3 Ultimas and have since gone to the carbon fiber Braille battery offering. Very light weight. Early on SPF had some issues with thin fiberglass in the battery well.

I also bought a Battery Tender. Perminately wired the hookup pigtail to come through the battery hold-down/lid. I keep the tender on it at all times when the car is in the garage. The gel batteries are very sensitive to over charging. I think the key to battery longevity (in a collectible or special interest car) is to drive the car everyday or have a Tender.

Braille is available throught Jegs and I think Summit as well as the Tender. Bought mine from Jegs and comes with 1 yr warranty. It is priced about the same as a yellow top Ultima.

Ray

[poboy427]

Another thing, the Braille is light weight enough that it can be lifted out of a SPF battery well with ease. Pulling an ultima out of a SPF is a major strain as there is less than 1/2 inch of clearance. The Ultima is an overweight slug-mounted just where you don't need and extra 40-50lbs. My Braille battery is 21 lbs. No tugging on the battery posts to remove the Braille.

Ray

[Bob In Ct]

Hey Ray:
These Braille batteries appear to be racing batteries. Are they suitable for use in a street car, or will they die in no time? Which one would you recommend for my SPF?

Bob

[SandyC]

My Gel Cell battery CAUGHT FIRE today while my SPF was in a shop for service. One of the guys in the shop tried to start the car and nothing happened (it turned out he never turned on the battery switch) so he thought the battery was dead. So he attached a 40 amp conventional charger to the battery, an Optima Red Top, that was still in the car. A miracle happened in that he just happened to come back to the car a few minutes later and glanced in the trunk. To his horror he saw a small flame 2 to 3 inches high coming up out of one of the vents in the battery. He blew out the flame and shut off the charger. This flame was about 6 inches away from my fuel cell, whoa.

I think the moral of this story is NEVER charge a gel cell battery with a conventional battery charger. It must be a charger designed for gel cells. Things like a fully filtered output and smart technology are required.

No damage to the car or cables and the shop replaced the battery with an exact duplicate at no charge (no pun intended). Dodged a bullet on this one.

[zzmac]

I ended up replacing mine with just a NAPA battery (which works fine) but Costco does carry the Optima Yellow Top if you need one.

[Blas]

Got the NAPA battery number and info handy?
Thanks