Optima Red Top

K

Kilgore Trout

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• Feb 7, 2006

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So I am thinking of installing a red top but the battery finder on Optima's website says no match for my car?

What group of Optima fits my car?

Do I need any kind of special hold down, battery tray, or adapter?

WTF is up with this seemingly simple task???? Optima needs to be more Ford friendly IMHO

 

DropTopPony

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#2

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my optima red top was not a direct fit in my battery tray. I had to trim the edge so it would fit. And the side hold down wouldn't work either. There is a company who sells billet aluminum pieces for @$20 or so. I recently purchased an all aluminum battery hold down specifically to mount my battery secure and be NHRA Legal if I race it.
I think my battery is 34/78 or something like that.

 

OUR01GT

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Mar 31, 2005

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Feb 7, 2006

#3

• Feb 7, 2006

• #3

I have a red top OPTIMA in my 2001 GT. The only thing I had to do was modify the bottom battery clamp.

 

K

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OUR01GT said:

I have a red top OPTIMA in my 2001 GT. The only thing I had to do was modify the bottom battery clamp.

Click to expand...

What group battery????

 

Marks5.0!

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Feb 7, 2006

#5

• Feb 7, 2006

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im running the 34/78 yellow top with the group 65 adapters.

 

urban96

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#6

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droptopponynj said:

my optima red top was not a direct fit in my battery tray. I had to trim the edge so it would fit. And the side hold down wouldn't work either. There is a company who sells billet aluminum pieces for @$20 or so. I recently purchased an all aluminum battery hold down specifically to mount my battery secure and be NHRA Legal if I race it.
I think my battery is 34/78 or something like that.

Click to expand...

theres two different sizes, the slightly bigger one (that you have where you need to trim a bit of the tray) and the smaller one that drops right in. both require the larger hold down tho. im not positive but i think the larger one has a few more CCA's then the smaller

 

urban96

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Feb 7, 2006

#7

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oh and my optima came with the hold down adapter that fits perfect

 

SaleenGT2001

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Jul 18, 2005

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Four Oaks NC

Feb 7, 2006

#8

• Feb 7, 2006

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mine fit perfect too. i thought all optima reds were the same?? i dunno. great battery though. my factory one kept dying b/c i only drive the car like once every 2 weeks

 

K

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Thanks everyone

 

timeless2

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Feb 7, 2006

#10

• Feb 7, 2006

• #10

Trout, good move on the new battery. 5 years is pushing it, if this is still the stocker you have.

 

K

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Yes, it is the stocker... And it is looking real weak these days

 

Red35th

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Houston, TX

Feb 7, 2006

#12

• Feb 7, 2006

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I am still on my original battery. I bought a new one a few weeks ago, but the stock battery keeps starting the damn car.

Sometimes it's not too happy about it, but 7 years old? Wish the rest of my car was built like that...

 

stangGT97

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Feb 7, 2006

#13

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optimas are the bomb... i picked mine up at autozone, and it dropped in perfectly. The stock battery on my '97 lasted until last summer (July 2005). pretty sweet

 

96BlueStangGT

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Southern Indiana

Feb 7, 2006

#14

• Feb 7, 2006

• #14

I changed the stock battery in my 96 in November 04, but man was it about dead. I got the smaller Optima Red Top. It fit real good. It is a good battery but i wish i would have gotten the Yellow Top. When you run the red ones down, I heard they don't charge back up to their full potential.

 

DropTopPony

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#15

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Red35th said:

I am still on my original battery. I bought a new one a few weeks ago, but the stock battery keeps starting the damn car.

Sometimes it's not too happy about it, but 7 years old? Wish the rest of my car was built like that...

Click to expand...

Stockers aren't bad at all. Mine went 5 years and if I didn't live in a cold winter area may have went longer

 

menasci

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Chandler, AZ

Feb 8, 2006

#16

• Feb 8, 2006

• #16

What are the benefits of the Optima?
Just longer life?
They seem pretty expensive for a battery.

 

CobraM23

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Johnson City, TN

Feb 8, 2006

#17

• Feb 8, 2006

• #17

Optimas have spiral cells in them. Think of how a jelly roll is. Its supposed to be more resistent to heat, cold, and vibration. They also carry a 3 yr free replacement national warranty. A group 34/78 red top is rated at 1000 ca and 800 cca. It will fit but youll have to work with the tray a bit. A group 25 red top will drop right in and is rated at 910 ca and 720 cca. Group 25 youll need a bigger holddown for it. I just used a piece of rubber hose, cut it open and slipped it over the stock holddown. No problems here. Either one will be plenty to start a Mustang.