Optima Red Top

[Kilgore Trout]

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]

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]

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

 

[Kilgore Trout]

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

What group battery????

 

[Marks5.0!]

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

 

[urban96]

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.

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]

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

 

[SaleenGT2001]

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

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Thanks everyone

 

[timeless2]

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

 

[Kilgore Trout]

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

 

[Red35th]

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]

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]

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]

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...

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]

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

 

[CobraM23]

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.