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EFV-8 Club Forum / General Ford Discussion / Bad Optima 6V battery?

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Posted By Discussion Topic: Bad Optima 6V battery? -- page: 1 2 3     42guy 03-04-2011 @ 8:17 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 108 Joined: Oct 2009 I have an Interstate battery in mine and it's about 5 years old. No problem with leakage or corrosion and it cost $52. I did have a NAPA battery that only lasted 2 years. 39 Ken 03-04-2011 @ 12:33 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 380 Joined: Oct 2009 Bob, Your '46 originally had a model #2H, 6v battery. The earlier cars used a 2L which is shorter. I used old original 2L battery cases for my '39, cleaned out and modified to accept an Optima. I had to cut a diagonal hole thru the bottom of the case, in the shape of the Optima. I did a top in a similar fashion as you did. Both of these have been in service more than 10 years. Optima has increased the height of the battery by about 3/8th's of an inch which almost makes it unusable in an original 2L case as I have described here. The new Optima will still fit an original 2H case. The price of the Optima is far less than the amount I had to spend to remove, repair, paint and replace an inner fender panel because of a regular battery that boiled and spewed acid. And yes, the water in the battery was just covering the top of the plates as directed by the manufacturer and the charging system was in proper operating condition. When these go, I will replace with another Optima. How I will modify the battery tray will be addressed when that happens. JMO Ken keith oh 03-04-2011 @ 12:28 PM reply profile send p.m. New Member Posts: 116 Joined: May 2010 Good heavens, $209 for a Optima and have to have special chargers plus hide the ugly thing. You can buy three group 1 or group 2 batteries from Tractor Supply or Batteries Incorporated for that money and I have never had one last less than four years. I guess I am just to practical. supereal 03-04-2011 @ 10:12 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 That is what I did. I routed the top to resemble the cells and straps, made the sides fron "bead board" and placed the Optima "catty corner" in the box. With 3 caps on top, and with a coat of black semi gloss paint, most people don't see that it isn't really an old battery. It was sized to use the existing tray and hold down, of course. If someone does catch on, I usually tell them that "wood batteries were common in old cars". That usually produces a good laugh. 37RAGTOPMAN 03-04-2011 @ 4:55 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1958 Joined: Oct 2009 Build a wooden box and paint it black to take up the slack, just a idea, 37RAGTOPMAN ALSO here is a web site for BATTIERES made for OLD FORDS A B 32 33 34-35 36.37,38,39,40,41,42,46.47,48,,plus much more, if you want the FIT and LOOK RIGHT, and FORD POINT SHOWING, http://www.turbostart.com/ NEW CASTLE BATTERY, PA Hope this helps 37 RAGTOPMAN this might end some peoples problems, I have used these and last 5-7 years, like anything , you take care of it it takes care of you, This message was edited by 37RAGTOPMAN on 3-5-11 @ 12:18 PM BigBlockFord 03-04-2011 @ 3:44 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 68 Joined: Nov 2009 I just purchased the Optima for the '33. Didn't like the cost but was recommended by several other members. The biggest concern I have with it, is it's design. The cells protrude about an inch below the case, in a diagonal position thus preventing the battery from laying flat in the frame. The battery will rock side to side. Very poor design!!!! Keith Smith 03-04-2011 @ 3:38 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 5 Joined: Dec 2009 Thanks for the information. I'll look into an Optima for the 36. As much as I would like to drive it on Sunday afternoons, there always seems to be something that makes me have to leave it sitting in the garage. Hopefully, that will change now that I've bought a place that I can keep it with me and take it out whenever the mood hits me. supereal 03-03-2011 @ 3:28 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 One of my Optimas lasted 7 years, and I have it on my bench now to test 6 volt stuff. The main, and probably only, way to ruin an Optima battery is to hook it up to a conventional charger. Like all "glass mat" batteries, the Optima must be charged very slowly with no more than about 7 volts. At our shop, we sell Interstate batteries, and they are very high quality. I have one in my own truck. However, a conventional lead-acid battery will be lucky to last 2 years in seldom driven vehicles. Each charge-discharge cycle reduces the capacity. It boils down to ":it ain't what you pay, but how often you pay it"! Keith Smith 03-03-2011 @ 2:35 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 5 Joined: Dec 2009 Sorry to open this back up, but I'm replacing the 6 volt in my 36 about every 2 years. I get them from O Riely's or Autozone for about $80. I only get to drive the car about 4-5 times a year. It's a pain that, after the first year, I have to start charging the battery just to enjoy the car. Then I'm always worried about getting stranded or jumping it off a 12v jump box. Is there some other problem I should look for in my system, or is it from lack of use? I'm finally going to get to store the car at my home, where I can run the car more frequently. I hope that helps. 37RAGTOPMAN 08-04-2010 @ 8:02 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 1958 Joined: Oct 2009 I am with KEITH OH, WHY SPEND that kind of money on a OPTIMA for a part time use, after driving my 37 since 1979, and have NO problems with the battery tray,if the battery is sulfating, it needs to be checked and maybe changed,because it is too old,or charging voltage is set to HIGH,causing boil over, 37RAGTOPMAN KEEP ON TRUCKIN,,,!!

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