Need a new battery, what size do i get?

My '50 Chevy sedan needs a new battery and I would like to make sure I get the correct size when it comes to the CCA, how do you determine what you need?

It has a 454, TH350 12V CD and electric fan if any of that matters.

 

Nobody has aver had to buy a battery for their rod before?

 

For my '50 shoebox I just measured the old battery box and battery and took them to the local auto parts store and got the best fit with the highest cranking amps I could find. Works great.

 

should be fine with 24series. i think it's close to 6 volt size or 86series.

 

buy the size that fits with the highest cranking amps you can get... Remeber a cheap battery is not always a deal when its dead in the middle of the night......

 

I think the guy I bought it from did that. I think he pulled the battery out of another car and put it in to sell it. That is why I want to make sure I get the best one I can.

 

just go with a duralast 34dt-dlg. has top post and side mount terminals and has 800cca and 1000ca.

 

Get a good quality battery.....................and get it about 1000 CCA's.........best to have too much than 2 little.....too little and you burn things up.................

 

Look into one of the dry cell batteries from Odessey.They are half the size of a comparable battery with the same CCA.They are faster to recharge and last longer between draw downs.You can also mount them in any position because they are dry cell.

 

My 57 Olds calls for a #27N which is about 950 CCA, but I use a #65N which is about 1000 CCA. Primary difference is that the 65 is shorter and a little wider than the 27, but fits real well in the battery pan. Actually either will do.

Check your battery size and go find one that is similar. Get the higher CCA if you are concerned about cold weather starts. 850 - 1000 CCA should be ok for your 454. My engine is not as big (371 3x2) but it is older and more reluctant at times and takes a strong battery to kick it over.

 

I run an everstart with 810 cca to spin the 401fe over in my 69 pickup. It will turn it over with power to spare

 

I ran a standard red top Optima in my 454 Chevy hauler for about 8 years before it quit. Daily hard use!!! Try getting that from a lead-acid battery.

I have a yellow top Optima in my Model A w/ 350 and it is right at 14 years old. A Battery Tender may have extended its life, but again, try getting that from a lead acid.

I run an Odyssey in my Harley. Nice batts, but probably not worth the extra bucks over an Optima, unless you need a really small one. Optima/INterstate makes a dry 1000CCA battery too, with offset cells that is the larger size batt.

AGM=absorbed gl*** mat. Yes, you need a special charger for these, but they are becoming easier to find.

You can also run two Optima 6 Volt batteries in series. A local fellow makes some special mounting plates to mount one under each seat of your ride.

 

I understand Optima are now made in mexico. Cadillac Dave

 

ditto on my 58

 

Buy the highest cranking amp battery you can fit in the space you have, cca means whats available, it will only send out whats dranw from it, so the higher te better.

 

Get one to fit the box,you can spend a little or a lot.I know this won't be the popular opinon but I've never found expensive batterys to be much better than cheap ones.

 

and I will not be buying one of those.

 

I've always been told a good rule of thumb is to take your engine size in cubic inches and double it to get a ballpark number for CCA. But its also gonna depend on what your compression ratio is.

 

Too bad the Optimas are made south of the border. Dunno where my previously good 6v redtop Optima was made, but it was great, lasted 12V till my damn ***** relay got ***** and stayed connected hard. Well I still think the Optimas are good battrees. I will probably get another for my 54 Lincoln Capri with the original 317.5CID lincoln Y.

That big engine of yours demands 1000CCA's. Think big, but one that will fit the battree tray.

 

wildearp wrote:

You were lucky your red top was that old! Red tops made over the past 5 years have had high failure rates. I know builders who used to use them all of the time, but after having a lot of failures, have stopped using them. The ones built over 5 years ago are still a**** the best. Can't speak for the new "south of the border" ones, because no one I know is buying them now. The Yellow Top Optima's were much better than the Red Top's in reliability.

As far as the lead acid batteries, I've had two made by the Utility Battery Company that have lasted over 10 years and are still strong. While other battery brands I've had only lasted 2 or 3 years. A national product testing service recently tested a whole bunch of batteries and concluded that the ones sold by Wal Mart were not only as good, but much better than some others (like DieHard) and were less expensive as well.

 

so far all of us at autozone have experienced better luck with our duralast golds than optimas for street use. seen more optimas quit than duralast golds. plus they're cheap than optima. same cca and ca, and a better warantee.