Reproduction battery quality

I am going to be changing my 55 Ford over to a 56 battery tray so I can get a larger battery,right now I have a group 51 battery in the original 55 hold down and the alternator is close to battery tray so with the 56 parts it will be moved more to the side. I stopped off at the Rural King on the way home from the swapmeet and a group 56 battery will fit but does not fill up the 56 hold down completely,their battery selection was low probably due to the cold weather we got but if I can not find a modern battery to fit like I want are those reproduction batteries any good. I heard they do not last like modern batteries and anyone know if that is true.

 

Nobody used a reproduction original looking battery?,I still have one day left of vacation so I will hit all the battery shops to see if I can come up with one that fits better. Rural king has the best price on batteries around here and do not want to spend big bucks on a reproduction battery only to have it last only a couple years where I have been getting 6 to 8 years out of normal batteries and not having to keep them on tenders when not in use.

 

Everything I've read, no personal experience, says to only use the repros for the show and change back to a dependable battery to drive.

 

Simply put-junk ! I went through 2 in 4 years in my 69 dart and the 1 for the rambler never saw the road!

 

That is what I heard too so I will modify the hold down and tray to fit the closest battery I can find,its a shame they charge so much for a battery that is not worth a ****. Two or three times the cost of a regular battery at the fraction of the life span does not make sense to me.

 

Interstate makes some batteries for old cars, check into them. They are black, not white like their new ones.

 

A good many cars like a 54 Cadillac , 61 Corvair , or a 41 Packard require one to run the "Odd size " batteries . Yes, Interstate and have a GREAT working relationship . I won't use any one else s batteries now ! scrubba

 

I definately will look at Interstate batteries.

 

I found out my existing battery will work with the 56 hold down,the width is correct but the length is a little shorter. My present battery is only 2 years old so I am going to run it until it dies and then worry about one that fills up the hold down.