I'm getting my engine swap project together and I have discovered I have no room under the hood for anything larger than a lawn mower battery. I have also discovered that an optima battery will fit in the rear fenderwell (according to their published measurements.) My questions are:

1. Would it be better to use a top post optima on it's side or a side post optima mounted upright. It will fit either way, but I've heard that top post batterys can handle more current.

2. Since it will be next to the wheel, how well do I need to protect it? Can I just mount a mud flap around it to keep the large rocks from being kicked into it or do I need to seal it better and try to kep it dry.

3. Whose got the best price on optimas and where is a good place to get the long battery cable?

Thanks in advance

Mine just hangs out under the truck. I spray painted the terminals (sexy, eh?) to try to prevent corrosion from that chemical crap (magnesium sulfate??) Colo now likes to spray on the roads.

In your application I wouldn't worry about protecting it from the elements, but from physical contact w/the tire or rocks, etc

http://www.superford.org/registry/users/33/139/batteryunder.jpg

The best place to get the long batt cable is welding supply. I ran 2/0 up to the engine compartment, was around $1.80/ft at a local shop. Just be sure that cable won't chafe anywhere :p

I got compression type ring terminals from Wrangler Power Products, wranglernw.com. The terminals aren't cheap but they're sweet and you can't beat the "modular" nature of military style terminals on the batt posts.

Best price on Optimas? Look for a place called Reco Fire in Denver somewhere..... if it's not in the local listings I'll dig up the receipt.

Thanks D60! That website has lots of good stuff. Wish I had seen it before I went to NAPA and paid twice the price for some circuit breakers. Oh well, guess I can always take them back since I haven't installed them yet.

It looks like you went with the top post battery on its side option. Did it just fit better that way or does it perform better that way. I think that's what I'm going to do. Should give me a little more clearance that way. Thanks for the help.

D60,
I tried to find Reco Fire, but it doean't have any listing in any of the online search engines. I don't have a Denver phone book so I can't look it up there (Peyton is near Colorado Springs). Any chance you could dig up the address and/or phone number for me? I'll be going through Denver this week and I'd like to stop and pick one up if possible. What was their price anyway?

Might be easier to mount it in the cowl, where they put the second battery on the military models.

Originally posted by oldjeep
Might be easier to mount it in the cowl, where they put the second battery on the military models.

Interesting idea Chuck. The cowl doesn't look like it has near enough room though. Will my heater still fit? Can you get teh military battery box and cover somewhere or am I on my own to fabricate something?

Originally posted by Grandpa Jeep


Interesting idea Chuck. The cowl doesn't look like it has near enough room though. Will my heater still fit? Can you get teh military battery box and cover somewhere or am I on my own to fabricate something?

What the heck is a heater?

The repro battery lids are still avaliable, but I would just sink an ammo can into the cowl and use that lid.

Originally posted by oldjeep


What the heck is a heater?


After seeing your pics from the snow run, I can see why you're confused.:flipoff2:

My heater works pretty good, especially with the half cab. Call me a wimp, but I'm keeping it.

Whoops

Fire King
Re-co Battery Inc
748 Sheridan Blvd
Denver, CO 80214
Ph 303-893-9324
Fax: 303-893-0155

But call first! I *thought* I paid $130 for a blue top there but the receipt says $176.95, which is about normal. Red tops can be found for $99 if you know where to look, try a search on this board. Hell, even my local Peerless Tyre sells Red tops. Personally I think the Exide Orbitals (avail at Checker) are interesting, too, but a bit pricey.

I still think Optima's quality has declined lately, failures seem more common (but they'll warranty them).

Thanks D60, I will give them a call. I know thry're available all over the place, I'm just looking to save a few bucks.

Speaking of the warenty, will any Optima dealer honor the warrenty or do I have to go back to where I bought it? That might be enough reason to stick with somewhere local and pay the extra.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the side posts aren't rated for hi-amp loads like winches and such (per Optima's own website). Based on that alone I wouldn't use the side mount option.

i run both top and side mounts. I use the tops for the main electrical, and the side, for smaller stuff like my CB, stero, and stuff like that... works great for me. also, if you need more room, optima sells a 6 volt battery which is 1/2 the size of the 12 volt, and you can wire them in series to make 12 volts, and you will have more options on where to put the battery, expecally if you want it under the hood.

Garrett

Keep in mind the longer the battery cable the larger it needs to be so you might want to go with a #2 battery cable or welding cable.

buesman2a, is that just for the dual post version, or for the side post only version as well? I think I'm going with the top post version on it's side anyway, but I'm curious.

Garrett, I thought about going with two 6V batterys, but they want almost as much for a 6V battery as they do for the 12V version. I'm not sure I want my battery in front that bad.

Dean, I am aware that I need heavier cables. I was actually thinking 2/0, for what will be probably an 8'-10' cable. Do you think that's overkill?

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Optima only makes one side mount style. If you get the "side mount only" version, they just leave off the mail top studs.

As far as I know Optima doesn't make a side mount battery rated for high current.

Now this is not to say that there aren't other OEM models that are designed for JUST this purpose (sidemount only).

Originally posted by Grandpa Jeep
Dean, I am aware that I need heavier cables. I was actually thinking 2/0, for what will be probably an 8'-10' cable. Do you think that's overkill?

Probably. On the other hand overkill never hurts when it comes to electrical.

Will you be winching w/this battery? If so I'd run 2/0 anyway, the cost difference between that and 1/0 (I wouldn't go below 1/0)would be negligible in the long run - do it right the first time and be done with it.

I think that is a good choice. After routing the cables they always seem to be longer than you thought they would need to be.

Originally posted by D60


Probably. On the other hand overkill never hurts when it comes to electrical.

Will you be winching w/this battery? If so I'd run 2/0 anyway, the cost difference between that and 1/0 (I wouldn't go below 1/0)would be negligible in the long run - do it right the first time and be done with it.

Not doing any winching, at least not with an electric winch.:D I might someday try to set it up for a portable electric winch on the back though. Of course the rear mounted batterywill be a benefit then. Anyway 2/0 cable it is. Thanks everyone for letting me bounce this off you.

I used a top post red top and placed it between the rails (I'm now redoing it to put i lower, below the floor level) behind the cab (which no longer exists). I used coated brass marine terminals (any boating supply) with the threaded posts sticking up and a wing nut. I really like the ease of disconnecting. Then I got some 2/0 stranded copper wire and put copper lugs on each end. Ran that up to the military junction block on the fire wall. Basically it's a row of 6(?) 3/8" studs with nuts and an insulating housing. Looks like it could handle several hundred amps. Anyway, that is where all (+) battery power feeds from. Ground went straight to the frame on 1/0 with copper lugs. I also have the stuff to install a second red top as part of the new body buildup.