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5/01/2023 8:08 AM  #1


11 Years and it's Time Again

For a battery in the red car. 24F & 27F battery's are shrinking in width so my problem is the original hold down (7" wide) can't sit and clamp down on a 6 1/2" wide top. Group size charts are wrong because my measuring device prove it after running from store to store yesterday. So has anyone else run into this problem. Universal tie downs can't work and they look all wrong and shimming the original looks cheap.

 

5/01/2023 3:06 PM  #2


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

I had a been using a Group 24 Battery, purchased in 2014, and do not remember an issue even though the battery was slightly narrower.  If you’re using the stock hold down support, you could sneak a shim in the upper bracket and it would not be that noticeable (IMO).  (I switched to a trunk mounted Optima battery in 2020)


65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
 

5/01/2023 3:20 PM  #3


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

I had a been using a Group 24 Battery, purchased in 2014, and do not remember an issue even though the battery was slightly narrower.  If you’re using the stock hold down support, you could sneak a ¼” shim (wood?) in the upper bracket on each side and it would not be that noticeable (IMO), or cut, shorten and re-weld the top support. 
(Note that I had switched to a trunk mounted Optima battery in 2020)


65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
 

5/02/2023 4:47 AM  #4


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

What was your width on old 24F or 27F battery?

Have you tried the H5 or H6 size?
As I recall, it is slightly shorter but same width.

The 24F’s lost the base lip and I found this to work well for my car.  I’m using the foxbody style starter on the 5.0L.  Battery tray and hold down were modified as needed.

 

5/02/2023 6:35 AM  #5


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

It keeps sliding off one side or the other. The older battery's were the thicker rubber cases that were 7" at the top back then. For yrs. I had a metal frame that made up the slack & covered it with them fake looking Autolite covers. They warp and crack from the heat and the metal rots. So anyway I tried heating up the plastic hold down and bending together more and is why there is a new one on the way. I just like trying to keep factory looking.
I will check to see what other batteries might work better. Can't go by the size charts because there measurement might be at the bottom where the hold is.

     Thread Starter
 

5/03/2023 9:48 PM  #6


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

Do you have a Remy Battery store in your area?

They might have something.

 

5/04/2023 7:42 AM  #7


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

11 Years is great.  My last platinum battery only lasted 3 years.  The max I've been getting lately is 5 years for my drivers.  

 

5/04/2023 7:54 PM  #8


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

My first red top optima battery lasted 17 years not sure how much longer it would have lasted it was still on my car when I totaled the 66...it was a 34 series... I got a new one it had went up about $100.00 ....maybe it will last till I am 70 lol


Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
 

5/05/2023 10:38 AM  #9


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

I don't expect any new battery's to last long. 11yrs ago we could get one that had 6 to 8 yr. warranty which is what this one was. Today only 3 yrs.for the best. No virgin lead mining, just recycle stuff. Don't hear good things about optima for what they cost, so I stay away from them.

     Thread Starter
 

5/05/2023 11:03 PM  #10


Re: 11 Years and it's Time Again

red351 wrote:

I don't expect any new battery's to last long. 11yrs ago we could get one that had 6 to 8 yr. warranty which is what this one was. Today only 3 yrs.for the best. No virgin lead mining, just recycle stuff. Don't hear good things about optima for what they cost, so I stay away from them.

yeah I don't expect this one to last that long.
 


Its really me....I fixed my caps lock .
 

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