[DeTomaso] Battery questions, again.

Tue May 29 17:48:50 EDT 2012

Very common discussion on the Corvette Forums.  It seems that the new Optimas are indeed lower quality than
the old ones.  I use the NAPA glass mat batteries.  A few more cranking amps for a few less $$$ than an Optima, and more readily available...FWIW.

Michael Frazier
Gruppo Rompiculi Corsa 

> Date: Tue, 29 May 2012 08:25:08 -0700
> From: lashdeep at yahoo.com
> To: sdlgibson at sbcglobal.net; julian_kift at hotmail.com; michael at michaelshortt.com
> CC: asajay at asajay.com; detomaso at realbig.com; parapantera at aol.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Battery questions, again.
> 
> I have an Optima Red Top that I bought in 2001 used in various recreational cars. Sometimes these cars have sat for six months at a time but this battery always performed well without any charging or maintenance.
> 
> I've heard that the new Optimas aren't made as well as the older ones. 
> 
> Any data out there to support that rumor?
> 
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> ________________________________
> From: SG <sdlgibson at sbcglobal.net>
> To: Julian Kift <julian_kift at hotmail.com>; michael at michaelshortt.com 
> Cc: asajay at asajay.com; De Tomaso List <detomaso at realbig.com>; parapantera at aol.com 
> Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2012 1:44 PM
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Battery questions, again.
> 
> I have a redtop optima in the Pantera that is at least eight yrs old and going strong.  It also sat about 9 months once without being used or charged.  when I checked it it was still at 12.5v and ready to use.  I think that in one form or another the dry cell is the way to go.
>  
> Shaun Gibson
> 
> --- On Sun, 5/27/12, michael at michaelshortt.com <michaelsavga at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> From: michael at michaelshortt.com <michaelsavga at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Battery questions, again.
> To: "Julian Kift" <julian_kift at hotmail.com>
> Cc: asajay at asajay.com, "De Tomaso List" <detomaso at realbig.com>, parapantera at aol.com
> Date: Sunday, May 27, 2012, 11:49 AM
> 
> 
> Great point Julian, I'm on my 3rd Optima ( one was in the car when I got
> it, approx 4 years old, it lasted another year with me, then my first
> replacement Optima that lasted 4 years which also died if not driven every
> few weeks (drain somewhere) and the current one which is in year 2.5) The
> last one has constantly been hooked up to a Battery Tender Jr. ($59.95) and
> shows no signs of weakness thus far.
> I have now put one on both M/C and the 450SL as well.
> 
> I recommend them highly for anything that isn't driven on a regular basis.
> 
> Michael
> 
> BTW, is. Battery Tender dies, they'll rebuilt for $17.95.
> On May 27, 2012 11:55 AM, "Julian Kift" <julian_kift at hotmail.com> wrote:
> 
> >
> > I needed a new battery for the Ultima and the replacement factory
> > recommended Varley Red Top was $430, so I switched to the equivalent
> > Odyssey ER40 (Extreme Racing), which was $130 less. It's a tiny little
> > thing, but kicks the Chebbie over every time with no issues and cold
> > cranking is usually a longer demand for me as I don't have a cold start
> > circuit.
> >
> > The Varley was a great battery too and lasted 8 years and probably would
> > have gone longer had I known you cannot high boost start/charge the Dry
> > Cells, so a lesson  One other advantage of the Dry cells is you can get
> > creative with mounting as they don't need to be upright. I once saw a
> > picture of one mounted under the front trunk upside down in a Pantera, the
> > equivalent of the drop battery box, without the cutting and welding.
> >
> > On the other hand I have been going through Optima batteries in 6 - 24
> > months in the Pantera (I did have a parasitic drain sometimes, which I
> > think I have cured with a new hazard switch), so the next battery I buy for
> > the Pantera will be an Odyssey. For each car/battery I now have a CTEK
> > intelligent trickle charger too. The gell cell or AGM batteries just don't
> > recover well from full discharge.
> >
> > Julian
> >
> > > From: ParaPantera at aol.com
> > > Date: Sun, 27 May 2012 07:57:04 -0400
> > > To: asajay at asajay.com; detomaso at realbig.com
> > > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Battery questions, again.
> > >
> > > In 2003 I purchased a "little" Odyssey PC925 since I had mounted  the
> > > clutch master vacuum pump on the passenger side of the pedal house, size
> > was  an
> > > issue.  In 2006 I changed vacuum pump locations, and the battery in my
> > > Acura I bought new in July 2001 was at the end of it's five year life
> >  span.  I
> > > put the PC925 in the Acura and bought a PC1200 for the  Pantera.  The
> > PC925
> > > is still performs flawlessley after nine  years.  As for the PC1200 it
> > has
> > > endured six years of Lucas electrical  abuse including maybe three times
> > a
> > > year when a dome light anomaly drains it  completely.
> > >
> > >  I cannot speak for Odyssey's built today, but the two I have  purchased
> > > have been cost effective from a durability and life span point of  view.
> > >
> > >
> > > In a message dated 5/26/2012 3:22:38 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> > > asajay at asajay.com writes:
> > >
> > > Best  battery to buy for a Pantera today?
> > > Wet cell tech versus Dry cell  tech?
> > >
> > > Is the Odyssey any good anymore?
> > > How about the Orbital?
> > > Has  anyone tried the Dyna-Batt?
> > >
> > > I am battery poor at the moment.  I  have two rigs with old worn out and
> > > absolutely -dead- batteries and they  can't be driven a such.  I also
> > > have one currently going out, so I  need to think new batteries soon.
> > >
> > > I'm less a fan of wet cell these days  if I can get something better.
> > >
> > > Asa Jay
> > >
> > > Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt,  USAFR, Retired
> > > &  Shelley Marie
> > > Spokane,  WA
> > > ******************************
> > > http://www.racingagainstautism.com
> > > http://www.teampanteraracing.com
> > > http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism
> > >
> > >
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