I'm using an Optima red top 34/78 and it fits nicely. I just turn the holddown clamp (the one that attaches to the crossmember that carries the radiator) upside down.

750 cranking amps provides a nice cushion.

 

I got the upgraded 1000CA battery from Costco.

 

no offense to your "buddy the electrician" but i have run optimas in many of my cars for a long time. HE may have had a bad experience but all the guys, including myself, that go wheeling and run winches all trust out rig to Optima yellow tops and would never change them for anything. dont dog on a product you have never tried just cause one of your friends say so. it is a very good battery and very reliable, that is y it is the sponsor of some of the famous offroad competitors and drag racers around the world. feel free to state your opinion but don't talk down on a product you have never used.

on a side note the duralast gold with 1000CCA is a nice battery as well.

 

I'm not talking down on them whatsoever.

I was also there when my roommate had to take 2 red tops back to get replaced, and if I remember correctly they were less than 3 months apart. It needs to be known that they aren't perfect, and aren't the best for everyone.

So I am giving personal experience, whether you think they are God's gift to the automotive world or not.

And, Trans Am, don't tell me what I can and can't do. If I wanna talk **** on Optima for wasting my time twice, I'll do it all I want.

Try and stop me.

 

wow, someone didn't take their pills this morning...

 

Common myth. Someone needs a crash course on car batteries and cca/ca/hca/etc

To start a four cylinder gasoline engine you will need approximately 600-700 CCA, six cylinder gasoline engine 700-800 CCA, eight cylinder gasoline engine 750-850 CCAs. Not many batteries exceed those. Also CCA's should only be taken into consideration in climates that can get lower than 32*F. Otherwise refer to CAs.


Eh, thats a bit over stated.

 

Aw, don't get mad cuz I put you in your place, Mr. Internet Bully.

 

A co worker just told me he bought one, and it was empty. No gel.

Yeah, they are a greeaat company!

 

I bought a Ford Exploder from a dealer with a yellow top in it car was crap battery was a beast. I worked at a ski resort it got cold and snowed I left my fog lights on all day at work and it started right up. I want another one but there 300 bucks and I'm broke.

 

They're like $160.

 

Coulda swore I saw them for 300 at o reily

 

We sell them, you can look online. Going rate is about $160. Id rather have a Interstate Megatron.

 

i run a optima 990 cca in my 88 it works great optima r awesome

 

Optima's get a bad rap sometimes because it seems it's so easy to get a lemon, or one that wasn't properly charged from the factory. The two I've had have been incredible, started my XJ right up after a 0°F night. We used to spend the night in the Winter Park ski resort parking lot and I would roll the tunes all night. I have a D34 yellow top in my '99. My '87 had a dual battery setup with the red top as the primary and yellow top as the secondary. They've never let me down. It's one of those things where you hear about the lemons on one hand, but on the other the majority of consumers who are satisfied don't go around raving about how great they are.

Besides, they have such a good warranty (esp. if you buy from Quadratec or 4wd Parts) that if they're abused beyond recharge they'll swap it out for a new one in a jiff.

 

I've seen red tops last for over five years of abuse with no problems, but I've also seen regular led acid batteries last for a very long time too.