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Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: anything better than optima
i've built a 68 elky for the strip and went thru a optima redtop , damn thing leaked , anyhow anybody have any new recommendations for a better battery with a good warrenty , best bang for the buck ??? optical , exide , napa exide ??? _________________ www.cardomain.com/id/seanselky
Necoa #: 2321
Location: 15(AZ,NM)
Joined: Jan 30, 2004
Posts: 1169
Year: 1974
Model: El Camino
Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 1:54 am Post subject:
Sorry to hear about your optima troubles. I've used them for years and been very happy. The only battery I ever had that lasted more than 2 years in AZ.
If you want to go back to a wet cell my choice would be interstate. Far superior to anything from the regular parts store lineup. Most parts store batteries are Exide Wet ceels anyway made down in Mexico.
I've heard of the new Spiral Cell Exide battery but it looks to be an optima clone so you really wouldn't be doing much more than changing the label on what you have now. I pesonally don't put much faith in Exide products but that's just my bias.
_________________ 74 El Camino Classic - project car #1
96 Camaro - RIP, Traded 10-16-2007
2008 Mustang GT, It ain't a Chevy but at least it's American!
Necoa #: 7195
Location: 17(S.CA,S.NV)
Joined: Mar 26, 2006
Posts: 843
Year: 1977
Model: El Camino
Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 3:08 pm Post subject:
WOW, That's to bad. Maybe it' was that ONE in a Million that you just happen to have gotten, you know, bad luck at the draw sort of thing. If it were me, I'd still go with the Optima, That's the only Battery I put in cars at my shop, and that's been HUNDREDS over the years. I have two in my personal 77 Elky. Never had any problems, nor have any of my Customers for that matter. So go ahead, give them another shot.
_________________ http://elcaminocentral.com/gallery-album_CoyoteOn2s77Cage.html
Keep the Shiney Side Up
The Rubber Side Down !!
aka Larry
Last edited by CoyoteOn2 on Mon Jun 02, 2008 7:31 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Fri May 30, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject: Re: anything better than optima
rawkstarr7 wrote:
i've built a 68 elky for the strip and went thru a optima redtop , damn thing leaked , anyhow anybody have any new recommendations for a better battery with a good warrenty , best bang for the buck ??? optical , exide , napa exide ???
How about the warranty on your Optima, did you put a claim on it? Did it outlive the warranty?
Doug _________________ 85 El Camino 305, TH350, K&N, dual exhausts
87 El Camino 305, 2004R, K&N, dual exhausts
1964-1/2 Mustang conv, 260 V8, dual exhausts
2002 Jaguar XJ8, 2000 Harley Road King
Lakewood, CO
Necoa #: 2321
Location: 15(AZ,NM)
Joined: Jan 30, 2004
Posts: 1169
Year: 1974
Model: El Camino
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 3:22 am Post subject: Re: anything better than optima
dougs85 wrote:
rawkstarr7 wrote:
i've built a 68 elky for the strip and went thru a optima redtop , damn thing leaked , anyhow anybody have any new recommendations for a better battery with a good warrenty , best bang for the buck ??? optical , exide , napa exide ???
How about the warranty on your Optima, did you put a claim on it? Did it outlive the warranty?
Doug
The one in my Elky is about 7 years old now and the one I had in my 96 camaro was about 5 years old when I traded in the car. One I bought through a local tire shop which was backing up the warranty on it and the other I bought through SUMMIT.
_________________ 74 El Camino Classic - project car #1
96 Camaro - RIP, Traded 10-16-2007
2008 Mustang GT, It ain't a Chevy but at least it's American!
Necoa #: 2160
Location: 17(S.CA,S.NV)
Joined: Jan 11, 2004
Posts: 428
Year: 1978
Model: El Camino
Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:54 am Post subject:
I use the odessy battery and it works great its a drycell battery.light weight,and has been in my el camino for about 6 years now with out any problems _________________ http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2503738
Red top Optima in use now for over 4 yrs in both of my vehicles with 0 problems. I also like the no-corrosion aspect. Will not use anything else _________________ Chillin in Lauderdale
well what happened was i had a brand new red top optima battery sittin in a project car , that hadn't even been out on the street , in a controlled enviroment , in a battery box and it leaked , for no reason , yes it was under warrenty and was only a few months old , sent it back and had to dance thru hoops to get the lady joan to honor their warrenty , took two months to "test it " and they said they had tech, research and what not the battery , told me it was fine and did pressure test and offered to send it back to me ,
told them no i do not want a defective battery back , but would like my billet battery hold down replaced and would like a brand new battery back , after barkin a bit they sent out a check .
i've used many optimas and have always like em myself , i'll probably go and get another , but recently i've been doing alot of research and have come across alot of bad reviews on em , so...... i might consider something else , i'll have to get back to ya once i've decided , been eyeing the odessey battery , but the price on em is crazy , also the orbital sounds promissing _________________ www.cardomain.com/id/seanselky
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I'm going on 6yrs with my optima still working great will buy another one if this one will die.
