Don Regier Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 I'm discovering that some of the available 6-volt batteries are for golf carts and have no cranking power. Any recommendations? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFranklin Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Most likely you should be using/buying a Group 1 battery. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldford Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 I recently bought a group 2 6 volt battery from O'Reilly's here in the North East for $122 with 830 cranking amps. Not sure where you are... Frank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zdillinger Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 I always sort of looked sideways at Optima batteries as a fad but I tried one last year in my '39 Packard after being unable to source a Group 1 locally. Their 6 volt batteries are compact, lighter than a normal Group 1, and more powerful, plus they won't off-gas and damage stuff around them. I'm going to transition all my cars to Optima from this point forward, and I plan to wire two together in parallel on my forthcoming '40 Packard with the big ol' 356 straight eight. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexRiv_63 Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 X2 on the Optima. I used one in my 34 Packard with a custom built box. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif in Calif Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 I had to replace the 6 volt battery in the '25 Chey last year. I was surprised that the local Napa auto parts store had the exact one in stock. Apparently there is still a lot of older farm equipment that use them. $80 as I remember. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Tractor Supply has group 1 on the shelf. They fit lots of old tractors! You need a starting battery, not a deep cycle or golf cart battery battery. Usually this information is in the description of the battery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 I have used an Optima 6v battery in both of my pre-war cars for almost 20 years now. A single Optima will crank over the 8 cylinder in my Pierce without issue. The original battery box is obviously much larger than the single Optima so I use a cut down piece of 4x6 post to take up the extra space. This keeps the battery from moving around in the box but it can be a little bit of a pain to pull the piece of wood out. The easiest way is to disconnect both cables, use a battery strap that attaches to the terminals, lift the battery out then remove the wood. Everything is nice and tight in the battery box with the wood cut to fit just right. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
32PONTIAC Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Group 1 battery form Napa work great Group 2 is about 1-1/2" longer and is probably too long for battery holder Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 BTW - the first Optima I used in my Pierce lasted for 6 years without issue. I removed that one from service only due to age and not because of performance. I keep that one charged as a spare and to this day it still holds a charge and has been used to jump other's 6v cars when needed. That original battery is almost 20 years old now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 8 hours ago, zdillinger said: I always sort of looked sideways at Optima batteries as a fad but I tried one last year in my '39 Packard after being unable to source a Group 1 locally. Their 6 volt batteries are compact, lighter than a normal Group 1, and more powerful, plus they won't off-gas and damage stuff around them. I'm going to transition all my cars to Optima from this point forward, and I plan to wire two together in parallel on my forthcoming '40 Packard with the big ol' 356 straight eight. I've been using 6 Volt Optima for probably 20 years, and in the '41 Cadillac when I received it in '06, the previous owner, an owner of four NAPA stores, had a pair of 6 Volt Optimas in parallel, and 000 cables. Cranking power like you wouldn't believe. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zepher Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 9 hours ago, TexRiv_63 said: X2 on the Optima. I used one in my 34 Packard with a custom built box. Are you still using that battery in your car? The date on the battery would mean it is now almost 10 years old. If you are, how is it holding up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexRiv_63 Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 12 hours ago, zepher said: Are you still using that battery in your car? The date on the battery would mean it is now almost 10 years old. If you are, how is it holding up? I sold the car in 2015. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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