Bill Kennedy Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 What is the proper size for a 1955 Packard 400 battery? I do not want to spend the extra $$$ for a classic repro--looking for something from Advance Auto! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kennedy Posted March 19, 2005 Author Share Posted March 19, 2005 RE: "I made the mistake of buying a Group 27 battery that seemed close to the factory holddown, but it's too wide to fit down in the tray"Me too!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I used an Optima battery with the 'TarTopper' faux battery cover, with a piece of plywood in bottom of tray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RO Posted March 19, 2005 Share Posted March 19, 2005 I have CarQuest batteries in my '55 Patrician and my '56 Clipper Custom but am out of town until next week and cannot get you the number until then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kennedy Posted March 19, 2005 Author Share Posted March 19, 2005 RO:Thanks. No hurry--I have the GP 27 battery in there right now but I do want to change it out with one that fits. No way I'm going to pay the premium for a GP 60 repro battery. I have purchased repro batteries for other cars and they really do fail within three years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Randy Berger Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Exactly which Optima battery did you use and what model of tar topper?Thank you for the details.YFAM, Randy Berger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Randy, The Optima I used, that the TarTopper fits is Model # 34/78, red top. He makes one for Optima and one for group-24 battries, but when I tryed to go to their website, I found that his domain name had expired. So I don't know if that means he no longer makes them or it's just that he forgot to renew? I should have a receipt and will try to find a phone number ? I hope he still makes them cause I had planed to order another. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> URL:http://www.tartopper.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 The phone # for TarTopper is 602-866-7776. I'll try calling tomorrow and find out, what's go'en On. Here's the old thread about battery cover:http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/showflat....amp;amp;fpart=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCraigH Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">(snip)So far, the only substitute battery that "fits" the V8 cars closely enough is the one reported by <span style="font-style: italic">WCraigH</span>. It's listed in the cross-reference page of his <span style="font-style: italic">1956 Packard Panther</span> site, as well as the "55-56 Xref" thread in this DF, as a 29HM-850 (tested in his '55 Patrician), (snip) </div></div>Indeed, fits like a glove, particularly if you have NEG ground, in which case the NEG terminal is forwardmost and the <span style="font-style: italic">logo</span> is hidden against the firewall.<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For purposes of moving cars about during storage or work at home, I'd recommend buying that cheapest thing that will sit down in the tray and still crank the engine over - because nothing lasts forever. </div></div>B.H.: Excellent advice, as usual. As a matter of fact, these <span style="font-style: italic">fit-rite</span> batteries from Wal-Mart last around 4 years...I'm on my 2nd. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">In the fullness of time, maybe we'll see an Optima battery that fits in a faux case that's a dead ringer for the OE Willard Group 60 as an affordable alternative to expensive repros. </div></div>Amen! I'd buy one tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 Call Optima, and tell them that there are millions of guys out there that will buy one tomorrow. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> You never know, if you can convince the right person, They may make it. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 I called TarTopper and he still makes them.He didn't even know his website was down, said he would check it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 He called and said website was back up. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WCraigH Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">No matter whether you have POS or NEG ground, the "ground" terminal of the battery will always be forwardmost, but the variable is which of the two corners that post will end up at. </div></div>Ah, you're right about that! But, at least with the NEG ground, the <span style="font-style: italic">logo</span> will be hidden against the fender, which I prefer. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There was a different length of braided ground cable used between '55 and '56, but I'm sure you could get a longer, yet authentic looking one, if needed.</div></div>I list on my website the type & length of cables that worked well on my 55 Pat. They part nbrs are Pep Boys, for clear insulator, size "0": Parts X-ref, electrical, other Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Kennedy Posted March 21, 2005 Author Share Posted March 21, 2005 I am tempted by the concept of the Optima battery--has anyone used one for any length of time?Also, does anyone know the amp hour capacity of the original Packard battery? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 I have 5 Optimas , three 12.volt and two 6.volt. The oldest is about 3 years old and they have been Great. I have let them set for 5 months, without rechargeing, and they start like a freshly charged battery. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I've heard that they last at least 10yrs, and probably longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack Harlin Posted March 21, 2005 Share Posted March 21, 2005 BillBoth the Willard HDW-3KM-60 & Auto Lite 3-EA-60 are 60 Ampere hour 9 plates per cell. Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twitch Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 I have one in my El Dorado that I recently upgraded to from a standard battery that went bad and had about half its warranty left. It's from Kragen auto. While I was there a guy had a 3 month old Optima-type in for testing that proved bad. Batteries as fickled things. One can go bad in a few weeks and others can last 6 years in the same car.I've always bought the most power CCA and reserve power possible. Not only should one think about turning over the engine but the reserve capacity is important if the alternator/generator dies and you're a ways from home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigKev Posted March 22, 2005 Share Posted March 22, 2005 I've used optima batteries for years in my newer cars. They are very vibration and heat tolerant. Also I have used the yellow top ones in show cars with lots of electronics (stereo, neon lights, etc) that need to run for a long time with the car off at shows. I like them as they are sealed. Stay very clean, and really hold there charge. Plus you can drain them down a lot, and bring them back up over and over. That process usually kills regular lead acid batteries.Just my two cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RO Posted March 23, 2005 Share Posted March 23, 2005 Well, the thread really grew in length since Sunday. I just have an Everstart 34-3 in my '56 CC...that may be from Walmart and it does not occupy the full length of the battery tray. The Patrician does have CarQuest in it but I haven't checked the number yet. The first Carquest long battery in the Patrician lasted for about 5 years, which is two years longer than the life I usually get out of a battery. I'll try to get it looked up by the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted March 27, 2005 Share Posted March 27, 2005 Another Competitor for Optima, 'Daka Intiminator', Looks Good. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> The problem is that they don't have many sales distributors. URL:http://www.eastpenn-deka.com/whatsnew/052804.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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