2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Anyone have group 31 batteries?

[The patriot]

I'm looking to replace the batts soon. Has anyone put the big truck group 31's in?

I know (at the ones I've seen) have the threaded terminal, but what else is involved?

Were they a drop in?

Thanks.

Eric

 

[Woodenhead]

I have group 31 Interstate Workaholics in my truck. I cut the side closest to the firewall out of the battery trays and used the factory hold down clamps. They have posts on them, not threaded terminals. It's nice to know I have plenty of juice for those cold winter starts.



Mike

 

[moparguy]

I'm running one group 31 (Delka, 1225cca @32, 1160@ 0) on the drivers side box. My air compressor sits in the passenger side box. To fit the big battery, I cut the front end of the battery box out (headlight side). The battery was only about 1/2" to long. It has top post and has worked well.



In Colorado this fall we elk camped at 9600' the 3/4th week of October and it cranked great with temps in the teens. We had 10" to 15" of snow and the temps stayed below freezing for several days making for a great cold soak. I was really glad it was up to the task.



I am giving serious thought to moving it to the bed in order to free up additional underhood space.

 

[Woodenhead]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention I had to move the ground on the DS of the engine block to a bolt hole a little closer to the front. No big deal, it's just a little short.

 

[McCRam]

The 31's I have in my truck turn the engine over better at -20 than the old batts did at 32. I had to cut the front part of the box out like the others stated. The only other issue is these are about an inch taller than the old batts. The hoodliner is wearing on the posts. I need to make sure that the hood won't make contact. If there is a problem, I will just dent or cut the stiffener that is causing the rubbing.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks guys. I already have problems getting to the headlights (I did the sport light conversion) so I might not go this route.

I've seen group 31's for under $70 each, and the die hards are $100 + I'm sure.

I havent decided yet, but thanks for the info.

Eric

 

[DonTX]

I used to put a gp 31 in anything I could, because you could get some killer cold cranking amps, up in the 1200 range, often for less money than the usual "car" sizes with less amps. A few months ago I tried to get one for my motorhome, and was unable to find one with over 1000 cold cranking amps.

Apparently manufacturers have cut back on the amount of lead used, and cold cranking amps suffered as well. Not much point to going to them if that is the case. You might want to shop around for CCA of various batteries before you decide to cut on the truck.

 

[The patriot]

FWIW This is the place I saw the batts for $70:

http://www.sunburymotors.com/commercial_i.html

The one in the ad was a group 31 with stud terminals. IIRC it was 925 CCA.

The brand was Alliance.

I also saw a few on fleabay that had pretty good ratings, but they were pretty pricey..... + shipping. :{

Alliance makes some bigger group 31's. Here's some specs:

http://www.alliancebrandparts.com/Core/Pdf/AbpCatalogElectrical.pdf

 

[WBusa]

A little OT, but not too much: if you don't want to move all the way up to big-@ss truck batteries, consider Optima 34/78s (red tops). I've been bangin' away on mine for three years now, and am pleased as punch with 'em; very superior batteries. They'll fit your existing battery tray, but they're a skoash taller, so you'll need to pick up a pair of longer battery bolts at Pep Boys.



Available many places, but last time I looked Sears has 'em. They're considerably more expensive than regular batteries, but their useful lifetime is also 2x to 3x a conventional battery's. And no more leaking, and no more crud around yer terminals. Not any. No-how. Zip. Haven't cleaned my terminals in three years, and you could eat off'n 'em.

 

[DonTX]

As I recall, the CCA rating beats most any Group 31 you can buy anymore either.

I got some bragging rights, my batteries in the 97 are over 6 years old! Still cranking like new, expect failure any day now. Just got back from a trip up in the cold north country, was expecting to use my road assist insurance most any morning there, these can't last forever. .

 

[The patriot]

I dont know what it is... . salt water air? My terminals are just like when I drove it off the dealer's lot on Dec 19,1997.

Well, other than a couple "claw" marks from giving jumpstarts.

I've never cleaned them. They've never needed it.

Yea, I've been thinking about the Optima's... ...

 

[ESorensen]

31's

FWIW I've had 31's in my truck for 2 yrs now. Love them. When it gets below zero at night and nowhere to plug the truck into, it helps. I've liked the optima idea, but for less than half the price, you can get wally world yellows that may or may not last as long. I sure like mine! Consumer reports ranked them quite well to boot!

 

[BGarofalo]

I used to use G31's in all the farm trucks because they were free from the local trucking company. Most refer trucks change their batterys every year to prevent failure on the road. They are too much work to put in though. New terminals, alter battery boxes. etc... Since then I have found a local distrubuter for Interstate batteries and now use the megatron plus batteries they use in cop cars. Never failed me yet, direct repalcement for the cummins. Plus if you open an account with them they are half price. Normally $120 per batt. cut down to $60 per batt.

 

[The patriot]

Now THATS some useful info!!

Plus if you open an account with them they are half price. Normally $120 per batt. cut down to $60 per batt.

Is that on every purchase, or just the initial purchase?

I have a retail tax certificate, do they ask for something like that?

 

[dblake]

Just bought and installed my Optima yellow top D31A's . Quite pricey at $220 each through Advance Auto . I had to slightly trim my battery trays and buy some 6M rod stock to fabricate some new hold downs since they're slightly taller . The difference in starting power is amazing ! I'm actually afraid to jump start someone now . Don't want to blow up their car like that Dodge Nitro did in the commercial !

 

[BGarofalo]

Yea on every battery you buy half price give or take. It has to be a distributer though not a dealer. I got lucky and there is a distributer only a few miles down the road from me. They deliver batteries to all the local garages and shops. Open an account for a business (real or fake) and get cheap batteries.

 

[The patriot]

I'd love the Optima's, but right now I want to go cheap.

 

[The patriot]

Update:

I went with the Interstate "Workaholics". 950 CCA each!

They DID fit into the standard batt tray, but I needed to "warm" the plastic for them to fit. :-laf

If it was a hot summer day I might not have needed to torch the plastic.

Man, they REALLY fill that tray! And they cranked it really good. Big difference.

I brought my paperwork to the distributor, they were $80 each.

I have to get some longer bolts.

Eric

 

[Signal73]

One of the CT guys runs a group 31 because his water/meth tank replaces the passenger side battery tray, and he had said it seemed a little slow to start in the dead of winter but never failed him yet.

 

[The patriot]

Dad's 1st gen had one battery, and he lived in upstate NY. He never had a problem.

I like the redundancy of two batteries. More is better.

Eric



PS does anyone know what size bolts are the std batt hold down bolts?

SAE? Meteric?

I need some that are about 3/4" longer.