What type of battery would you put in an older muscle car?

[Dan_69GTX]

What type of battery would you put in an older muscle car?



What is your opinion on batteries for cars that are almost completely originial? (mopar of course).



The car is registered as an "antique" - so it doesn't get driven much - about 1500 miles a year. It is not a concours restoration - more like a class 2 restoration. (that means the interior/ chrome, etc are great, but the underside isn't detailed).



Regarding putting on the finishing touches of an engine compartment:



Do you think having an original style battery is worth the extra $$ (about $110 extra).



Or



Do you think a new style battery from ma mopar with their mopar stickers on it is good enough?



Do you think just using a new style mopar battery would detract too much when taken to cruise-ins and the hood is popped open? (I refuse to show the car cause I hate people telling me what is wrong with the car - like I don't already know).



I'm kinda tight on $$ right now and am not sure if I should just wait to get an original style battery, (means not driving it) or get a new style now.



Here's a pic from 2 years ago when I re-detailed the engine compartment.

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Here is a pic of the car from the outside.

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Thanks!



Dan

 

[SGibson]

Nice looking X,IMO I would run a new style and leave the tar-tops to the paint splotch crowd. I wouldn't put 7. 50 14's on my 68 charger, same difference.

 

[DBentley]

I would go for a red top optima. Sure is nice not having acid peeing out of the batt and messing up your paint.

 

[MMeier]

Ditto what DBentley said!! I put red tops in everything nowadays when needed!!

 

[rmrc]

I also agree regarding using the Optima red top. I have used these batteries in my 41 Packard and my 57 Chevy. Using the original style battery is advisable only if your interested in competing at car shows for authenticity.

 

[cyborg]

I R&R with Optima also. I like the idea of the sealed unit. I wish the lead acid one in my boat would go away.



I had a redtop die this winter, 3years old. I thought they were better than that.

And on the same subject a friend of mine does regular PMs of the lead acid battery that came with his 93 Jeep and it is still going strong.



For shows the MoPar battery looks "concourse correct". So I would buy the Optima now, and keep an eye out for a MoPar battery for cheap, and use it for shows.

 

[BV]

Can ya cheat a little and put an original style battery case around the Optima which I agree would be the better battery since it sits for extended periods of time and is sealed.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

I've been thinking about that!



The battery that is in the car now is the OEM style - bought it in 98. One cell is shorted.



I've been trying to figure out how to put a different battery in that case and make it still look OK.



Maybe I'll just have to carefully cut the OEM one apart and see what I can do.



Thanks for all the replies - it confirms what I've been thinking.



Dan

 

[moparguy]

When I finished my Duster ( E5Red 70 340 4spd) a few years back, I set the battery back in the trunk behind the rightrear wheel well. Just like I had it in the 70's during it's street racing days.



Later, after putting things back under the hood for car shows, I'd replace the modern battery with a original junker kept all cleaned up just for the shows.



Good luck, RJR



PS, NICE car.

 

[Dan_69GTX]

moparguy:



Thanks for the compliment.



Any pics of your car? - You can email/pmail them to me.



I got this car in Jan of 1984. I traded for a 1977 MG midget (mind you - the midget was just 7 years old, had a rebuilt engine, new top, paint, tires, etc). The GTX was in real rough shape - but it ran. My dad was - well lets just say - upset - with the trade. To help his attitude, the trans went 3 days later.



Oh well - 1,000,000,000 hours of work and way too much money later, it is done. Actually, a car is never done - something is always broke.



I did the entire car, but for the top, myself - rebuilt trans, engine, diff, etc etc etc. Painted it in a barn. It's now my baby. Don't worry though - went it does get driven - full throttle is about the only way to accelerate!



Dan

 

[EBottema]

OPTIMA ALL THE WAY!!!!

 

[Jeff Clark]

I run an Optima in my street rod b/c the battery is in the trunk and you can't see it. In my Camaro I run a new style AC Delco. I have seen battery toppers that look like the old tar tops that just sit over a new battery giving the illusion of an original battery without all the hassles. My dad has tried orginal batteries in some of his cars and they just aren't worth the money.