[GTO68FXSTC98]

I have always bought diehard gold car batteries, but sadly Sears went out of business. What are other good brands with enough cca for the GTO? I don't want to put a tartop in it and I don't want an Optima unless they make a black one.

[george kujanski]

Currently have, and always buy batteries from COSTCO. they currently sell Interstate. I always buy the one with the highest CCA rating that will fit in the battery box.

George

[TAKerry]

Not even sure whats in my t/a, guess I should go look at it , I get batteries from Auto Zone too often, not sure if theyre store lable or a brand name. I buy the next to top quality or what they have in stock. I go through 1 about every 2 years on my wifes Mercedes. If the car sits for more than a couple of weeks the battery dies!

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

Not even sure whats in my t/a, guess I should go look at it , I get batteries from Auto Zone too often, not sure if theyre store lable or a brand name. I buy the next to top quality or what they have in stock. I go through 1 about every 2 years on my wifes Mercedes. If the car sits for more than a couple of weeks the battery dies!

In defense to even the cheapest batteries these days, cars are over-computerized and are constantly drawing battery power even when off. It is not uncommon for a modern car to drain a battery in a few weeks if not used. When my cars "sit", I disconnect the battery.

[Chief of the 60's]

A lot of people buy WalMart Neverstart. I tried them once, they lived up to their name. I have used Interstate for decades. The one in one of my cars is pushing 20 years. Did not use the car or charged the battery in the past 2 years. Charged it the other day and not only did it check out good, it had no problem turning over 562 horse with 12.85:1 CR. By the way, Interstate and Die Hard are the same batteries. I know, I was a Sears tech.

On a side note: Nothing aggravates me more than seeing a high end restoration with a cheap ass battery under the hood. And I see it a lot.

[ponyakr]

I've had good luck with a Deka 850 cca 34/78 dual terminal batt, in my diesel tractor. Paid less than $100 for it. Tried to buy a couple recently. But the best price I could find was well over $100, closer to $125. Yes, I realize that lots of guys don't mind paying $300 and even more for the high end batts.

You might check with your area discount batt stores that sell Deka batts. It seems that batt prices can vary, quite a bit.

https://www.batteryprice.com/product-p/deka778dt.htm

Also had a couple of Exide NASCAR 800 cca 34/78 dual terminal batts that worked good in my last 455 bracket car. Bought one at a local discount batt store. They only had one in stock. Had to buy one at Tractor Supply. When I checked Tractor Supply this time, it seems they no longer sell those Exide batts.

Have that same 455 in another car now. Bought some 800 cca Marine batts for it, from Advance Auto. No alternator. Cranked it probably 20 times over a several week period. Never failed to turn it over plenty fast enuff to start, even tho I never charged 'em. Don't know how long they would have kept crankin it. But, they seem to have plenty of power to last thru a race without having to charge 'em. Finally did charge 'em anyhow, just because.

You can go online & get a 25% off discount code for Advance Auto Parts, buy online, & pick 'em up in your nearest Advance Auto location. This made these, by far, the cheapest 800 cca marine batts I could fine.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...920%7CL2*15000

https://www.couponcodes.com/advance-...ons?em=6826476

If you don't mind paying $300-$400, you can buy the latest batt tech, big name batts.

https://carfromjapan.com/article/car...attery-review/

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...tOrder=Default

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...rder=Ascending

https://www.summitracing.com/search/...EaArNSEALw_wcB

[mgarblik]

That's interesting Chief and timely. Just today I had a 2006 Sprinter van towed to my shop. It has 2 batteries, one under the hood and the other under the passenger seat. Both Interstate 900 CCA group 49 batteries. Production sticker 11/2017. Both dead as a door nail. I tried the deep recovery mode on my high end charger and one recovered to 17% and the other to 23%. Called the local Interstate distributor and they said it has a 12 month free replacement. The pro-rated warranty didn't amount to much. You just never know, I guess. No battery drain BTW, Only 30 ma after the computers shut down. The OP sounded like he wanted a battery with a black case. NAPA batteries are black and you can peel off all the stickers and remove the lift handle. Then it doesn't stand out. I have been getting good service life from them.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

That's interesting Chief and timely. Just today I had a 2006 Sprinter van towed to my shop. It has 2 batteries, one under the hood and the other under the passenger seat. Both Interstate 900 CCA group 49 batteries. Production sticker 11/2017. Both dead as a door nail. I tried the deep recovery mode on my high end charger and one recovered to 17% and the other to 23%. Called the local Interstate distributor and they said it has a 12 month free replacement. The pro-rated warranty didn't amount to much. You just never know, I guess. No battery drain BTW, Only 30 ma after the computers shut down. The OP sounded like he wanted a battery with a black case. NAPA batteries are black and you can peel off all the stickers and remove the lift handle. Then it doesn't stand out. I have been getting good service life from them.

Well, my Interstate is still the green top with the white case. It was installed in 2004. Interstate is now black with a white and green label.

Who remembers the JC Penny Lifetime battery? That was the best I ever came across.

[TAKerry]

DUH, I never really though of that, disconnect switch may be the way to go. Its not as bad in the summer, winter is much worse.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

DUH, I never really though of that, disconnect switch may be the way to go. Its not as bad in the summer, winter is much worse.

That is why I get so much life out of my batteries. Now, I do have a few cars that I don't have any battery in because I just gave up buying one for a car I don't know when I am going to drive again. I have one car that has not been out since the 1999 POCI convention.

[66sprint6]

What is the Group/size for a '66 A-body? A friend gave me the battery that's in mine and it works well, but I had to put something under it to make it work with the bracket.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by 66sprint6

What is the Group/size for a '66 A-body? A friend gave me the battery that's in mine and it works well, but I had to put something under it to make it work with the bracket.

The catalog is showing 24 for V8 and 22F for 6 cylinder.

[Chief of the 60's]

Originally Posted by TAKerry

DUH, I never really though of that, disconnect switch may be the way to go. Its not as bad in the summer, winter is much worse.

One thing I must add to disconnecting the battery. Be certain the car you are disconnecting the battery on does not have electronic door handles or you could have a real problem getting in.

Case in point, my Dodge Magnum has an electronic handle on the rear gate. Well, guess where the battery is on that car?

[ta6point6]

A battery disconnect switch and a trickle charger when battery sits for a long time will make any battery last a long long time. I buy cheap walmart batteries 49.99 and have lasted many years this way. Lets face it most early engines do not require much in the way of CCA unless you live in Alaska. I have not put a tickle charger on Trans Am battery, just a jump pack to start with no problem. The camping van sits outside and needs a trickle charger or it will kill batteries quick.

[gtohunter]

Bought my last one at Batteries and bulbs (chain) If you're close to one, a good deal.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/

If you buy it online, you get 10% off, and at the time I also got a $10 rebate so it was under $100. Ran over to the store and picked it up right after ordering it.
Spins the starter over just fine cold and hot.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by gtohunter

Bought my last one at Batteries and bulbs (chain) If you're close to one, a good deal.

I've been buying batteries from them for a while now, although the ones I have are some other brand - it's been a few years since I last purchased one so I don't know if they changed suppliers or if they just changed the sticker on the side of the battery. In any case I've been satisfied with Batteries Plus and their products.

[David Jones]

Originally Posted by gtohunter

Bought my last one at Batteries and bulbs (chain) If you're close to one, a good deal.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/

If you buy it online, you get 10% off, and at the time I also got a $10 rebate so it was under $100. Ran over to the store and picked it up right after ordering it.
Spins the starter over just fine cold and hot.

I bought one of these for the wife’s Highlander about 6 months ago. They had the best deal I found locally. I got an extra discount for buying it online and picking it up.

[Hikin Mike]

Originally Posted by GTO68FXSTC98

I have always bought diehard gold car batteries, but sadly Sears went out of business.

I used to use those too, as I was a Service Adviser years ago. When I got my car running after 10 years in storage, I bought a battery at O'Reillys. Been fine for two years and it's trunk-mounted.

[Stuart]

You can still buy Diehard batteries, on Amazon.com.
https://www.amazon.com/DieHard-38188.../dp/B0776YYWQ6

[nashcar]

Deka here also, old company in Pennsylvania I believe.