Battery Recommendations

[ArdWrknTrk]

Corey, what specific group and size is your newly purchased battery? Any chance I can get a picture of it in you truck?

Am I correct that according to Gary's posted chart the correct group size for my truck is 64A? When I do battery searches for my specific truck on AZ, O'rielly's, etc, I get group size 56.

John,

Ignore my post on the Ford Motorcraft battery....I returned it this morning, and bought a different one. I know nothing about batteries, and haven't had to purchase a new one in I'm sure 10+ years. The one that was in my '84 was a 34/78DT, and it fit great. I swapped it over to my 1980 truck, and it fit in there great also...the clamp and J-hooks fit it perfectly.

So I went to the Ford dealer, and they sold me the recommended battery for the truck...and I'm sorry but I don't remember what group# it was, but it was a solid inch larger than my 34/78DT in every direction...inch wider, inch taller, and an inch longer (or so it seemed). That one seemed way too big and my hold-down wouldn't fit it or anything, so I returned it and asked for a group 34 battery...which was the BXT-34B (I think?), and I didn't realize until I got it home that the terminals were on opposite sides...lol, so this morning I returned THAT one.

What I learned was that my pre-existing 34/78DT battery is a group 34 "Universal"...the terminal posts are in the middle of the battery, instead of offset to one side or the other. So I tried a couple auto parts shops, and Napa had a few different ones in-stock, and I ended up with another 34/78 Universal fit...see below. The posts are in the middle, and it fits my hold-down bracket properly.

I don't know what is supposed to be in the truck, but this size/power battery seems to have more than enough CCA for my needs, and I now have the same size on both trucks, and they seem to fit well in the tray with the hold-down, etc.

Terminals on opposite sides, or you just didn't want to turn it around?

Looks like you have plenty of slack to reach the front of the battery there, Cory.

[Rembrant]

Terminals on opposite sides, or you just didn't want to turn it around?

Looks like you have plenty of slack to reach the front of the battery there, Cory.

Yes, you are correct, I didn't want to turn it around and have the posts at the front. I could have moved the cables to fit, sure,...but what I wanted was what was in there, so that everything fit as it was previously. I realize that is being a bit nit picky...lol, but sometimes we just want what we want...whether it is right or not lol.

I wish I had met the 3rd guy first yesterday...lol. I went to three different places...one of the local Ford dealers and then two auto parts shops. It wasn't until I got to the 3rd place that there was an old guy there that knew everything about batteries.

To be honest I don't think that I've had to purchase a new battery in 20 years.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Terminals on opposite sides, or you just didn't want to turn it around?

Looks like you have plenty of slack to reach the front of the battery there, Cory.

Yes, you are correct, I didn't want to turn it around and have the posts at the front. I could have moved the cables to fit, sure,...but what I wanted was what was in there, so that everything fit as it was previously. I realize that is being a bit nit picky...lol, but sometimes we just want what we want...whether it is right or not lol.

I wish I had met the 3rd guy first yesterday...lol. I went to three different places...one of the local Ford dealers and then two auto parts shops. It wasn't until I got to the 3rd place that there was an old guy there that knew everything about batteries.

To be honest I don't think that I've had to purchase a new battery in 20 years.

Absolutely right.

We want what we want...

My original Motorcraft battery lasted at least a dozen years.

When my 2G alternator started screwing up, I was lucky to get five.

All these batteries are made by three companies.

Just labeled for dozens of brands.

BTW, my 65 sits with the terminals forward.

[HrdAngln]

I have a Group 31, specifically an Odyssey Extreme 31M-PC2150, in Big Blue as the starting battery. Dimensions in the link, but it fits nicely. And it has 1150 CCA's. But it weighs 78 lbs, so make sure you battery tray is good.

I'm using the later model battery tray, and here's how it fits:

Gary, when you say later model tray, do you mean like from 87+ model years? Where can I find this? Also, what bracket are you using for the top of your battery? is that part of the later tray assembly?

 

[ArdWrknTrk]

Gary, when you say later model tray, do you mean like from 87+ model years? Where can I find this? Also, what bracket are you using for the top of your battery? is that part of the later tray assembly?

Bricknose.

'87 - '90

You need the diagonal stay that comes from the inner fender too.

Gary milled those hold downs from aluminium channel himself.

The '87 up trays use a wedge shaped retainer 'shoe' and a 5/16 (8mm) headed bolt at the front.

You can get the parts from LMC

 

[Rusty_S85]

Diehard Silver or Gold.

If I can get Gold in my size I go with it for my vehicle otherwise its the Silver. Every Diehard Ive had lasted at least 6 years. Ive gotten up to 8 years out of the Diehard Gold in my truck.

As far as gelcell batteries like Optima, I wouldnt go with them. They are no longer any good, we see them at work all the time 1 year old and wont hold a charge.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Diehard Silver or Gold.

If I can get Gold in my size I go with it for my vehicle otherwise its the Silver. Every Diehard Ive had lasted at least 6 years. Ive gotten up to 8 years out of the Diehard Gold in my truck.

As far as gelcell batteries like Optima, I wouldnt go with them. They are no longer any good, we see them at work all the time 1 year old and wont hold a charge.

Sears Holdings (crazy Eddie Lampbert ) sold Die Hard to Advance for an outrageous sum.

Now we see an elderly Bruce Willis shilling them.

But... at least Advance is good about their prorated warranty!

[Rusty_S85]

Sears Holdings (crazy Eddie Lampbert ) sold Die Hard to Advance for an outrageous sum.

Now we see an elderly Bruce Willis shilling them.

But... at least Advance is good about their prorated warranty!

Yep I dont really care about it cause ive had better luck with diehard than other brands. Continental is lucky to last 1 year for me, napa batteries are lucky to last 1 year for me, duracell automotive batteries is lucky to last 1 year for me. Diehard is the only one I have ever had that would last more than 3 years.

I thought of getting a drycell battery for my Fairlane but I am not sure since optima batteries dont even last a year down here they have gotten bad now. I know the drycell I am looking at is a reproduction of the original 29N ford battery and not an optima but it makes me question the quality of the internals how ever cause some battery manufacturer has to have made the internals for them.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Sears Holdings (crazy Eddie Lampbert ) sold Die Hard to Advance for an outrageous sum.

Now we see an elderly Bruce Willis shilling them.

But... at least Advance is good about their prorated warranty!

Yep I dont really care about it cause ive had better luck with diehard than other brands. Continental is lucky to last 1 year for me, napa batteries are lucky to last 1 year for me, duracell automotive batteries is lucky to last 1 year for me. Diehard is the only one I have ever had that would last more than 3 years.

I thought of getting a drycell battery for my Fairlane but I am not sure since optima batteries dont even last a year down here they have gotten bad now. I know the drycell I am looking at is a reproduction of the original 29N ford battery and not an optima but it makes me question the quality of the internals how ever cause some battery manufacturer has to have made the internals for them.

There's only Yuasa and Johnson Controls left as anyhow, right?

[Fryeken]

John - I see 24F, 56, 61, 62, 63, 64, & 64A as optional batteries. Any one of them will fit, and some have more CCA's than others.

What the consensus on the 86 trucks? 56 or 64? I’m replacing a 65 but the tray ears and hold down are gone. I put a motorcraft 56 in tonight it and doesn’t look quite right- a bit on the small side. I’m ordering the hold down gear from lmc, but don’t want to swap out for the 64 if the factory tray won’t take it.