rconrad16

Hi Im new to DTR I have been lurking for a while love the forum. I have had my 92 CTD for almost a year I have always driven gassers old and new I wanted a diesel and found my current. I am hooked on the 1st gens so simple and tough cant wait to start tweeking it. This is my first diesel so I dont know alot I have read the sticky and the tech articles. I have acouple of questions

What type batteries do you guys recommend Interstate etc

Before doing any VE adjustments sould I get gauges and if so what ones to start

I appriciate the imput and opinions Thanks

NukleusX

To start with the gauges you'll want a boost, and a pyrometer, and possibly a tranny temp gauge.

rconrad16

any preferance on batteries Thanks

90firstgen

Any quality battery with A LOT of cold cranking amps. After cycling the grid heaters in the winter etc... it doesn't leave much juice to turn the engine over.

Begle1

Well, solid states (like Optima's) are the best; worth the money if you have it.

It's possible to mount two batteries in our trucks, like the later trucks have; it's less effort just to put a bigger battery in the stock location, however. I've heard people recommend Group 31's on many occasions.

http://www.batteryspec.com/ecomm/car...nk&product=142

John Faughn

For the money I buy Interstate Batteries , this will start a brand was , but I just go for the best for the money , how easy is it going to be to get warentee [ we do not get to chose where we break down ]
I've used , tested and sold them for 25 yrs. , I've also bought many other brands / genaric , everybody wants you to be in there computor , mailing list , recept to return , with Interstate both as a buyer and retailer is all I need is the old battery look at the date code and your on your way , and you'll find them at many repair shops .
Some will say buy ??? at $100+ , just remeber how many places have them , not enough .
Then get ??? $50 and they will not last , but all the do it yourself parts houses sell them , I went to one becouse is was closest to my mothers house , 1 yr old car , 11 mts later , the battery would not start the car [ winter both times ] they would not warentee the battery no recept , went to sears asked before I bought , you need to be in the computor or have a recept , I've replaced 1,000s of batteries over the yrs. in my shop and tested 80% of the cars / truck they were going into and every other battery brand did not come close to matching the interstates , I have not seen any of the big dollar optamas [ it seems as though the people who buy those are do it your selfers so not as much chance to check them out , but they retail at about $120 + , I think thats beyound what a batteries worth dollars per yr [ I do not think that for twice the $$$ you get twice the life ]
Next is batteries + stores , buy the higher end , if choise , good service , lots of stores ,

rconrad16

I currently have an interstate in now and have allways had good luck with them I have a 2500 watt inverter and I use and a stereo system with 1000watts of amps would it be bennifical to put a second one as begel1 mentiond and is there any links showing how it was set up

wannadiesel

I buy the least expensive battery with over 1,000 CCA and change it every two years. I've never come out to a dead battery doing it this way.

RickCJ

Great I agree with you on the Interstate, but why not use Optima?? Interstate also handles and sells Optima. Optima are also available at most retail parts stores, this makes Optima the easiest to replace battery wherever you may be.
Another thing, why would you use old acid cell battery technology when new dry cell Optimas are here?
Most Optimas will easily outlast acid batterys and will cost less in the long run.
I'm an Interstate dealer also. Family has been selling them for 30yrs.

John Faughn

Cost , dollar per. yr.

RickCJ

A big gr 31 Interstate is close to $100 and Red top Optima $120. 5 out of the 31 at $20 yr. or 10 year Optima at $12 yr.??

Begle1

Or you could get a group 31 Optima.

RickCJ

Yeah $$$. It all comes down to up front cost, not whats the best $$bang in the long run. I see this everyday in the shop. Cheap part trumps expensive part even though you'll need 3 cheap parts to last 1 of the better part. Especially with tires, UTQG 300 AB selling for $50 tire and a good UTQG 600 AA selling for $60 tire. The guy thinks he gets a better deal at $50 tire. He doesn't realize he needs 3 $50 tires to match the good 1.
Batteries the same thing.
Oh well!?
I guess the world would be boring if everyone thought the same way.

mogpuller

Do yourself a favor and go with the Optima...In most cases it will outlast an acid type battery by four to five times. Plus there is no mess with corrosion causing bad connections. I've been in the 12VDC industry for close to 30 yrs. and you will not find a better quality battery than the Optima. Others may argue the cost factor but when it comes to a vehicle that you're going to hang on to for a while-it is a simple piece of mind that you'll never have to worry about once installed. I've got two now with a 24V set-up that some times goes 3-4 months without any activity. They start on the first click and are about four years old. On another scale...I've seen a hugh current demand put them through the ringer with high end audio, marine, etc. without a single glitch. Well worth the additional, but not excessive cost. You get more than you pay for IMO. Check with your some of your local battery distributors. Sometimes they have "BLEMS" from optima at about half the cost of retail.

Ace

I got a DieHard 30H for $119, 1025cca. The thing is massive. They called it a commercial battery. Had to use longer mounting screws because it is about an inch higher than the 31H.