i ran my 91 on a reconditioned 800cca battery for two years. only time it wouldnt start was when it was -20 one morning and it ran the grid heater forever. it turned over but not fast enough to start. i then bought a new deka group 31 through my then employer for about $67.

being in socal i wouldnt have thought twice about running one from a parts store. 800-900cca would have been plenty.

 

United battery has a 1175 truck battery $74 Never had one go bad just get a new one every 5 to 7 yrs.

 

my battery is only 950 cca and my truck always starts with the bump of a key even when its super cold out..... the dessert gets cold......

 

if you just have to have the biggist batt they make go to a farm mach or highway tractor dealership

 

get two little batteries that will fit sideways on the tray and wire them in parallel.

 

I just love a good battery discussion er...argument--debate--opinion-pole--whatever.



I will say this, if one is going to go the "consumer" route when buying a battery for a diesel truck, one needs to lose the Mustang/Nissan way of thinking and seek said battery at sources where they are common as dirt and not thought of as unusual at all.


The Group-31 and Group-30 are the standard battery of the world, being used in more applications than all the rest of the batteries made; the Group-30 and -31 are the same battery with different post location; the -31 is centered along the top, whereas the -30 has the posts offset to one side of the top; EITHER will work for our application.

Either can also be had in the problematic lead-post like what came standard in these trucks, or the much superior 3/8" threaded "stud" post denoted by the addition of "S" such as Group-31S.

Probably 95% of the farm-tractors, combines, and such came factory-equipped with them.


I have never in my life seen a larger truck with anything else and usually at least three, with four being more common.


Log-skidders, track-hoes, well-pump units, etc., etc. almost every single one came factory equipped with either a Group-30 or -31 battery(s).



For this reason, the best quality, best prices, and best knowledge about these batteries is going to be found at either a tractor dealership, a big-truck parts supply, heavy equipment dealer, or one of the numerous "farmer-Walmart"-type stores, such as TractorSupplyStore(TSC), Rural-King, or the like.


There is absolutely no difference in one of these batteries from the International-Harvester supply or the KenWorth dealer; farm-tractor, back-hoe, or semi-truck, the batteries are the same.




Also, regardless of over-exagerated "modern technology", where diesel batteries are concerned, SIZE DOES MATTER.

No matter if a wimpy little "NASA-approved", "fits in a Honda" battery has 1250CCA, it is physically too small to have the "bottom" required to crank a recalcitrant engine and keep on cranking several minutes later.

Sure, the whiz-kid battery may act like it is going to sling the pistons through the heads, but it won't do it for long before it does no more than click the solenoid.


Until something definitely better comes along, the Group-31 is still the battery of choice for diesel applications.

 

I got mine for $35- a blem from a local rebuilder. He had a pallet of them. I think mine tested out to a little over 1000CCA. Plenty so far.

I like the idea of having the studs vs posts. Might have to look into that route. Then I can get new cables, and bypass the marine terminals.

 

I, too, usually buy appearance-blems right off the Interstate truck = about $40; never got a dud yet.




One alternative to keep in mind is, if one is up against having to buy a battery RIGHT NOW, but would like to change over to copper-ring-terminal cable-ends and "stud"-type batteries, but does not have the time/money to make all the necessary changes, lead-post ADAPTERs are commonly available that screw down over the 3/8" threaded stud, thus adapting a "stud" battery for plain old lead terminal use; thus, one can go ahead and buy the "stud" battery, along with the lead-post adapters, and later change the cable-ends, one at a time if he wishes.


In fact, it would be silly to buy a plain old lead-post battery, but instead, buy a studded battery and adapters, then one has the option of upgrading if one so chooses.




I have known several dealers to only stock the threaded stud batteries and supply the post-adapters to those who need a post-type battery; in fact, I have known of a few with lead-post batteries that had no idea that they could simply screw off the "posts" and they actually had a stud hidden under there.

 

So I said "Screw it, Autozone always sucks anyway."


tell me about it about a 2years ago i walked into one with a bad timing chain in my hand from my 84 w250, without me saying anything the lady behind the counter said "im sorry we dont sell motorcycle chains" i didnt even bother i just said ok thanks and headed to Napa, oh yeah and i get my batteties from Napa too

 

My Motto: "If it matters, I get it at Napa." Autozone is always my last-ditch attempt to find something. I can't stand it that the "parts specialists" don't know an EGR valve from TPS sensor.

 

single interstate group 31 950 or 925 ccs worked just fine.... it was in edmonton for 2 weeks in the dead of jan in 1998 and i had two nights where the truck didnt stay plugged in i doubt youll see lower than -30 and the balance of the trucks life it was in montana 1993 dodge diesel 5 spd club cab nothing special filled her up with #1 all winter can't say much more but in 5 years she never failed to start and never left me stranded

 

What Bearkiller said regarding where to buy is right on.

One chain that DOES stock group 31 batteries is Advance Auto. If the counter guy tries to look up your truck in the computer, he will try to sell you the wrong battery, but if you grab his ear and drag him over to the battery display you will be able to point out the group 31 battery you need (usually in the lower right hand corner). These are the low end 1 year warranty batteries but they are well under $100.

I buy cheap batteries and replace them every two years for peace of mind.

 

Got my blue top Optimas at Costco for 129.95 each x2 they have the best warranty on the market take them back no hassle get your entire purchase price back, my only place to buy optimas Nobody can beat them!

 

I went through the same thing a couple of years ago. Autozone, Advance (sorry wanna but mine didn't have it), Walmart (showed in the book, but not in stock). I started calling and found a blem for 49 bucks. If you can't find a place to buy the battery then call the local school bus barn and see where they buy theirs. I found out and the price wasn't bad.

 

There's a battery wholesaler that's open to the public in Corona, CA- Powerstride, I think... they have every size you could ever want. I got a Group 31 for my truck for free. Kind of. The were offering $3 to $5 for every core you bring in. I had almost 30 batteries from scrapped cars and golf carts; I loaded them into the bed, brought 'em down and got a new battery plus $22.