Dr. Evil

Group 34M - 750 cca, 870 ca, 120 minutes reserve and Group 31M 900 cca, 1125 ca, 155 minutes reserve. Now, if I could find them and they were 75% off, Id be happy with the blue tops...

Actually did a little more digging:

Yellowtop Optima commercial:

Group D31A & D31T: 900 cca, 1125 ca and 155 minutes reserve

Interstate Workaholic Commercials: 31P-MHD 950 cca, 1190 ca and 195 minutes reserve Group 31

INJECTOR JACK

I don't think those Optimas are worth a darn. We used them in are fleet but they didn't last that long and the reserve isn't that good. I didn't want to bother changing the battery trays to fit the 31's it would be a lot of work because they are plastic and I would have to build 2 new holders so I bought Exide commercial batteries they have a full replacement warranty and they were cheap under $70.00 each. They crank the old girl over just fine.

Dr. Evil

The group 31's im looking at are only 1/2" longer than stock...should fit my trays without any problems. They aint 70 bucks though....$142 each from Cummins.

INJECTOR JACK

I don't think they will fit DR. EVIL they are just a hair to big. They don't sit flat in the tray.
I realywanted to run 31's I can get those real cheap. 142 bucks is to much check out a big truck dealer. Are local IH dealer sells them for about $80.00 bucks. Cummins never gives anything away!

Iron Horse

The group 31 Optimas fit in the stock tray with just a little bit of trimming. Took me less then an hour to cut everything, and install longer battery hold down bolts.

The volt gauge drops a lot less in the morning when the grid heaters cycle, and the engine turns over a lot faster.

condensr

Kirkland batteries are (at least were about 2 years ago, think they still are..) Johnson Controls build batteries. I had a buddy at work who worked in his family business (Commercial/Ag battery sales in Central WA) for quite some time, and he said the Kirkland JC batteries were the best bang for the buck you'd likely find. At the time, I was looking for deep cycle batteries for my travel trailer.

The current batts in my rig are Chrysler batteries, and I'm not sure if they were replaced or original. I don't see how they could be original, that's 9 years! The prev owner bought the truck from a Dodge dealer in 99, they probably replaced them prior to sale.

When these batteries die, I'll probably pick up a set at Costco. I just love that place.. they DO stand behing their products!

Oh, BTW, whats an Espar?

argve

Espar Heaters it's a diesel/electric hair dryer . You can use them for heating the cab, bed, engine compartment - basically anything you want heated.

Dufrain

Walmart batteries are the same as napa batteries,they come off the same truck.Exide.The top of the line yellow ones are 1000 cranking amps have a 3 year free replacement and like 9 years pro rated and there is a wal mart everywhere so its easy to get replaced. 60 bux a piece, i checked last night.I have had good luck with napa and walmart batteries.I have returned a few but never had any trouble at all on them replacing it.

jon96ctd

have any of you used Odyssey batteries or know someone that has? I heard of them from a friend of mine that is serious into desert racing. Apparently they hold up very well to extreme temps and severe vibration, they're a sealed dry cell deep cycle. I've heard a lot of good things about them, though they aren't cheap...lowest I've found them is at batterymart.com, if you tell Summit Racing they'll probably match the price and I know from experience that Summit has EXCELLENT customer service and they stand behind what they sell.

Does anyone know anything about these?

The PC 1700 looked pretty close to what our diesels need...
840 CCA(0 deg)
1055 CA(32 deg)
142 min RC(25 amp draw)
L 13.02 x W 6.62 x H 7.68"(including terminals)

here's their website for more specs - http://www.odysseybatteries.com/tech.htm

Dr. Evil

guys - I ended up going with with the group 31's (cost was less than $100 Canadian each)......Here's the details in case anyone is interested:

I found a company called East Penn/Power Battery - they manufacture batteries for a LOT of the normal battery distributers/sellers. I was in the back warehouse and actually seen a bunch of different stickers including Sears Die Hard. They told me that they just rebadge the same betteries for all their customers.

Anyway, these are Group 31 Commercial batteries. The specs are: 1000 cca, 1190ca, and 193 minutes reserve capacity. Dimensions are: 13"L X6.75"W X 9.5" H...the stock (group 27) dims are: 12"L X 6.75"W X 9.0"H. Probably wont easily fit in the trays without some minor modifications.....but theres gonna be lots of juice when I get them in. I just hope I can make them fit as Injector Jack says they wont sit level (read that after I bought the batteries ).

I wanted the Yellow Top Optima Commercials but they were $311 each

Fueling around - thanks for the recommendation.

Fueling around

Glad to help.

Dr. Evil

John, have you ran the Group 31's???

They will fit wont they?? I dont know for sure as I havnt tried and its too cold at the moment.

Also, will they leak if I go offroad??

Fueling around

I sized them, but haven't run them. When I changed my last set it was cold and I didn't want to wait to get it in the shop and modify the trays.
The trays actually remove pretty easy to make the mods. Battery does need to contact the temp sensor firmly.

If they are maintenance free they are less likely to leak. Only a leak free battery may not leak.

Dr. Evil

John,

Havent looked at it yet - If I have to change battery trays, will the battery temperature sensor work OK with steel/metal trays??

Fueling around

It will change things. A metal tray will leak off the heat faster. Overcharging is the second best way to kill a battery.
Charging a frozen battery is sure death.