Battery Recommendations?

[nads83]

Can anybody recommend a good battery for my 1983 GT? It should be a 56 series.

I know they make a Motorcraft, which would be nice for show, but I'm hearing bad things about the quality.

Open for suggestions. Thanks!

[jc306na]

I always use the Interstate Megatron Plus series batteries in everything I drive... I have never been let down...

[86fiveoh]

Interstates are good batterys, but cost it too. I just have a duralast but its been good to me especially since my car sits weeks at a time

[895.0]

Interstates are good batterys, but cost it too. I just have a duralast but its been good to me especially since my car sits weeks at a time

built to last duralast. i have one of these and its has not let me down yet... the warrenty is not bad either

[jaz50]

I always use the Interstate Megatron Plus series batteries in everything I drive... I have never been let down...

Yup.

[Kurt84GT350]

I've used the EverStart Maxx (yellow) batteries that WalMart sells for about a 100 dollars and they are great. Good price and they look good under the hood too. 3 year warranty

[JACook]

Show of hands how many of you with Duralast, Interstate, and others have acid residue
on top of your batteries right now.

There's more to battery selection than just being reliable. Consider the cost of what
acid eats up, or how often you're willing to do the baking soda routine.

[86fiveoh]

top of mines clean

[Kurt84GT350]

top of mines clean

+1

And I'm not buying an optima just to avoid a little cleanup

[SVT Rob]

I have an Optima red-top in mine. It was worth the money.

[Blue Hatch]

I also have an Optima Red-Top in mine. Never had a problem either. But they are on the expensive side. I just needed the extra cranking amps. Seems the cheaper batteries always leave me sitting somewhere. The Optima hasn't left me sitting yet... Knock on wood.

[BoOgY]

i have the optima red top in mine too!
its a good battery!
=]

[sowaxeman]

I don't think Motorcraft MAKES their batteries....its the same generic battery as all the others you see out there, just with a Motorcraft lable on it. I could be wrong on that....but I bought an Autocraft Silver and an Autocraft Titanium from Advanced Auto for my '05 S-281 and my '94 F-350....save for the labels they were the exact same battery that was removed with the Motorcraft lables.

That being said...the last three Motorcraft labeled BXL-56's I bought for my
4i cars have been more than satisfactory. Mine sit all winter with no trickle charger, and have plenty of power to fire up about every 6 weeks.

[blown347]

optima red top all the way it has never failed me at the track

[zac_f83]

any optima is WIN

[CoyoteRI]

I have Diehard batteries and have had very good luck with them.

Sean

[yamahaford540]

Duralast's are made by Interstate. Sit them side by side... you'll see the similarities. Good choices. I have them in the dd cars and trucks. Currently have a optima red top in the 84.

[JACook]

I don't think Motorcraft MAKES their batteries....

Who actually MAKES the battery is almost completely irrelevant. Every battery made
by Interstate is not the same as every other battery made by Interstate. While it may
be true that the Motorcraft battery made by Brand-X is no different than the battery
Brand-X sells under their own label, it's much more likely they're not. And the only way
you're gonna know is to destroy two perfectly good batteries.

Companies are not in business to give you more than you pay for.
TANSTAAFL applies.

[cb84capri]

my '63 tempest has an optima red top, date coded 1998. it still works perfectly, and this car was my uncle's year round daily driver for eleven years. try getting that kind of life out of your conventional lead acid battery.

i still have to fix the hood from where my old lead acid battery overcharged and sprayed acid everywhere when the voltage regulator died on the capri. i had a 2 day old set of taylor wires i had to replace because the acid ate through them. i also had to repaint my frame rail because the acid lifted all the paint. that whole ordeal was a pita. i use a motomaster branded exide sprial cell battery in the capri now.

cars like my $100 dollar winter beater, and anything i buy to sell that needs a battery get the el cheapo lead acid batteries. i think a huge contributor to 96-07 dodge caravan strut tower rot issue is the fumes from the lead acid batteries.

cale

[JACook]

It's really unfortunate that the battery industry as a whole has really gone backward over
the last decade or so. But it's understandable. It costs more to build a battery that won't
rot it's surroundings, and when most people shop for batteries, that's just not something
they think about. All most people look for are price and warranty.

If I could get the Delco Freedom battery in a group 56, that's probably all I'd ever buy...

[85stanggt]

I was in a jam a few years ago in college. I bought a $50 Everstart from Walmart, since no one around had the right Interstate battery. I didn't plan on keeping it long.

It has been quite a pleasing surprise, the quality of this battery. I have ZERO acid leakage (previous issue with Sears batteries in years past), and the battery has been strong now for 3 years.

Last winter was a cold one in Durham. On more than one occasion, I started my car at night in 20-30* weather. Strong cranking from the moment I turned the key.

I never look to Walmart for quality, but with a 7 year pro-rated warranty (first 2 years free replacement), I have to say I'm quite pleased.

[83Fox]

optima red top is the way to go. have one in every one of my vehicles. i once had an optima that i have had in 5 different vehicles. they are just bad a$$ and top notch

[Kurt84GT350]

I was in a jam a few years ago in college. I bought a $50 Everstart from Walmart, since no one around had the right Interstate battery. I didn't plan on keeping it long.

It has been quite a pleasing surprise, the quality of this battery. I have ZERO acid leakage (previous issue with Sears batteries in years past), and the battery has been strong now for 3 years.

Last winter was a cold one in Durham. On more than one occasion, I started my car at night in 20-30* weather. Strong cranking from the moment I turned the key.

I never look to Walmart for quality, but with a 7 year pro-rated warranty (first 2 years free replacement), I have to say I'm quite pleased.

What he said. Same here. THe battery for my Rav4 (4 cylinder) cranks the Mustang 5.0 very easily, hasn't failed once

[nads83]

Thanks for all the good advice. If I can come up with the money, where can I get the optima red top? Haven't located it online...

[Kurt84GT350]

I've seen them at advance auto, I dunno if they are cheaper or more expensive there