Hi everyone! Just wanted to ask your advice. Once I've got everything back together I'm ready to start the engine up again, I'm wondering about what battery to buy for my 72 supreme 350. 25 years ago when I got the car, I remember Mr. B from whom I got the car and who was a boat guy,
suggested a deep cycle marine battery of I wasn't going to use the car daily. Any thoughts? Pros/ cons? Thanks!
​​​​​​​chris

 

I've used both conventional and deep cycle. I doubt there is a measurable difference in this application.

 

Deep cycle batteries are more expensive and will work in a car. Emergency vehicles use them to take up the load of extra lights and equipment during long periods of idling when alternators will not carry the full load.

 

It's probably a lot more economical to use a regular battery and a trickle charger / maintainer than a deep cycle marine battery.

 

OK thank you guys. Does anybody have a model number and or brand that they would recommend. I've seen many different model numbers for this application and I'm not sure which is correct.

 

Your original battery was Delco R89S with dimensions of 10.25 long x 7 wide x 8.66 high. Find one that fits those dimensions and has a high CCA rating and you will be fine.

 

Thank you VC455!

 

Generaly speaking a deep cycle battery of the same size as a starting (car) battery will provide less cold cranking amps. Deep cycle bats will have a larger reserve capacity, but not the same power for cranking. The deep cycle will out last the car battery if they are both discharged and then recharged (a cycle) often. All bateries can only take so many cycles before they fail. Deep cycle bats are meant to provide a constant amp supply for a longer period (reserve) but not at high amps as required when starting. The car battery will provide more power for starting. Unless you plan on running the battery low often, I would use a conventional car starting battery.

 

Thank you Stellar!

 

I never drive my cars in the cold weather and generally don't go over 750 CCA. If you don't need the higher CCA then a lower one will generally have a longer life span. As mentioned above, something to maintain the battery through the cold months when not in use is a good idea. At least toss a 2 amp charger on it a time or two through the winter over night.

 

Ok. So if I look for a battery with 750 cca I should be fine if I don't drive in the winter? And generally speaking a battery with less cca will last longer?

 

Closest marine battery group size is a 24. Most marine batteries are top post, it may require terminal/cable adapting. With any car sitting in storage I'd use a battery quick disconnect. Good luck!!!

 

Here is a tip on buying a battery that may surprise you. Walmart has really good batteries (Everlast I believe) and good prices if there is any such thing on batteries any more. This has been discussed on here before.

 

For a wet cell battery this is generally correct. Most people do not know this and will disagree.

 

I was surprised to find that Johnson Control makes many of the private brand name batteries I believe Wall Mart is one of them..... Tedd

 

Thank you all! I really appreciate all of your advice and knowledge!
Chris

 

Oops correction, Everstart now makes Wall Mart batteries..... Tedd

 

Now for my correction Tedd. I should have gone out and looked at my car to see it was Everstart and not Everlast.

 

I replaced my Walmart Everstart battery 12/2015 after 9 solid years of great service. I used a Group24F 750CCA. Don't know if its the same size as yours.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart...e-24F/28275657

 

Johnston controls makes batteries under a few different labels. Interstate being one of them. I have seen wall mart as well as sears (diehard) using various brands switching from time to time. I knew a fellow that sold high end batteries - mercedes volvo bmw- All the batteries were from the same mfg. and had no labels on them. He had a cupboard full of labels. If you wanted a Mercedes bat he would use the MB label. Prices for the same battery varried for the car application. He was licensed to sell for the mfg and that is where he got the labels.

 

I just saw a news story about this on a local station that said the same thing. High CCA is advertised as a selling point for batteries, but that is needed only for starting an engine in extremely cold temps. Here in Phoenix it never gets cold enough to need that. We have the opposite issue - extremely hot summer temps - and it was recommended to get the lowest CCA battery available.

 

High CCA also helps with engines that run a lot of initial advance. I'll see how going from 600CCA to 750 affects the life span.