Best battery for 1956 coupe..

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Larry Denning
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Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#1 Post by Larry Denning »

Anyone have a suggestion for best battery for 1956 coupe? I was thinking of using am OPTIMA but is states they don't have one that will be suitable.

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Jules Dielen
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#2 Post by Jules Dielen »

Optima has been hit or miss in terms of quality. You can get a cloaking device for it, but it will require some cutting to make it fit in the battery area on a 56, it is a little too big.

Some here just go for a 6v 19L tractor battery. If you don't mind the fumes or leaks, that is pretty straightforward. Just put a battery mat under it.
Jules

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Jim Liberty
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#3 Post by Jim Liberty »

I've had no problems with Optima. I've used them for years. ............Jim.
Jim Liberty

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Jon Schmid
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#4 Post by Jon Schmid »

I used Interstate 19L batteries for years on both my 356's until they stopped making them. I have a Deka battery in my coupe now; my son's Roadster still has a 19L and it's going strong. My only experience with an Optima was not Optimal... :(

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James Rowe
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#5 Post by James Rowe »

Jon Schmid wrote: Thu Sep 22, 2022 5:27 pm I used Interstate 19L batteries for years on both my 356's until they stopped making them. I have a Deka battery in my coupe now; my son's Roadster still has a 19L and it's going strong. My only experience with an Optima was not Optimal... :(
My current Optima is 10 years old and going strong. We do keep it on a tender so maybe that attributes to the longevity. Hard to believe it is that old.

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Wes Bender
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#6 Post by Wes Bender »

Jim Liberty wrote: Thu Sep 22, 2022 4:50 pm I've had no problems with Optima. I've used them for years. ............Jim.
Me too, Jim. In all of my cars.
Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.....

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Jim Clement
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#7 Post by Jim Clement »

me three.. or four..
 

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Jim Nelson
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#8 Post by Jim Nelson »

I swapped my Optima out for a new one after 15 years. More like retired it while it was still doing the job..

Dick Weiss
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#9 Post by Dick Weiss »

I never used them; Regular batteries last about 8-to-10 years @ 1/2 the price and Optima won't fit
an A/early B w/o modifying the fit--and I've seen failures years ago since they DO vent like a whistle!

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James Rowe
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#10 Post by James Rowe »

jim nelson wrote: Fri Sep 23, 2022 1:36 pm I swapped my Optima out for a new one after 15 years. More like retired it while it was still doing the job..
Crazy that it lasted that long!

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Jules Dielen
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#11 Post by Jules Dielen »

My 2014 optima is still going. I then got one in 2018 where the post came off as soon as i tightened the clamp. Both the optimas with production dates 2019 and 2020 are already not holding a charge. They are all on ctek 6v chargers/ maintainers all the time.

Hope it was just a 3 year glitch after they moved production to Mexico. It did leave a significant dent in their reputation for me.
Jules

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Daryl Bertram
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#12 Post by Daryl Bertram »

Still using the Optima in our '64 SC that we installed in 2004.

Larry Denning
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#13 Post by Larry Denning »

Has anyone put a OPTIMA battery in a 356A T1 and been able to trim a specific model to fit ?...ie with front mount post rather then top mount posts
If so could you please share which model you used
Thank you
Larry 356 A European

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Jules Dielen
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#14 Post by Jules Dielen »

Hi Larry, there is only one 6v optima. Red top with top posts. I have one in my 57, held in place with some oil bottles as I did not want to cut up a cloaking device :(
Jules

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Steve Douglas
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Re: Best battery for 1956 coupe..

#15 Post by Steve Douglas »

Larry, I have had two Optima red tops in my A coupe, one last 8 years and the second one is on its 5th year. The battery box is too small to fit the "unmodified" Optima, my car is a T-2, but I think your 56 T-1 has the same battery box dimensions. see: viewtopic.php?p=396376#p396376. I cut the tabs on both ends of the battery, flush with the case, and it slides in to the battery area. There is about 3/8" space, so fairly tight. The cover will fit over, but the right side metal angle hold down is very close to the positive terminal. I bent the angle so it is flush with the cover's inside and used some heavy insulation tape, keeping it insulated from the + terminal / clamp. I also decided not to use the right side spring hold down as a precaution, electrically isolating the angle hold down, if contact was made the spring could act as resistance heater.

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