atb

Here are the most popular choices based upon my Internet search.

I'm posting here because in the other forums I've viewed, no one races a V8 engined car and there seems to be some question as to whether or not these have enough juice to consistently start the car.

Odyssey PC680
170 cca
$155
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/ody-pc680/overview/

Tempest BAB22-12
270 cca
$65
http://www.batteryspec.com/cgi-bin/c...ink&product=22


Deka ETX18
340 cca
$94
http://www.etx18l.com/


Also, because these are dry cell, I'm presuming they don't need to be mounted in a marine box if I move the battery into the cabin?
And lastly, the Odyssey is offered in a metal jacket. Any advantage to that if mounted inside the car?

Appreciate any input. These are all 15lb batteries that fit in a 7x6x3" space. Pretty light and compact.

Alan

The Odyssey PC680 works well. I have one as an aux battery.

I do have the MJ version. For interior mounting I don't think you really need it - esp if you mount in the odyssey aluminum frame (which you should). Both help strengthen the case and provide better heat conduction.

You can mount these in any orientation (even upside down) and you don't need to worry about spills or outgassing (sealed).

I don't know anything of the others - but though the oddysey looks the lowest spec here - its more than adequate to the task. Assume you will have a light duty alternator in this application?
Given they are ~the same size they should have generally similar performance (so looks like specsmanship perhaps...). Keep it charged whiole not in use and it will work fine for a long time - note with no load these stay charged very very well - much better than wet cells.

BTW in the cost column price in battery terminals and mounting kits for a full picture both of cost and completeness of the solutions.

Alan

123quattro

Don't know which one is the best in your case. However, in college (15 years ago) we used that Odyssey (Hawker Genesis) battery you are looking at and had very good luck with them. I would definitely recommend them. We had 27 in series and never failed one.

TXBenchRacer

http://shoraipower.com/batteries-c41

A little salty on price but they are light and have up to 540 cca in a small package

we run this one in a rock buggy with a 6.2 ls 13:1 compression.
cranks it off with no problem

http://shoraipower.com/lfx36a3-bs12-p126

Alan

Adam check out more details & accessories here:

http://sepbatteries.com/pc680mj-odyssey-battery

Alan

mark kibort

go with the odessy. its never let me down. even after several deep discharges.
Its not 150ish CCA, its more like 500CCA. that spec seems off to me.
metal jacket really for the vibration, not the protection of the battery, so go with that.

dr bob

On cars that have limited on-board battery capability and must be self-starting, I've used an external start-cart battery (bigger AGM that rides on the pit toolbox cart or wagon) with a quick-disconnect terminal, in parallel with the on-board for pre-grid starting.

Mark Anderson

ive had good luck with the Odyssey as well

mark kibort

usually reserverd for the knuckelheads that let their batteries die in the car.
a fully charged Oddesy will start any 928 engine, with all the CCA you need to do the job. However, if you have a starting problem and need to crank for a long time (like no cold start circuit) then you might need as bob has suggested.
the Odessy is 14amp hours, and that compares to over 50amp hours of a stock battery. just means you can run the radio for 5 x longer.
both have near the same CCA rating and thats what counts in starting the car.

mark kibort

Odyssey PC680 Drycell AGM Battery

General use engine start, no metal jacket, low temperature applications.

The combination of extreme power and performance makes ODYSSEY® batteries perfect for a range of applications, including auto/LTV, marine, commercial, racing and powersports. ODYSSEY batteries deliver twice the overall power and three times the life of conventional batteries!

The Odyssey battery ingeniously uses absorbed glass mat (AGM) technology to offer, in one box, the characteristics of two separate batteries. It can deep cycle as well as provide enormous cranking power.

These batteries are capable of providing engine cranking pulses in excess of 2250A for 5 seconds as well as 400 charge/discharge cycles to 80% depth of discharge (DOD). A typical starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) battery can do one or the other, but not both.

Odyssey batteries will do both - provide short duration high amperage pulse or low rate long duration drains.

Features


2, 3 or 4 year full warranty
12 year military design
Drycell sealed technology
60% more cranking power
Deep cycle design
Mount in any position - any place
Brass terminals, non-corrosive
Steel jacket for severe use

CONSTRUCTION


Pure virgin lead plates for maximum surface area, optimized recycling
AGM design eliminates acid spills
High conductivity, corrosion resistant tin-plated brass terminals
High integrity terminal seal
Completely sealed - all gases recycled internally
Self-regulating relief valve
Many models have tough flame retardant containers
Robust internal cell connections prevent vibration damage

PC 680 Specs:


680 cranking amps for 5 seconds
595 cranking amps for 10 seconds
525 cranking amps for 20 seconds
Short circuit current over 1800A
17Ah
25 minute reserve capacity with 25amp load
CCA - 220
The PC680 measures 7 1/16" in length, 3" wide, and 6 9/16" tall.
The PC680 weighs less than 15 pounds.
Female brass terminal w/M6 SS bolt

dr bob

I was working really hard to keep the wet weight under 400 pounds. SCCA said it needed to be self-starting and it needed brake lights. So it needed a battery big enough for the lights and enough to crank the starter for tech. And it wasn't a knucklehead, it was a little four cylinder two stroke well under 1 liter that managed about 200 horsepower at 13000 RPM.

The start-cart battery was appropriate.

atb

Thanks for the link Alan, great prices!

So, Odyssey it is. Last question, is there an issue on charging these batteries both in and out of the car? I've heard that these can't take a high juice charge. Do I need to buy the odyssey charger, or can I use my Craftsman set for 2 amps. I'm also using the stock OB lternator, which is pretty anemic to start with. Am I good with what I've got to keep this battery charged?

123quattro

We used to charge/discharge over 200A continuous with ours. No issues.

Alan

You should be fine with the old stock alt in the car without changes, for off vehicle (or extended out of use) disconnect with a battery switch (you probably have to have a kill switch anyway), then for very long term a 2 amp maintainer (that cuts out or floats when fully charged) will be fine. The Odyssey charger is nice but not needed.

Alan

atb

Thanks all, battery (metal jacket), mount, and terminals ordered.