Re: /Optima Battery

[ChuckKuecker <ckuecker@mcs.net>]

At 13:25 1/5/98 CST, you wrote:
>
>> Also, has anybody here used Optima's spiral-wound gel cell in their 'Rocco
>> before?  I am looking to replace my 3rd Diehard, which seems to be dying
>> hard.
>> Thanks,
>> ADP
>> 
>Having a an interest in electric cars, I subscribe to the EV mail list. Optima
>batteries have been a hot topic there for months so I looked into it as SLI
>(starting/lighting/ignition) battery for my '77 Scirocco. Optimas are available
>only in one size (BCI group 34) while VWs use BCI group 42 (or 41? for more 
>recent models.)  According to http://www.acdelcobatteries.com/bci.html, a 
>group 42 is 9.6 x 6.8 x 6.8 (LxWxH inches) with R/H Pos SAE posts. The
>Optima sheet shows it (model 800S) as 9.94 x 6.75 x 7.81 with L/H Pos SAE
posts.
>The length and width look workable but the height could be a major problem
>depending on how close it is to the hood. Also the posts are backwards 
>and the wires would need to be crossed.
>
>I found a note that seems to suggest that an Optima will fit in a group 42
space:
>http://www.digest.net/bmw/archive/v2/msg00696.html.
>
>Be prepared for it not to fit. A group 42 is one of the shortest (least height)
>batteries available so it cannot be replaced with much else.
>
>Bob Farrell

I have had one in my '67 for the last three years. Never a problem, even
after sitting all winter, it starts right up. I have no idea whether it
would fit in the Scirocco...

Chuck Kuecker

ckuecker@mcs.net

'83 Scirocco (Katy's car now)
'58 Ghia Convert
'75 Bug
'67 Bug
'63 Bug (*still* for sale)
'91 Vanagon


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