Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-29-2020, 12:32 PM   #1
Lawson Cox
Senior Member
 
Lawson Cox's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia
Posts: 7,009
Default 6V red top optima battery

Is the red top 6v Optima still available, and if not, has anyone come up with a good replacement battery?
__________________
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes.

It is better to be seen, than viewed.

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".
Lawson Cox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2020, 02:28 PM   #2
G.M.
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Florida and Penna.
Posts: 4,471
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Lawson all you need is some of that green stuff. Look on ebay and Google
6 volt Optima battery. They seem to run about $180.00 and they pay the
shipping. The local auto parts stores have them for about the same price.
G.M.
__________________
www.fordcollector.com
G.M. is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 04-29-2020, 02:57 PM   #3
supereal
Senior Member
 
supereal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Iowa
Posts: 1,634
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

We buy Optimas at our local Interstate Battery outlet. Not cheap, but it isn't how much you pay, but how often you do it. Mine have lasted over 7 years with still enough for good starting.
supereal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2020, 03:22 PM   #4
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7,925
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Lawson, the 6 volt red top Optimas have grown a little taller over the years and no longer fit vertically in the carrier under the floor....I think they're taller by about an inch or so....
__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others....

"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0
petehoovie is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2020, 05:15 PM   #5
Lawrie
Senior Member
 
Lawrie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Qld, Australia
Posts: 4,195
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

They work good though,
How are you going Lawson, good to see you on again.
Lawrie
Lawrie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2020, 05:17 PM   #6
flatjack9
Senior Member
 
flatjack9's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oshkosh, Wi
Posts: 4,516
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
I modified my mount on the 36 to lay the Optima on it's side.
flatjack9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2020, 05:25 PM   #7
Lawson Cox
Senior Member
 
Lawson Cox's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia
Posts: 7,009
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by petehoovie View Post
Lawson, the 6 volt red top Optimas have grown a little taller over the years and no longer fit vertically in the carrier under the floor....I think they're taller by about an inch or so....
Yeah, I know that. The taller ones still fit my pickup because there is a lot of headroom on the pickup. Glad to know they are still available, albeit. costly.
__________________
Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes.

It is better to be seen, than viewed.

"We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".
Lawson Cox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2020, 10:55 PM   #8
!!!RIOT!!!
Junior Member
 
!!!RIOT!!!'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 10
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

I ordered one online at O'Reilly's and they had it ready for pickup the next morning. It was $187.00.
!!!RIOT!!! is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2020, 06:43 AM   #9
Kerk
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 642
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

I made a drop down or stepped down box for my 35. It is just a snap in piece wih NO modifications to the original location. Can be removed with no tools required so it can be returned to original. Worked for me & others. kerk
Kerk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2020, 02:07 PM   #10
Newc
Senior Member
 
Newc's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,460
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

I found some [6V] about to be discarded and once read about a recovery charge [low amp] thru a lead /acid type to the optima? going to try it soon . Newc
Newc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2020, 04:17 PM   #11
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7,925
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kerk View Post
I made a drop down or stepped down box for my 35. It is just a snap in piece wih NO modifications to the original location. Can be removed with no tools required so it can be returned to original. Worked for me & others. kerk

Kerk - Can you post a picture of what you did?
__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others....

"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0
petehoovie is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2020, 05:32 PM   #12
philipswanson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bonita, CA
Posts: 1,374
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Best price was E Bay
philipswanson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2020, 05:45 PM   #13
petehoovie
Senior Member
 
petehoovie's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 7,925
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by philipswanson View Post
Best price was E Bay
OPTIMA Battery REDTOP 6 Volt 8010-044

Buy it here > https://www.ebay.com/itm/OPTIMA-Batt...AAAOSwFK5endTg

Brand New
5.0 out of 5 stars.
19 product ratings - OPTIMA Battery REDTOP 6 Volt 8010-044

$180.00
Buy It Now
Free Shipping
Last one
5 watchers


__________________
The only thing nice about being imperfect is the joy it brings to others....

"Silver rings, your butt! Them's washers!"
"We shot our way out of that town for a dollar's worth of steel holes!" - from 'The Wild Bunch' - 1969

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NReUd2_0u0

Last edited by petehoovie; 05-02-2020 at 06:53 PM.
petehoovie is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2020, 05:48 PM   #14
48-710
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Mildura ,Australia
Posts: 163
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Also interested Kirk
48-710 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2020, 06:46 PM   #15
FlatheadTed
Senior Member
 
FlatheadTed's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Auckland
Posts: 4,691
Send a message via AIM to FlatheadTed
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Here's a Famer Fix Optima carry Floor box 33 to 36 ,made of 2x3 11,1/2 x 7" 2" below to the steel strap ,it could be used in cowl mounted box but would need to be more like 11"
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 029.jpg (69.5 KB, 49 views)
__________________
http://www.flatheadted.com


Flathead Ted brake Floaters ,

Last edited by FlatheadTed; 05-02-2020 at 06:54 PM.
FlatheadTed is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2020, 06:51 PM   #16
FrankWest
Senior Member
 
FrankWest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,002
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lawson Cox View Post
Is the red top 6v Optima still available, and if not, has anyone come up with a good replacement battery?
amazon has them,,expensive
Attached Images
File Type: jpg amazon.jpg (8.3 KB, 22 views)
FrankWest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2020, 09:04 AM   #17
OptimaJim
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 11
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Hello, I noticed your conversation involving our products and wanted to offer some assistance. As petehoovie indicated, our 6-volt batteries have gotten slightly taller over the years and you can thank the Volkswagen Eos convertible for that change. Those cars came from the factory with a pair of 6-volt YELLOWTOP batteries that had to have provisions for external venting, because of where they were located in the vehicles. That meant a new mold for a taller lid that has a vent port and changes to the existing machines to accommodate the new lid.

Unfortunately, that means our 6-volt batteries no longer fit in some applications, but the good news is that we're still making them, thanks in large part to the business generated by the Volkswagen Eos. Even with that business, we still routinely find ourselves fighting for the 6-volt, because it is so different than our other batteries, that it requires quite a bit more to manufacture them. That combined with very low demand makes it hard to make a case to continue production. We'd rather not increase prices at all, because we know they are expensive already, but if the alternative to bumping up the price a few bucks is to discontinue production entirely and forever, we'd rather raise the price.

Because they are such a low volume product, it's really hard for us to get many of our brick & mortar retailers to carry them. I know that makes a lot of people turn to the Internet, but I can't emphasize enough how bad an idea it is to buy a car battery off sites like eBay or Craigslist. The only people who handle warranty claims on our products are the retailers who sell them and they only service the products they sell.

There are no authorized OPTIMA retailers selling on eBay or Craigslist, so the batteries being sold there may or may not have warranty coverage and if they do, you'll have to track down that seller and ship it back to them for service. We hear from people every week, who thought they found a better deal on those sites, only to find out they were sold a used battery or an unused five-year old battery or the seller didn't use approved packaging when they shipped and the battery showed up damaged. Regardless of the circumstances, when they get to the point of contacting us, they never get an answer they want to hear, because we only provide warranty service on batteries we sell directly (and we do sell 6-volt batteries on our website).

Jim McIlvaine
eCare Manager, OPTIMA Batteries
www.pinterest.com/optimabatteries
OptimaJim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2020, 09:45 AM   #18
philipswanson
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bonita, CA
Posts: 1,374
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

Jim, When was the change in height made on the 6 volt Optima?
philipswanson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2020, 10:11 AM   #19
Kube
Senior Member
 
Kube's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 8,935
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

I hope you guys are listening carefully to OptimaJim.
I certainly understand the logistics (cost) of running such a low number of the 6v. batteries.
I also understand that one must be VERY careful when buying through Amazon. Their so called warranties, even the ones you purchase directly from Amazon, are pretty much worthless and / or not worth the multiple hoops one must jump through.
__________________
"I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".
Kube is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-04-2020, 11:06 AM   #20
tubman
Senior Member
 
tubman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,260
Default Re: 6V red top optima battery

"OptimaJim" - Thanks for taking the time to respond to this thread and for the information you have provided. I wish all of the specialty vendors would expend such effort.

I'd like to buy more of your batteries, but they last too damn long.
tubman is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:22 PM.