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Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:18 pm

I need a battery for this bus. They are the generic of generics.... but what do I need? Part #, vendor, brand, CCA???

Help me out here?

Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:35 pm

Group 34 / 78 cheap off the shelf sealed lead acid (SLA) will do you just fine in the stock position.

If you want a super star battery with more advanced chemistry, then here are two of your best options:

AGM
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TCTD3Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

LiFePO4
https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-100Ah-Lithium-Phosph..._td_asin_0

Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:50 pm

Do you have an interstate battery dealer locally
$100.00 here in California the for a vw bus
Group 42

Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:03 pm

old DKP driver wrote: Do you have an interstate battery dealer locally
$100.00 here in California the for a vw bus
Group 42
we have an Interstate for our bus and it is super. Got it thru Firestone.

Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:04 pm

Since you said CCA, assuming you are looking for a starting battery? The WalmartEverstart is made by Deka, the switched from JCI in 2019. I believe you can get Deka at Costco as well. Group 34/78 will fit, minimum 550 CCA. LifePo4 is good (expensive, but has better depth of discharge than a lead acid) for house Or starting battery, though it might not work well long term due to the charging profile. SLA is happy with 13.9v, LifePo4 should get 14.8v. You might need to tweak your regulator to get enough life out of it to offset the cost.

Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:09 pm

I have an Interstate shop down the road. I did not even think about them for this old 72. I call them all the time. Every car I have has a Blem Interstate in it. 1/2 price, 1/2 warranty.

I will call them tomorrow.

Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:13 pm

note Scott's comment on battery tray size. We are using a Group 48 / H6 in our 1977 but it won't fit a 1972 according to Scott. There are like 2,000 battery threads on this forum.

germansupplyscott wrote: a group 48 battery is the one we use, it fits perfectly and it has lots more capacity than the original group 42, and a bit more than a 24 or 41. the flooded group 48 has something like 72Ah, the AGM group 48 has almost 80Ah. the 42 is about 60Ah. i think the 48 will only work from '75 on, the battery tray in '74 and earlier has a smaller landing area for the battery. in buses that have the slightly larger landing spot the 48 is a great battery to use, it just fits in the spot, the hold-down works properly, and the capacity is very good.

Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:55 pm

Malcolm,
My Bus is a 1972 and I have an interstate group 42 in it and have always had
Group 42 in it.
500 C C A

Sun Sep 13, 2020 9:04 pm

old DKP driver wrote: Malcolm,
My Bus is a 1972 and I have an interstate group 42 in it and have always had
Group 42 in it.
500 C C A

I think 42 is a commonly recommended size for bays. If that is what is in Chris's bus it would be a really good choice because he has been around them for decades, and would not steer you wrong. Years ago in the 1980's Interstate had some issues but we've been very pleased with the Interstate battery in our bay. In fact it is lasting much longer than some other brands.

Sun Sep 13, 2020 11:34 pm

group 42 is more 'correct' than the 78/34
78/34 is just bigger :)

for cheap anything DEKA or INTERSTATE is usually a good bet

Mon Sep 14, 2020 5:17 am

Interstate G42 here in my 72. I use a marine battery box. Think this one is about 8 yrs. old.

Mon Sep 14, 2020 8:23 am

I force a Group 41 in to get some extra capacity, this translate to a T6 in the more modern sizing and you can up that to an H6 to pick up a bit more capacity still.

Mon Sep 14, 2020 10:31 am

My local Interstate guys says that the 42 is not one they make anymore. He says the 96R is a replacement for that. Maybe 90 more CCA and the posts are a bit different.

$60 for a Blem. Guess I will go get one of those

Mon Sep 14, 2020 12:53 pm

The Bosch H3 is what I was sold for a 1974 T1 1600 - it is very small, a 41 Amp Hour battery.
But then cranking my 1641 takes all of 66 amps.. 16 amps for the solenoid, 50 amps for the starter.. (I have a nice clamp ammeter)

Much larger batteries also fit well, I also have used 65AH batteries that started to fail on a 2.0L diesel car, but still have plenty of CCA for a tiny low compression engine.

Mon Sep 14, 2020 2:23 pm

malcolm2 wrote: My local Interstate guys says that the 42 is not one they make anymore. He says the 96R is a replacement for that. Maybe 90 more CCA and the posts are a bit different.

$60 for a Blem. Guess I will go get one of those

They make a T5 which is identical to the 42 IIRC, the T6 has the same foot print as a 42 or T5 but is a 1/2" taller.

A shop put in a blem when my bus needed a battery while my kids had it at college. Maybe three years later the case cracked and I acid all over that corner of the bus, the cheap price of a blem isn't worth the damage it can do.

Mon Sep 14, 2020 4:55 pm

There are certainly potential problems with any battery. You need to check it, maybe monthly. They make acid mats it put under them. Boxes to put them in. I have painted everywhere with POR-15. I believe that stuff is like ceramic, if you apply it CORRECTLY. I did the inside of a couple gas tanks 1 was 20 years ago with no problems. But let’s not start that battle today.

What sucked is I don’t have a core. So it was $80. Guess i should have tried amazon or ebay.

Mon Sep 14, 2020 5:34 pm

Yank a core of a Prius , they won’t miss one battery of many