1978 Bus Battery - Will Group 58R Fit?

[VWLover77]

The local automotive electrical and battery supply house tells me Group 42 batteries are obsolete and is recommending a Group 58R as an interchange for my '78 Bus. I'm most concerned about the width difference for the battery hold-down bracket and clamp. Group 42 is 6.8" wide while Group 58R is 7.2" wide. Does anyone know for sure if Group 58R will fit between the bracket and hold-down clamp?
_________________
Don

1978 Westy
1971 Super Beetle Convertible


"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world." - J.R.R. Tolkien

[germansupplyscott]

Group 48 fits perfectly in a '75-'79 Bus. It has the advantage of being quite a bit more powerful than a Group 42.

000 915 105 DG is the VW part number for a (equivalent to) Group 48 72Ah battery and even though the VW dealer batteries are relatively expensive compared to big box batteries, they are excellent quality.

Group 42 is 61Ah and the VW part number for that battery is 000 915 105 DE. I doubt that battery will go obsolete at VW, it's used in a lot of vehicles.

(I don't know from experience about a 58R)
_________________
SL

[Wildthings]

A T5 is a direct replacement for a Group 42 or you can go to the somewhat taller H5. The Group 48, H6, and T6 are longer but can be made to work easily enough.