What's a good battery to buy for a '71 bug?

[vwden]

Any opinions or comments would be appreciated before I go out and shop for a new battery. The car had a Sears Die Hard that according to the paperwork I have is about 7 1/2 years old. I suppose I couldn't expect any more than that.

Thanks,
Dennis

[DrDarby]

You certainly couldn't ! According to AAA, Average battery life where I am near Chicago is 4.3 years. I'd opt for another Die Hard if you had that good luck !
Generally if the car is all stock a small amperage battery like a 325cca is all you need and last longer as there is more space between the plates.

Now a hint for the frugal few. Find an Interstate Battery distributor near you. They only allow batteries on the shelf at their retailers for 9 months, then they are pulled back and eventually recycled. What happens to them when they come back ? They are sold to you & I as "Blems" for $20.00 w/o warranty. They make many brand names including Die Hard.
I got a $95.00 Die Hard Gold in January for $20.00

I've been running their blems in all my VWs for the past 15 years and never had a premature failure. They don't always have all sizes in a blem so I usually keep an extra here on a monthly charger. I have 12 old VWs here as well as customers so a spare battery usually gets used up pretty quiclky.
_________________
Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Woodstock, IL

[Glenn]

Interstate group 45 or get a Optima Red Top.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

[RailBoy]

Glenn, to revisit this topic which is your choice for a Stroker in a Super running a 17-X Bosch Starter?

You said in the post above a RedTop.. Are you referring to an Optima? IF so, I do not see one that works for a Super/Bug when browsing there site. But, could be terminal arrangement or what ever.. But are you referring to an Optima here?

And if you can nail it down with what model it is, I would like the info to look it up?

Thanks for ya'lls time.. RB
_________________
[quote="smitty24"]"HELP, I ported my own heads and now have fire coming out my ass" .[/quote]

[AlmostHeavenWV_VW]

Perhaps this thread on optima batteries will be of help:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=...le#4821377


Long story, short:
There isn't an Optima made for the beetle (no group 42)...but there are optimas that are a size that can be used (similar to size as group 42).

Optima Red top is 'regular' starter battery
Optima Yellow top is 'deep cycle'

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-us/support/battery-basics/redtop-vs-yellowtop-vs-bluetop-battery
_________________
1973 Standard Beetle
1600DP AK case
Solex 34PICT3 Carb
Bosch DVDA 205AJ Distributor

[Tim Donahoe]

I’m on the seventh year of my Autozone Duralast group 42. When it finally tests below 12.6, I’ll just get an Interstate Group 42. They fit and are held down properly. Why rock the boat?

Tim
_________________
Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[[email protected]]

Deka 642MF

[heimlich]

I was a big believer in the optima red top.

Then when I was driving across the state I needed a battery for an Autostick I bought. I went to Walmart and it was something around $30 or $50. It's lasted years. I could buy 3 or 4 of those for the same price I paid for the red top.
_________________
www.vwnos.com [email protected]
Classic Brands. Classic Quality.
Not all parts are made the same. NOS OE/OEM parts made mainly in West Germany, Early Germany, and Early Brazil are where VW produced the best quality parts and best fitting products.
5% Off your order with coupon code: 5%OFF
Restored Distributors Available (<--Click here)

[VW_Jimbo]

Costco! I get the written full life out of them and then return them. Costco pro rates and I get handed a new battery for almost half the cost. All the personal and business auto batteries come from them. I have not paid full price for a battery n years.

Before Costco, I was buying Interstate at m old shop, but those were still above what I pay at Costco.
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[green1303]

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NBP7542?vehicleAddPDP=true

Die Hard no longer makes a group 42 battery.
_________________
1973 green Super Beetle

[andk5591]

I have Optimas in a couple cars. but my default at the shop is a Carquest silver type 42.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[Cusser]

[windfish]

+1 Costco.
Hadn't driven my bug for a year (slowest engine rebuild ever..) and forgot about the battery. Dead, wouldn't charge above 4V or so.
It was less than 3.5 years old so Costco replaced it, no questions asked.
I did tell them I left it in a dead car for a year and the guy just shrugged and said it was fine.

The Costco battery I'm using is the Group 96R, no idea if it fits under the stock hold down as mine is long gone, but it fits under the rear seat just fine and has a positive terminal cover.

[Kafer_Mike]

Odyssey PC1200MJT. Good and fits, but pricey...
_________________
Kafer_Mike
Build 'em fast...or let 'em sit.

[ashman40]

[Cusser]

Interstate does make Group 42 batteries. However, last time I was at Costco our local Costco did not stock that size.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[windfish]

https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/mt-42
https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/mtp-96r
https://www.interstatebatteries.com/products/mt-47/h5

They're all very close in size.
96R and 47/H5 even have recessed terminals, which is a bonus on our cars (96R includes a cover as well).

ashman, for my 3y/o battery Costco did a straight swap, zero charge. They didn't even test it...

randayn, if you're only getting 3 years check out Costco batteries :P

[andk5591]

Change batteries every 3 years? As long as you don't let them drain too low, I typically get close to 10 years or more out of most of them. Was only getting a couple years out of our dune buggy battery before I started using a decent battery tender on it. Hell, my 94 Ranger (bought new) has had the battery replaced once (just basic conventional battery). The Optima in my 65 is 12 years old and the newest Optima in any of the other VWs is 8 years old.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[Cusser]

3 year is good battery life here in Arizona heat.

Whatever battery you use (any vehicle), make sure that it is firmly secured to the body.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[robp1999]

I installed a group 42 in our 73 super from advanced auto and the hold down does not reach the lip of the battery. I'm going to make a block to make up the space but I will avoid this brand in the future. I find it a bit crazy how big the differences in the same group size can be.