Optima Battery

[master]

I just checked the Optima website and it doesn't list a battery for my car (2000 Alero) yet it's just a standard GM size and many of you have one installed. What gives? What model is correct and why isn't it listed on the Optima site??

[sunrunner_pei]

The 35/75 is the closest-fitting Red Top. They don't list a battery because none of them are a perfect fit. On the 35/75 it's a bit of a stretch for the factory battery cables. The 34/78 is considerably larger, and it may require som modification to the battery tray to get it to stay in properly.

Here's the thread where I asked the same question 2 years ago. :)
http://www.gaownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=63587&highlight=red+top

[rixGAphx]

There's another factor: Vertical clearance.

One reason that GM went to sidepost batteries was to enable lower hoodlines, by not having 1.5" high topposts that then required an additional 1/2" or so of safe-margin before the steel hood mashed into them.
Fair enough.

But Optima doesn't MAKE true sideposts, they make topposts with an adapter slapped-on to receive sidepost terminals, and they call them 'Dual Posts'.
So they are just as tall as topposts, which is fine in an SUV or Minivan.
But they just *barely* fit under the hood of a '96 GA.
They may not EVEN fit under the slightly-more sloping hood of the Alero; arc-welding of the hood may be the result :eek:

You canNOT gain clearance by just cutting the topposts off a $125 Optima and using the sideposts alone; the battery will no longer work.
Don't ask how I know this :roll: :banghead:

So check the fit of the 35/75 before you shell-out the money.

Good luck,
-Rick

[tenspeed]

I slipped a piece of rubber hose over the top terminals. They never touch any ways.

[sunrunner_pei]

There's another factor: Vertical clearance.

One reason that GM went to sidepost batteries was to enable lower hoodlines, by not having 1.5" high topposts that then required an additional 1/2" or so of safe-margin before the steel hood mashed into them.
Fair enough.

But Optima doesn't MAKE true sideposts, they make topposts with an adapter slapped-on to receive sidepost terminals, and they call them 'Dual Posts'.
So they are just as tall as topposts, which is fine in an SUV or Minivan.
But they just *barely* fit under the hood of a '96 GA.
They may not EVEN fit under the slightly-more sloping hood of the Alero; arc-welding of the hood may be the result :eek:

You canNOT gain clearance by just cutting the topposts off a $125 Optima and using the sideposts alone; the battery will no longer work.
Don't ask how I know this :roll: :banghead:

So check the fit of the 35/75 before you shell-out the money.

Good luck,
-Rick

There is more than enough vertical clearance with the 35/75, even with the SC/T ram air hood.