[00 SS]

I'm thinking getting an Optima red top but was wondering what else might be a good choice. The car is mostly autox (ESP now but maybe FS next year) these days but does still see some street duty. Any other suggestions besides Optima?

[00 SS]

The original Delco is leaking. I'm not saying anything bad about it, it lasted over 7 years. However, I like the idea of a battery that can't leak. I've had optimas and the exide (spiral style) in other vehicles in the past and both were excellent batteries. If I remember right, the optima lasted longer. Both were in 4x4's with electric winches.

I thought about the Hawker, but if the SS gets moved to FS next year, I think I will put it back to stock and the Hawker would not be legal.

The optima now has a 7 year warranty with 3 year free replacement. I think that's what I'm going to get.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[CrashTestDummy]

<SNIP>
I thought about the Hawker, but if the SS gets moved to FS next year, I think I will put it back to stock and the Hawker would not be legal.

<SNIP>

It's not? Isn't it a normal wear item? If this is true, I didn't know that. Of course, it has been a while since I have run stock, but seem to remember some of the stock Honduhs in our region with those tiny little batteries installed.

Battery Tenders are great! I have our 95 SS with it's red-top Optima hooked up to one. The car gets out of the garage maybe once a quarter. When I want to go, I simply unplug the Battery Tender and fire it up and get on the road. I'll soon be getting a 4-port Tender so I can hook the Firebird up and have it on the 'mind' between events.

The Optima in the SS is over 3 years old now, and still going strong. On little-used cars, I would only get about 3 years max out of an optima. I installed the optima because the Delco I replaced it with leaked, as they all seem to do. I'll probably replace the little battery in the SVO with a Hawker when it gives up. I already have acid burns on the hood latch cable.

[pknowles]

<SNIP>
I thought about the Hawker, but if the SS gets moved to FS next year, I think I will put it back to stock and the Hawker would not be legal.

<SNIP>

It's not? Isn't it a normal wear item? If this is true, I didn't know that. Of course, it has been a while since I have run stock, but seem to remember some of the stock Honduhs in our region with those tiny little batteries installed.

The few opening paragraphs on stock class in the rule book list common replacement parts (battery being one of them) and say it must be similar to the original part and provide no performance benefit. So lightweight batteries are not allowed in stock class.