VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 6 Volt Battery Recommendations

I put a Sears 6 volt battery in my 32 coupe a few years ago and it just bit the dust. I do not drive the car much right now but I do have a battery tender on it and keep the ground terminal off when storing. Does anyone have a suggestion for a brand of battery that they have had success with??

I use the Optima. A little expensive, but It spins It like a 12 volt. If you use a battery tender be sure It is for a Gel type battery (Optima).
Richard

I have an Interstate that I am happy with.

Will a group 2 battery fit in the 32?

I have used the 6 volt Optima with good results. Currently I have a standard old wet battery in my '30 that I got at Advance Auto Parts, the only place in town that had a 6 volt on the shelf. Good performance so far, but less than a year on it.

Do you have a Tractor Supply Company store close by...They usually have 6 volt batteries on the shelf...ready to go..

Hello' There are several members on this site that have used TSC batteries they should last 4 to 5 years.

I have received 5-7 years out of TSC batteries in the past. Just had to replace one put into service in 2004. Sure wish it had lasted a bit longer. Still put out 6 volts but cell efficiency decreased to the point it would not spin starter fast enough on recently rebuilt engine. Test horns and other stuff on it still.

I have also used TSC and get the same results-5-6 years and do not use a tender. I put my cars away in November and start them up in April without boosting. It is taking a little longer to start because of the quality of gas but both my cars (32 and 51)have done so for the last ten years.Not sure what the price is but will find out tomorrow as I,m on the 6th year with one and will be taking it on a tour in Sept. I prefer to change it in my garage rather than on the road.

I am using a John Deere wet battery. It's three years old and is working great.

I have had a battery from Tractor Supply in my '34 for two years. Today I installed an Optima battery. All I can say is WOW! It now turns over as well as when I jumped the other battery with a 12 volt before. I bought it off Amazon.com with free shipping. Saved about $50 over most other prices.

If your battery was only two years old and in good condition there should be no reason to jump it with 12 volts.

Yes there was a reason. The engine was extremely tight and wouldn't begin to turn over since it sat for almost 20 years after being rebuilt. You can find the process I went through to finally get it to start in another thread. As it has slowly loosened up it now will start with the two year old battery but still turns over slowly. When hot, there are times when it just won't turn over enough to start. This, I'm told is due to the engine still a bit tight. With the 12v battery jump, it has always started in just a second. And yes, everything else is fine, including the starter which has been gone through. I'm sure, as I drive it more, this problem will improve. But I chose to get the Optima, based on recommendations here in other threads, and from some locals - all who have high praise, and no starting problems with this battery.

I get mine from Fleet Farm, a standard 6volt tractor battery works great, has great cranking in both cold and hot and works great all around.

Its always good to get the whole story. I recently had a similar problem as I was overheating (red zone) with my 32 and it did crank slow but still started with my 5 year old battery. Hopefully the overheating problem is solved, but I did swap out the battery with one that is only two years old. My engine has about 2000 miles since rebuild so it should be pretty well loosened up. I do appreciate the good review of the Optima battery and will certainly check it out further when I'm in need of my next 6 volt.

Optima Battery....My opinion best thing since sliced bread.
And you do not get all of them acid fumes trying to eat your car up.
You can put them in upside down if you want.....I had mine 2+ years now and getting stuck out somewhere with a dead battery is out of my mind now....ED

Presume you never open your hood where anybody can see with something like that in there. UGH!!!!

Your right, it certainly don't look vintage...It looks like it came out of a space ship....However my car is a 38 Chevy Master Coupe and the battery is under a steel panel under the floor mat on the passenger's side and cant be seen. The battery is surprisingly very light weight and can be carried easily with one hand without a battery strap.......ED

Thanks for the clarification, Ed. Good to know it works great for you - and - can't be seen.

Bill.

From what i remember Optima made a disguising box or top which looked 6 volt Vintage that the optima battery fits into.