[N0DIH]

I remember talking to my neighbor years ago who was a GM instructor at the tech school in STL and he was a big proponent of Delco batteries. As you look at a Delco battery and it is not "rated" the same as a competetive battery, he noted that it is in how it is tested. Sure, the comp claim a 1000amps, and the similar size AC Delco is 750amps. But that is 750amps at the cold temp, not 1000 amps at a warm temp. Often at the low temp the AC Delco is rated at the so called bigger battery doesn't cut the mustard. My 94 Cadillac has an AC Delco in it now and it is going to stay that way. My 91 Bonneville went 7 years on the OEM Delco battery. And the only problem was it was losing its reserve, but it still would start the car on a cold day, but leave the radio on for 30 min and it was dead.

Delco batteries are the ONLY batteries you'll NEVER see me buying. Not because they aren't a good battery but because they are not servicable, nor do they allow for independent cell testing. And as for that cute little "eye" that Delco says is a good indicator for letting you know the condition of the battery, I'll debate that with any Delco rep, anyday.

We have a big battery charger, and it has the option to quick charge a battery from empty to full in 1 hour! I have read numerous times that it is good to just slowly "trickle charge" any automotive battery.

My old boss who studied lead acid batteries in school said lead acids need a dirty cheap charger, the uglier the output the better, as it knock off the sulphur deposits in the charging process and prolongs the life of the battery. And do not deep cycle it! As the sulphur deposits build a lot when that happens.

 

[N0DIH]

Just surfing around on a holiday weekend before I go out to work on the brakes (gotta turn my drums on the FW).

Couldn't resist digging up some olds ones!

I did missread it that you won't buy one. I would prefer a open cell batt myself (I have recovered batteries with some distilled water and saved me the headache, not to mention protecting the environment by not dumping more lead off to be recycled, keep it in use), but with the long life on the couple AC Delco's I have had, they do seem to be good batteries. I think the Autozone ones suck, they don't last in my experience. My last AC Delco (other than was came in my 94 FWB) was in the mid to late 90's.

In the Army we used to rebuild them overseas, but in the US they all were farmed out to Exide.

I think you missed the point where I said they WERE good batteries.
Besides, why are you dredging up a thread that's over 2 years old?

 

[N0DIH]

I have been wondering if the costs are worth it on the Optima. I have been wanting to mount mine upside down under my trunk in my 94 Fleetwood.

If you have ever driven a car that used to have a front mount battery and made it a rear, you would LOVE it. It is so nice to have more balance in the car!