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Posted by: wackii Sep 18 2018, 02:08 PM

does anyone know the correct optima battery for 73 2.0 914 thanks Wac
or does anyone know if the odyssey pc1200 fit?

Posted by: mepstein Sep 18 2018, 03:11 PM

34 or 34-R. Can't remember which.

Posted by: VaccaRabite Sep 18 2018, 05:41 PM

Don’t buy an Optima. They suck these days.
If you want a gel cell batter get an Odessey battery. Stay away from the Red Top.

Posted by: wackii Sep 18 2018, 05:46 PM

I've been checking Oyyessey pc680,925, or1200 do you know which one fits best thanks

Posted by: don-6 Sep 18 2018, 05:47 PM

I use the Red Top 35.
I got twelve years out of the last one. Installed in 2006, and just replaced this past weekend.

Posted by: tomeric914 Sep 18 2018, 05:55 PM

Group 35 is what I used, probably because they didn't offer a 34R 10 years ago or possibly because the 34 was just a tad too long to fit the battery tray. Edit: just checked, the 42 size battery is 9-1/2" long. That's why I went with the 35.

WOW those are expensive today. I paid $140 back in 2008 for my Optima.

If you get a red top Optima, be sure to get a Battery Tender specific for AGM batteries to keep it charged if you don't drive it every day.

Posted by: wackii Sep 18 2018, 06:02 PM

does it fit without any mods thanks Wac

Posted by: don-6 Sep 18 2018, 06:12 PM

No mods required.
In the picture you can see the battery hold down bracket.
The 35 has plenty of cranking amps to turn over my 3.2 engine.

Posted by: somd914 Sep 18 2018, 06:37 PM

Concur with VaccaRabite. Though they won't fit as per factory but not difficult to fashion a bracket or chose from an assortment of brackets out there. If you shop around you'll find they are less expensive than Optimas, weigh much less, and last longer. Amazon Prime member? They have the best deal I've seen lately and free shipping with Prime.

BTW I run a 925 in the 911 and moving the 914 to the same.

Posted by: pete000 Sep 18 2018, 06:53 PM

Been using the Optima red top 35 in both my 914s for years. I also use the Optima battery charger conditioner. As long as you keep them charged they work fine. If you run them down it usually takes the Optima charger to bring them back. Lots of discussions on this on the internet...

Posted by: Ansbacher Sep 18 2018, 07:19 PM

Mount it sideways and you will NEVER have a clearance problem closing the engine lid.

Ansbacher

Posted by: petza914 Sep 18 2018, 11:00 PM

If the positive terminal is as close to the metal battery pan as the negative one shown, that's not a good setup (can't see under the white cover). Also, how is the battery secured in that fashion to not slide back and forth in the pan?

As far as Optima longevity, I have one in each of my 997s, in my 928, in my 914, and in my DD pickup. The one in my 914 has been in there since 2000, yup, 18 years. Granted it isn't driven all that often and is always connected to a Battery Tender charger/maintainer, but that's still a remarkably long time for any battery. The one in my silver 997 has been in there since 2013, as has the one in the pink 997, and the one in my truck even longer. Even run the Blue Tops in the boat.

For the Cayenne, because it takes a much larger battery, I went with a Napa Gold AGM. I'll never buy another lead acid battery again.

Here's the setup in the 914

Posted by: euro911 Sep 19 2018, 12:43 AM

I am also a fan of the Odyssey PC925. Bought one for the 'BB' (2056 w/ 9.5:1 C/R) back in 2012. It's a little smaller than a 'normal' size 914 battery, so you'll need to fab a bracket to secure it (easy task).

I took the car off the road mid-2015 and the battery sat on a shelf for 3 years. In mid-2018, I charged it up with a 1.25 amp Battery Tender for a few days and reinstalled it in the car. It cranked over the motor just fine.

If you buy a PC925, don't forget to order the SAE terminal kit so your OEM battery terminal clamps will still work.

Posted by: michael7810 Sep 19 2018, 05:33 AM

This is the Odyssey I installed using PMS’s adapter bracket

Posted by: Bartlett 914 Sep 19 2018, 07:22 AM

These really don't like deep discharging

Posted by: mepstein Sep 19 2018, 07:34 AM

Or fast charging. That will kill them quickly.

Posted by: wackii Sep 22 2018, 06:46 PM

Thanks to everyone who helped me out. I went with the optima 35, mostly for convenience and I got $50 off by purchasing online from advanced auto.Fit perfect lots of cranking power (now I only have to keep it alive)!


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Posted by: mepstein Sep 22 2018, 07:55 PM

I use a battery tender junior. $25 and works great with the optima. Mine is going on 7 years.

Posted by: petza914 Sep 22 2018, 08:07 PM

Wouldn't you know it... the Optima in my 914 crapped out today. Totally normal on the first 2 starts then exhibit failed battery characteristics on the 3rd one - low voltage (9.5), no juice, blinking radio lights, etc. Used jumper cables to start it and drive home - alternator showing fine voltage - tried to restart it once I pulled into the garage, and nothing.

I was also wrong about the date as I could see the label once I removed the battery. It didn't last 17 years. Was installed 09/2005 so only made it 13 years. I ordered a Yellow top version tonight, which didn't exist last time I bought one, and will replace it tomorrow.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Sep 23 2018, 10:05 AM

We have run Optima batteries in every one of our vehicles for years. Betty's car had an Orange top one, which was just the red top with the posts reversed. It lasted 16 years. When it died, I went to buy another one. They stopped making them. The guy told me "just put the red top in backward". He didn't get that it wouldn't match the paint on the car.

Funny thing is, everything I own uses the exact same battery now. And I wouldn't buy anything else.

Posted by: Larmo63 Sep 23 2018, 11:16 AM

I have had good experiences with Optima batteries. The one that I put in Underdog was a little narrower than the stock og battery.

Posted by: JamesM Sep 23 2018, 11:29 AM

ill 3rd this statement. Optimas WERE good but that was over 10 years ago. Older ones lasted forever. First on I had came in a used car I picked up, I moved it between multiple cars and it lived for 12 years. Seemed like a good investment so i bought a 2nd (post 2005) and it died in 2 years. Switched to Odysseys, haven't had one go bad on me yet. I have both a 925 and a 680 in 914s both using Rennline mounting kits

http://www.rennline.com/Rennline-Battery-Mount-Kit-Odyssey-925-Porsche/productinfo/EL30.35/

http://www.rennline.com/Rennline-Battery-Mount-Kit-Odyssey-680-Porsche/productinfo/EL36.37/

Added bonus, they are way easier to get in and out of the car due to the size and weight. Always worried I would bang up the paint getting the optima in and out of the engine bay, pretty sure I could get the odyssey in with one hand if i needed to.

Posted by: petza914 Sep 23 2018, 11:58 AM

New Optima Yellow top is on the bench getting a full charge before installation later today.

Posted by: jim_hoyland Sep 23 2018, 12:33 PM

Is the 680 considered good for a 914-4 in terms of CCA ?


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Posted by: napasteve Sep 23 2018, 07:05 PM

I've only had the Optima for 2 years. No complaints. Note the battery cutoff switch I fabbed. It reduces stress about electrical greblins working while parked in the garage and provides a small measure of thief deterrence.

Posted by: VaccaRabite Sep 23 2018, 07:17 PM

Yes. Several people have run them both in the 914 and 911 world.

Plenty of cold crank amps, but not a lot of time on the clock if the alternator dies.

Zach

Posted by: orthobiz Sep 23 2018, 07:23 PM

I have good luck with the Optimas over 10 years now. I have new ones that haven't crapped out yet. My original was made in USA and maybe the newer ones are from Mexico? Maybe the country of manufacture for this part makes a difference...

Paul