What Battery is in your 914? Options

[NS914]

Hey Everyone,
I was speaking with Jeff Bowlsby yesterday...a great website by the way for all things electrical...but I am about to buy a battery for my car. Can you speak to what battery (and specific model in the case of Optima etc.) you have chosen for your car and why.

I have heard good and bad about Optima (they are very expensive here in Canada) but I want to get the best for my car. I have not truly confirmed the difference between Yellow and Red either just in case anyone can chime in on that.

In my case, I have relocated the battery to the front of the car and really have no power options to speak of in terms of additional load. Its a '74 1.8 which has since been increased to 2.0 with Weber Carbs (dual 40's)

Much thanks to all of you. I promise to post a video when I get this thing going!!!

Grant

[Tom_T]

Both Optima & Odyssey & Interstate & maybe some other sealed AGM & dry cell lead-acid, Li, etc. would work & preserve the rust-abillity nature of our 914s a bit better than .

Optima Red top is for cars, yellow top is deep cycle for RVs & campers which don't get used often, drain down 90-100% & then need full recharging often.

Some folks like yellow top for that reason if they occasionally drive their 914s/cars .... or guys like SoCalAndy who has everything YELLOW in his 914s! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Note that the new batteries today made by both Optima & Interstate are NOT what the folks above with older batteries were, as they lowered their excellent 8+/- year warranty down to just 2 years a few years ago, with quality lowered as well, after they were both bought out & production moved to ..... wait for it ..... China! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

They're still good batteries, but today you're getting 1/4-1/3 the life, quality & warranty for a very expensive battery, as compared to their originals, IMHO. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I've used their sister Interstate sealed batteries in my `85 BMW 325e E30 with the rear battery in the trunk & requiring more CCA due to the long run to the front engine, & conversely in my `88 Westy under the front seat & conversely long run to the rear engine with good luck for 20+ years, with most lasting 7-10 years.

IIRC they also have a flat-plate AGM version too, so you could use either that or Optima - with the caveat of the new shorter warranty & less quality.

Some folks also like the Exide AGM as well, which may be less costly for you up in Canada.

BTW - I'd still recco an acid neutralizer pad under any battery in a pre-zinc-treated car body.

FYI - Porsche didn't start hot-dip zinc treatment until `76 MY - EXCEPT for 914s, which 76 MY 914s were all built in 1975 & sold as 76 MY thereafter.

PS - my nefarious & as yet untried plan for my 73 2L's resto, is to mount a smaller but same CCA/V/etc. capacity Oddyssey lead-acid dry cell or another Li etc. battery inside a "blank case" for an old school Bosch battery as a "case" - so it looks OE, but runs as new tech - with the added security of the battery case serving as a battery tray/enclosure, such as those used for inside trailer battery installations to contain any leakage. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

Good Luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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