I just received my Optima red top with reverse posts today and installed it using a one inch thick plywood to raise it up a little bit. This battery really cranks. I'll replace the wood with plexiglass when I return from being underway on friday. The cables reaches the posts just fine. I didn't have to extend them at all but I have to bend the metal retainer a little bit to clamp the battery in place. Here are some pics.







George

 

Looks great! I'm going with Optima soon. Where did you buy yours?

Thanks for the post!

 

I have not kept current with this type of install.
Did the reverse posts keep you from having to extend the cables? If so, what model number did you order, and though who to get the reverse posts?
Thanks

 

I think this guy usually has the reversed post Optimas for sale. Includes free shipping too.

Clicky

Hope this helps.


Mick

 

Glad you like it, I sure do like mine. You know what you can get to raise it up is the spacer tray made by optima. It hooks right so you wont have to worry about the battery coming loose from the spacer.

I bought mine at http://www.batteriesplus.com/ they were the only ones in San Diego that had it in stock. Pepboys and Autozone were useless. They had the regular Red Top but not the one with reversed poles. I asked them about ordering me the 34R and they pretty much didnt want to go through the trouble.

 

Nolan is right! All you have to do is ask for the spacer!

 

I had such a hassle installing my red top. First had to order the reverse top; and for some reason in my 97 the Optima spacer was tooo tall, or too short (when you broke it down). I used poly, no movement yet.

 

For a stock application, is it good to go to an optima when your current battery dies, or is just for application with a lot of power drawing accessories?

 

Not trying to steal thread:
Is a stock battery strong enough to run a warn M8000
(need excuse to buy optima) be honest.

 

FWIW - My local SAMS carries Red, Blue and Yellow Optima's

Red tops are 101.00 installed.

 

Why go red top instead of yellow top? I keep seeing yellow recommended for audio stuff cause of the amp draw. Using a winch would have the same effect as a big sub on the battery right? or am I missing something?

 

Well the reverse pole red used to be orange, Now look for the model you want with an "R" at the end.

Finally, a type R battery

 

Yellows like to be drained quite a bit, and then re-charge. Quick drains and short trips to the mall are the yellow's worst enemy. It's made for heavy use. The advantage is that the yellow can drain and be recharged without any significant loss of longevity.

The red is made for short, quick drains and quick re-charges. Also, I do believe it has a few more cranking amps.

BTW, my yellow was a BIT** to install! I didn't get the reversed terminals, so I had to stretch every centimeter out of the stock wiring to get it to fit. THEN, I had to buy a silly looking aftermarket battery hold down, and screw that down all ghetto looking.

 

You can get the yellow top with reverse posts now too. Part number is 51R.

George

 

That's where I got mine. It arrived after 4 days.

George

 

Whats the deal with "reversed post"?

 

it just switches what side the post are on. in our yotas we need the positive post on the right side and the negative on the left

 

The battery posts location/orientation are the same as the OEM batteries hence no need of extending the cables to reach the posts. Hope this helps.

George

 

That is the first I have heard of that, where can you get those?

 

So for everyday driving and an occasional winching, a red top is better?