PhilJ 10 Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Hope some of you techie types can help me. I want a new replacement battery for a 1969 Mach I, 351 4bl. Want to have "original" look and as high a cold crank amp battery as I can get. Any suggestions? Have any of you gone with the Autolite "cover" over another battery - what battery? I've found that "size" does matter!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dennyb68 11 Report post Posted March 23, 2009 Use the cover on a group 24 battery Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
69RavenConv 286 Report post Posted March 24, 2009 Yeah, buy the most CCA (cold cranking amps) you can afford in a group 24 case. Something around 500-600 CCA is more than adequate for a stock small block. Actually, I think it might be group 24F as the Fords had the + and - terminals reversed but either one will work. I think the original factory batteries were rated at something like 330 CCA or something pitiful like that. Technology marches on... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bnickel 10,004 Report post Posted March 30, 2009 if you're going to use the autolite top you'll need to take it with you when looking for a battery as it won't fit all batteries. i've always liked interstate batteries myself and i'm fairly certain the autolite top will fit them pretty well. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Flanders 46 Report post Posted July 12, 2012 old thread, but same topic -- I need a new battery. I know the battery tray is sized for a group 24 battery, but is there a AGM battery that's group24? I can't seem to find an Optima one in this size. My 'old' battery is 4 years old, and after pulling it out of my basement yesterday, I found a nice puddle underneath it (on the plastic shelf). Doh! I'm leaning towards a AGM battery just so I don't have to think about a leaky battery in my new battery tray :) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
69gmachine 15 Report post Posted July 12, 2012 The red top Optima fits just fine. Although I had mine mounted in the trunk, I used the orginal top clamp to hold it down. I just replaced it with a regular battery. I had left the trunk open and the trunk light drained it. It was so bright outside I didn't notice the light was on and went off to work. When I got home it was dead as a doornail. The Optima was about $200, whereas a regular group 24 was only $100, so I went the cheap way out this time. I got a HD "Gold top" (Advance Auto brand) with 800 CCA. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
