Ponies on The Run!
GTR Member
Joined: January 26, 2006
Posts: 4,639
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From: Central Florida
Jackie (photolabgirl77) was talking to me about Optima batteries and I remembered I had a brand new one in my garage that I originally bought for the '89. I found out I needed top- and side-posts for the '89, so I bought another one and kept the top-post one for the Ranger down the road.
When my car sits for a week, the battery is dead, so I thought I would see if it would fit. She said that the one they had made the hood bulge, but the one I had fit in perfectly. The posts are not in the exact place, but they still work great. The only thing I did was slightly bend the NEGATIVE cable down because it came off the post and curved upward on the stock battery.
My stock battery had 500 Cold Cranking Amps (the smaller of the factory batteries because I don't have AAT). This Optima Battery is part number 8002-002 Red 34 and has 800 Cold Cranking Amps, and 1000 Cranking Amps. In case anybody doesn't know, the starter will only take what it needs to start the car, so these higher numbers are basically what it can handle, not what it gives out.
Attachment 17917 Attachment 17918 About the same size, but you can see the posts are inset (lower) on the stock battery. This is why I bent the nagative cable slightly. I don't think I had to, but it actually looks better, too.
Attachment 17919 Hood without any battery installed in the car.
Attachment 17920 Hood with the new battery installed.
Attachment 17921 I slid the battery toward the center of the car as far as it would go. There are removable tabs that you can remove for a physically bigger battery, but I left them in. Sliding it over toward the center of the car actually centers the strap on the battery and it tightens down more on this battery than on the factory one. You can even still use the insulation wrap around the battery.
When my car sits for a week, the battery is dead, so I thought I would see if it would fit. She said that the one they had made the hood bulge, but the one I had fit in perfectly. The posts are not in the exact place, but they still work great. The only thing I did was slightly bend the NEGATIVE cable down because it came off the post and curved upward on the stock battery.
My stock battery had 500 Cold Cranking Amps (the smaller of the factory batteries because I don't have AAT). This Optima Battery is part number 8002-002 Red 34 and has 800 Cold Cranking Amps, and 1000 Cranking Amps. In case anybody doesn't know, the starter will only take what it needs to start the car, so these higher numbers are basically what it can handle, not what it gives out.
Attachment 17917 Attachment 17918 About the same size, but you can see the posts are inset (lower) on the stock battery. This is why I bent the nagative cable slightly. I don't think I had to, but it actually looks better, too.
Attachment 17919 Hood without any battery installed in the car.
Attachment 17920 Hood with the new battery installed.
Attachment 17921 I slid the battery toward the center of the car as far as it would go. There are removable tabs that you can remove for a physically bigger battery, but I left them in. Sliding it over toward the center of the car actually centers the strap on the battery and it tightens down more on this battery than on the factory one. You can even still use the insulation wrap around the battery.
Bullitt Member
Joined: August 9, 2004
Posts: 457
Likes: 0
From: Central West Coast, Florida
Jackie (photolabgirl77) was talking to me about Optima batteries and I remembered I had a brand new one in my garage that I originally bought for the '89. I found out I needed top- and side-posts for the '89, so I bought another one and kept the top-post one for the Ranger down the road.
When my car sits for a week, the battery is dead, so I thought I would see if it would fit. She said that the one they had made the hood bulge, but the one I had fit in perfectly. The posts are not in the exact place, but they still work great. The only thing I did was slightly bend the NEGATIVE cable down because it came off the post and curved upward on the stock battery.
My stock battery had 500 Cold Cranking Amps (the smaller of the factory batteries because I don't have AAT). This Optima Battery is part number 8002-002 Red 34 and has 800 Cold Cranking Amps, and 1000 Cranking Amps. In case anybody doesn't know, the starter will only take what it needs to start the car, so these higher numbers are basically what it can handle, not what it gives out.
Attachment 17917 Attachment 17918 About the same size, but you can see the posts are inset (lower) on the stock battery. This is why I bent the nagative cable slightly. I don't think I had to, but it actually looks better, too.
Attachment 17919 Hood without any battery installed in the car.
Attachment 17920 Hood with the new battery installed.
Attachment 17921 I slid the battery toward the center of the car as far as it would go. There are removable tabs that you can remove for a physically bigger battery, but I left them in. Sliding it over toward the center of the car actually centers the strap on the battery and it tightens down more on this battery than on the factory one. You can even still use the insulation wrap around the battery.
When my car sits for a week, the battery is dead, so I thought I would see if it would fit. She said that the one they had made the hood bulge, but the one I had fit in perfectly. The posts are not in the exact place, but they still work great. The only thing I did was slightly bend the NEGATIVE cable down because it came off the post and curved upward on the stock battery.
My stock battery had 500 Cold Cranking Amps (the smaller of the factory batteries because I don't have AAT). This Optima Battery is part number 8002-002 Red 34 and has 800 Cold Cranking Amps, and 1000 Cranking Amps. In case anybody doesn't know, the starter will only take what it needs to start the car, so these higher numbers are basically what it can handle, not what it gives out.
Attachment 17917 Attachment 17918 About the same size, but you can see the posts are inset (lower) on the stock battery. This is why I bent the nagative cable slightly. I don't think I had to, but it actually looks better, too.
Attachment 17919 Hood without any battery installed in the car.
Attachment 17920 Hood with the new battery installed.
Attachment 17921 I slid the battery toward the center of the car as far as it would go. There are removable tabs that you can remove for a physically bigger battery, but I left them in. Sliding it over toward the center of the car actually centers the strap on the battery and it tightens down more on this battery than on the factory one. You can even still use the insulation wrap around the battery.
and they only carried 2 kinds of Optima batteries there. 
GTR Member
Joined: January 26, 2006
Posts: 4,639
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
http://www.batteriesareus.com/index....products_id=28
That's a good price... just verify it is the 8002-002 Red Top 34 and it should be the same as mine. I don't know what the 800S/850S is.
Mach 1 Member
Joined: June 16, 2006
Posts: 628
Likes: 0
Sorry, I am a little behind on this thread, but those talking about emblems, should take a look at these from think3d.biz...
The person making these with the chevron is about 3 weeks away from being done with his prototype. I plan on running these on my GO..
The person making these with the chevron is about 3 weeks away from being done with his prototype. I plan on running these on my GO..
Guys, I'm back from Mexico! I was sick for 1 day, but still had a great time. 
Legacy TMS Member
Joined: May 24, 2006
Posts: 7,409
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Thanks.
BACK.
Team Mustang Source
Joined: September 14, 2005
Posts: 3,477
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
I think I caught my cold/flu/fever (whatever it is I have) from my kid or someone at work. The virus was coarsing through my veins before even I step foot on the ship, it was a matter of inconvenient timing.
And no, didn't eat or drink anything while in Mex. Only booze I had was a Mango Margarita and a Corona w/lime.
As a side note, I saw no 05+ Mustangs on the streets of Ensenada during my visit there. Saw a couple, but they were beaters... definitely not show quality.
When my car sits for a week, the battery is dead, so I thought I would see if it would fit. She said that the one they had made the hood bulge, but the one I had fit in perfectly. The posts are not in the exact place, but they still work great. The only thing I did was slightly bend the NEGATIVE cable down because it came off the post and curved upward on the stock battery.
It doesn't look like Optima makes a Red or Yellow with the same post configuration as the stock battery... you figured they would.
Any close-up pics of how you modified the NEG cable?
GTR Member
Joined: January 26, 2006
Posts: 4,639
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
The Red Top looks really good in the engine bay!
Thanks... I've read that the Red Tops are the way to go over the Yellow Tops because of something, but I can't remember. Are you sure it doesn't stand out too much in the bay? Nothing else is red!
It doesn't look like Optima makes a Red or Yellow with the same post configuration as the stock battery... you figured they would.
The cables went to the posts just fine. Looking at the two batteries, you wouldn't think they would, but they did.
Any close-up pics of how you modified the NEG cable?
All I did was bend the cable so it layed down more. After I tightened the terminal on the post, I just pushed it down with my hand. It looks better this way and doesn't go up into the hood:
Attachment 18020
Thanks... I've read that the Red Tops are the way to go over the Yellow Tops because of something, but I can't remember. Are you sure it doesn't stand out too much in the bay? Nothing else is red!
It doesn't look like Optima makes a Red or Yellow with the same post configuration as the stock battery... you figured they would.
The cables went to the posts just fine. Looking at the two batteries, you wouldn't think they would, but they did.
Any close-up pics of how you modified the NEG cable?
All I did was bend the cable so it layed down more. After I tightened the terminal on the post, I just pushed it down with my hand. It looks better this way and doesn't go up into the hood:
Attachment 18020
The Red Top looks really good in the engine bay!
Thanks... I've read that the Red Tops are the way to go over the Yellow Tops because of something, but I can't remember. Are you sure it doesn't stand out too much in the bay? Nothing else is red!
I think it goes with the whole Crimson theme, just on a smaller scale.
For my car, I'd get the Red Top for obvious reasons!
Any close-up pics of how you modified the NEG cable?
All I did was bend the cable so it layed down more. After I tightened the terminal on the post, I just pushed it down with my hand. It looks better this way and doesn't go up into the hood:
I see.
It looks good and either cable don't appear to be over-stretched.
What do you think about those 12V LED readouts that some guys install inline with the positive cable? Too rice or nice?
Thanks... I've read that the Red Tops are the way to go over the Yellow Tops because of something, but I can't remember. Are you sure it doesn't stand out too much in the bay? Nothing else is red!
I think it goes with the whole Crimson theme, just on a smaller scale.
For my car, I'd get the Red Top for obvious reasons!
Any close-up pics of how you modified the NEG cable?
All I did was bend the cable so it layed down more. After I tightened the terminal on the post, I just pushed it down with my hand. It looks better this way and doesn't go up into the hood:
I see.
It looks good and either cable don't appear to be over-stretched.
What do you think about those 12V LED readouts that some guys install inline with the positive cable? Too rice or nice?
GTR Member
Joined: January 26, 2006
Posts: 4,639
Likes: 0
From: Central Florida
Any close-up pics of how you modified the NEG cable?
All I did was bend the cable so it layed down more. After I tightened the terminal on the post, I just pushed it down with my hand. It looks better this way and doesn't go up into the hood:
I see.
It looks good and either cable don't appear to be over-stretched.
What do you think about those 12V LED readouts that some guys install inline with the positive cable? Too rice or nice?
Not rice, but I don't think I would like it.
Hey! I'm online at work!
All I did was bend the cable so it layed down more. After I tightened the terminal on the post, I just pushed it down with my hand. It looks better this way and doesn't go up into the hood:
I see.
It looks good and either cable don't appear to be over-stretched.
What do you think about those 12V LED readouts that some guys install inline with the positive cable? Too rice or nice?
Not rice, but I don't think I would like it.
Hey! I'm online at work!
Team Mustang Source
Joined: September 14, 2005
Posts: 3,477
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Where I work now...The monitor the heck out of it and only certain people gain outside-company access. So I have to be picky how much I surf. I'd go nuts if I had to not have 'net access.... What else am I supposed to do while I'm at work ?
