Battery

This is from Consumer Reports:
The majority of car batteries are created by 3 manufacturers - JCI, East Penn, Exide and Johnson Controls Industries (they bought out Delphi). Delphi makes some EverStart models sold in Walmart and ACDelco. Johnson Control Industries makes Duralast seen in Autozone stores, Diehard - sold in Sears, Kirkland - the Costco brand, Motorcraft - which Ford sells, some of the EverStarts, and Interstate. Exide makes Exide batteries, Champion, Napa and even a % of the EverStart batteries.
 
I was in a battery store getting an oddball battery for an antique motorcycle,and happened to look at the six volt battery selection.They actually had the group 2 batteries in stock.I have not seen those for years,I didn't even think they were still made.They fit the battery box like they are supposed to,and are $8.more than the group 1.The chain stores,Batteries Plus has them.I don't know who really makes them,but they are marketed as Ray-O-Vac.The salesman told me that an old car guy had spotted them,and they have been selling steadily ever since.
 
Feature Article from Hemmings Motor News
July, 2006 - Jim O'Clair

Vehicles that used a version of a Group 1 battery: Buick - 1926-'36; Chandler - 1924-'28; Chevrolet - 1923-'54; Chrysler products - 1942-'55; Crosley - 1939-'52; Ford - 1928-'32; Frazer - 1946-'53; Graham - 1932-'34; Hudson - 1930-'33; Kaiser - 1947-'55; Nash - 1931-'53; Oldsmobile - 1921-'50; Pontiac - 1926-'36; Studebaker - 1932-'55; Willys - 1937-'57.

Vehicles that originally used a version of a Group 2 battery (variations from the standard Group 2 listed in parentheses): Buick - 1925-'37; Cadillac - 1931-'52; Chandler - 1927-'28; Chevrolet - 1937-'39; Chrysler products - 1942-'55; Ford - 1933-'39 (2L); Ford - 1940-'53 (2H); Graham - 1932-'34; Hudson - 1918-'33; Hudson - 1934-'54 (2L); La Salle - 1927-'40; Lincoln - 1940-'51 (2H); Mercury - 1939-'53 (2L); Mercury - 1954-'55 (2N); Oldsmobile - 1935-'52; Packard - 1921-'50; Packard - 1951-'54 (2L); Pontiac - 1932-'37.

As the demand for 6-volt batteries waned in the 1970s, eventually many suppliers made the decision to offer only Group 1 batteries to replace both units. This occurred because enough amps could be put into a modern Group 1 battery to sufficiently power vehicles that originally used the larger Group 2 type, and because there was a much larger need for the Group 1 battery, which was used extensively in 6-volt tractor applications and dual-battery 12-volt applications. A modern Group 1 battery contains over 600 cold cranking amps and is more than enough to power any early 6-volt system.

http://www.hemmings.com/hmn/stories/2006/07/01/hmn_feature34.html
 
Another option to consider is Optima.I have there model #6V 800cca in my 30 tudor.Bought it last summer,due to the harsh winter we had here in Pa.I did not drive my A from November till yesterday.The first thing I did before starting the car was blow the horn and it sounded the same as if the car was running.She fired on the second revolution.I'm sold,no more battery tenders.
 
My only reason for liking the group 2 for the A is the fact that it slides down into the box with no room to wiggle around.The original corner hold downs fit it nicely too.I am always nervous about the group 1 wiggling around under the later style hold downs and shorting against a terminal.I have wooden blocks that fit in the corners of the box to prevent that from happening on mine.With the batteries of today I see no problem with the group 1 CCA's.If you can't start your car on what is in that battery you should have quit churning long before and looked for the problem.There is a substantial difference in CCA's between the group 1 and 2 I looked at,but to me it is meaningless.I did spot one mistake in the Hemmings article,it shows group 1 for Studebaker up to 55.I have a 54 with a V8 and both the shop manual and owners manual specify group 2.I bought one of the group 2's for that,and am glad I did.It fits the box tightly,and best of all the factory hold down is a perfect fit.Before I had to shim it to keep the battery from sliding back and forth.I personally think an Optima and an EVR is the ideal way to go,but I have cars that I will park for 10 years at a time so a long life expensive battery is wasted on me.
 
ALSO, don't just go to the parts store and ask for a certain length battery cable. You will, probably, get 12V cables, which are not heavy enough for 6V.
MIKE :)
 
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