I like East Penn batteries.

https://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/applications/automotive/

I like the yellow top optima. I work for a battery distributor and we sell lots of optimas and see very little trouble. I also like the optima brand charger, I have the small 4.0 amp charger from them and it is great.

I used duralast gold for years and years in everything, before tha Dekka since a local place had them. Before that I ran interstate. Only bad battery I’ve personally had was an Excide. My buddy ran a parts place and I had him listen to it boil one day and he said these are junk and come back all the time I’ll get you another.

Currently running a duralast agm in the daily for the first time. Been over two years. The gold regular ones last exactly five years for me, almost to the month every time.

The 440 car had a junk resto battery in it when I bought it. Got a group 34 Odyssey and it’s flat out impressed me. Been about 2.5 years so far. I just unhook the cable for winter is all. Thing spins over better with some generic rebuilt highland park hummingbird with the weak spring than my last 383 with a mini starter and an optima.

you guys got me thinking about using a group 34, so while i'm not allowed to play in the garage with the new knee i got for Christmas [december 11th, actually] until i finish physical therapy [i start that next tuesday] i'll start battery shopping after resting up from the a$$ kickin' those therapy guys give me.
they worked me over pretty good when i got my new hip last year, so i know what to expect from them !

I've owned a few Interstate batteries, and they always seem to last well.

I agree with Walmart too; never had an issue with them, and they are relatively affordable. Although, prices have seemed to creep up a little in recent years.

The sleeper in the group that I don't hear often mentioned, Rural King Classic. They are often half-price compared to other manufactures. I have three in different cars/trucks right now. The oldest is around 4 years; never given me an issue. I've talked to a few different people, and most have told me that newer batteries will last 5-7 years max now due to all of the good stuff being taken out of them due to EPA regs. So, if no batteries really stand out any longer due to restrictions, do I pay $120 or $60 for a battery that lasts 5-7 years? We'll see if these things make it the full 5-7. Even at 4, I'd be money ahead.

Yup, the tractor-and-feed places apparently didn't get the memo the auto parts stores got about jacking up battery prices.
FWIW, about 15 years ago I had 2 new WalMart (Everstart ?) batteries that were junk: one wouldn't take a charge, and the other one leaked.
The 3rd one was fine, but because the guy in the auto service section told me "no more warranty replacement", I haven't bought one from them since.
I've had good experiences with pretty much every other brand; most go 10 years or longer, and I've replaced a couple at 11 years just from paranoia.

Respectfully, all things considered for what you're doing there isn't going to be any appreciable bag-for-the-buck in a fancy battery. There is plenty of low-hanging fruit in many other areas for relative respectable car performance. If it were me, being I aim to support the financial gains of their family, I'd buy that warrantied walmar...battery and exchange it every 3 years until you bleed them dry.

Can't do that 1 exchange is all you can get not that you'll need it because their batteries last over 10 years.

Oh, if only that were always true. But sadly, it's not always true. We can debate how often that it is true, but I won't start that debate.

That's fair Dave I will change my reply to I've had 5 and they've all lasted over 10 years. This one's from June of 2013

I see a fair amount of batteries that last 8-10 years. It is almost always in something that isn't used often but maintained properly. It most always something simple like an old car or truck or an old tractor. Something that has 0 draw when the key is off and is maintained better than the usual daily driver.

We had a customer come in the other day with 2 group 31 batteries that were 10 years old. He had 1800CCA worth of batteries for a 200HP mechanical injected diesel in a basic truck. Those batteries probably would have failed a test at their rated CCA years ago, but since that engine didn't need anywhere near 1800CCA it just kept going.

Your valve covers look GREAT!

Is that powder coat or paint? I am getting ready to do mine AGAIN. The paint is peeling from the edges and I was considering powder coating this time.

My friend who is a battery salesman told me to buy the heaviest battery in the group size required ,its easy to check weight online in the battery specs.

Dave that's still the paint that they came with.