Looking to maybe pick one up in Carlisle, who/what type should I be looking for? TIA

There are only two companies that make them, and Antique Auto Battery is the best, but they only build them when one is ordered, so I doubt you will find one at Carlisle. You might try to see if they will have a tent at Carlisle, and take one to pick up.

If your looking for maintenance free repro (no acid/water to add=leak)

I've had battery's from Antique and also the member that was selling here. Can't think of his name at the moment. Neither lasted more that a few years, and that's being kept on a maintainer all the time. Neither warranted their product.

I see the battery above has a 4 year warranty, that might be a good one.

Antique Auto Battery specifically states not to use a battery maintainer and should only be charged at 10 amps. I have 2 from them, a yellow cap that will be 7 years old in August and a red cap that will be 6 years old in October.

There is one charger that Antique Auto Battery said will work. It is made by Odyssey, and Antique sells them. They said that it is the only one that they have found that works.

That was Fred Gilmore, IIRC he sold the AGM Turbo Start line of repro batteries



I had the Antique line of acid/water fill batteries, they last anywhere from a year or two, your lucky to get 3-4 yrs tops, plus they eventually make a mess in the battery tray, or leak and engine fan spray makes a fine job of dispersing acid everywhere underhood....DAMHIK

I've had more luck with the AGM/no maintenance repros getting upwards of 11-12 yrs out of them, the AGM's require their own charger, but I've never required a charger with the AGM's over the years if the vehicles are driven "often"

Mike

Can any of our electronics type members offer up a suggestion as to why this might be. Or is it that Antique happens to sell This charger.

The last tar top lead acid battery lasted a good 12 years. Always disconnected when car was parked for longer periods, often used a maintenance charger.

I do have an Antique battery in our 300 B that cost a ransom and would hope to have it last. Currrntly have both an Optima charger and a Save-a-Battery for maintenance charging. Have a Schumacher for heavy duty 25 plus amp charging. .

Antique Auto is not the only place that charger can be found. Their on eBay and other places. Antique was out when I bought one, so I just shopped around for that model. The guts of one of their batteries is made by Odyssey so maybe Odyssey knows what's needed to make a charger. I don't really know.

The "feedback" from the AGM bAttery is different from the normal flooded lead acid battery making it more difficult to detect. The standard chargers cannot detect this and never receive a charged signal so they keep charging at a full 14.4V instead of switching to a "float" mode to properly maintain but not overcharg the battery. The more advanced chargers can detect the AGM signal and maintain properly. If used on occasion the AGM battery generally does not require any charger.

AGM batteries are great, and they can sit longer than a lead acid without needing a charger.

I feel the same as dayclona on the repo lead acid batteries, paint eaters and they don't last.

I find the opposite to be true, and manufactures for new cars with AGM tell you to disconnect them if car will sit for 2 weeks or so.

The Lead Acid Interstate in my 70 RR never needs a charge and works great. The AGM and Resto battery, will not hold charges if left too long, especially with a small drain, like a clock.

I believe even Modern Optima techs state occasional recharge with correct charger required.

just spoke to Tom at Restoration Battery, he's not even taking orders he's so backed up, he said to check at Carlisle, as far as AGM's, he said only 1 company in the country is producing them and has not and does not seem interested in ramping up production to meet demand...thanks for the replies

I got sick of the last 2 I purchased only lasting 2 years or so. Seems like they are all on back order or discontinued everywhere now & I needed another one again this year. I gutted one of my dead batteries & installed a lightweight racing battery inside. Cranks over faster than ever now.

Looks stock from the top like this.

I like what you did. I think I'm gonna do that to mine.

6PKRTSE, I like what you did rebuilding yours. What size cable, connectors, and other instructions or advice do you have?
After 7 years, I now have two dead repo lead acid restoration batteries. I'm glad I kept them. Thanks!

i ink you will be surprised that some of the so-called restoration batteries are made the same way.
there is only one company that makes the hardrubber case for the restoration batteries ,older technology, so anybody making a restoration battery has to have them manufactured thru them. That's the problem there are to many pieces to to the agm resto batteries that are outsourced and only 2 battery manfactures in the USA . thanks EPA!
im not a big fan of agm's because of the maintenance and warrantee issues. heck the military won't use them, not dependable.

I have one of those Turbostart agm red top that I purchased from Mancini's in 2010. I keep my Battery Tender on it ALL the time. I only drive my Cuda during Spring Summer and its up on jack stands during the Fall/Winter. The only draw is my quartz clock conversion. Once I get it in the garage, the Battery Tender is hooked up. This battery has been working great for me since new.
Interesting to read others experience with batteries. Got to be a quality issue with the failures that are mentioned here. Or you have to get a proprietary charger for certain manufacturer. A friend of mine has Odyssey batteries and he does not use an Odyssey charger. I do know that if you have agm, you do need to get a compatible agm maintainer.

I just use standard size battery cables about 12" so there is room to get the smaller battery in & out to tighten the connections. I drilled & tapped into the bottom of the repro batteries lead posts & bolted the one end of the cable on.