Tom Veale
07-07-2025, 04:17 PM
FFR #007 was first brought to life around the start of 2009. The first conventional battery lasted about 4 years before it was no longer happily recharging and cranking.
In 2013 I replaced the traditional flat plate type battery with an Optima "Yellow Top" coil type design. The car once again started easily even with the engine "hot" after driving it. Last season the car battery was still barely okay, but the car complained when starting "hot" again. I nursed it through 2024 and found that it didn't get "better" while in hibernation. So, today I stopped by my local Advanced Auto Parts store and got a replacement Optima. Same size, same terminals, same 450 Amp cranking power and #007 is feeling very perky.
I'd used Optima batteries in some of my later race cars with good success. Standard flat plate batteries were shaken to early death in sports car racing. The Optima batteries worked well and lasted a long time. That was what led me to the choice for #007.
Well, I guess 12 years is pretty darned good. Things I noticed right away. There's 12 volts on the dash meter when the key is "on" but before the engine is started. The meter doesn't dance around nearly as much as with the older battery in its last year. There was only 11 volts showing before the change. When the cooling fan comes on the gauge doesn't drop below 12 volts any more. The gauge still goes just below 12 volts at idle but is back up to ~13 volts at 1000 rpm or higher.
Sometimes "Frugal" is just plain Stupid! Electronic stuff likes to be at proper voltage, I guess!
Best wishes,
Tom
In 2013 I replaced the traditional flat plate type battery with an Optima "Yellow Top" coil type design. The car once again started easily even with the engine "hot" after driving it. Last season the car battery was still barely okay, but the car complained when starting "hot" again. I nursed it through 2024 and found that it didn't get "better" while in hibernation. So, today I stopped by my local Advanced Auto Parts store and got a replacement Optima. Same size, same terminals, same 450 Amp cranking power and #007 is feeling very perky.
I'd used Optima batteries in some of my later race cars with good success. Standard flat plate batteries were shaken to early death in sports car racing. The Optima batteries worked well and lasted a long time. That was what led me to the choice for #007.
Well, I guess 12 years is pretty darned good. Things I noticed right away. There's 12 volts on the dash meter when the key is "on" but before the engine is started. The meter doesn't dance around nearly as much as with the older battery in its last year. There was only 11 volts showing before the change. When the cooling fan comes on the gauge doesn't drop below 12 volts any more. The gauge still goes just below 12 volts at idle but is back up to ~13 volts at 1000 rpm or higher.
Sometimes "Frugal" is just plain Stupid! Electronic stuff likes to be at proper voltage, I guess!
Best wishes,
Tom