Will a 31 series Optima drop in with no additional tweeking? (1 Viewer)

[super90]

Looking at replacing my Red Top 34R that came with the truck. It is at least six years old (could be even more !) and while it might last another year or two, I am proactively replacing it to keep the wife and two little ones from getting stranded during the hot South Texas Summer.

Now, question is, can I drop a 31 series Optima (D31A ??) in the tray and "plug and play" or will that require some mods since the termanals are reversed and this battery is on the large side.

I really want a "plug and play" setup now as I don't have much time for wrenching these days.

TIA

 

[super90]

Looks like the old battery is from April 1999, accordiing to the date stamp. That's seven years on a red-top and no problems. Still, I am changing it out.

Appears that a 31 series optima requires a few mods due to cable length and the reverse terminal situation.

Does Odyssey have something big with reverse terminals, or Exide ? I've been looking on the net, but not finding much on this yet. Since Fords used to have reverse termininals (so I have read), someone has to have another option.

Otherwise, I guess I just get another red 34R from Optima.

 

[Mike S]

I am planning on installing (on order) a YT group31 in my 80. Mudrak tells me that it will fit snugly in the battery box. As for mods to the cables, replacing them is probably a good thing.

I ran a pair of YT 31's in my 60, and they are awesome.

M

 

[informationjunky]

I think some of the yota guys run them turned on their sides with the post facing back....I'm a little leary of it that way. Just go a 34R for my wifes truck. $122 shipped to my door.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Fits pretty well-check it out:

 

[Slomo]

Originally posted by CruiserDrew
Fits pretty well-check it out:
Attached Images

What mods did you have to do to the battery cables? Looks like different terminal clamps with factory cables?

 

[super90]

InfoJunky....where did you order the 34R from at $122 delivered? That's a great price.

Cruiserdrew...I'm with Slomo. It looks like you have modified the cables a fair amount. Are the main cables now coming in from the front of the truck with aux. items coming in from the original openings in the battery box ?

Thanks fellas.

R.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

The big cables are for my dual battery and winch. The cables that run out the back are the original ones to the truck. I used Military terminals to make bolting down the cables more secure. It takes minimal mods-enlarge the ring terminal of the fusable link to 3/8 inch, and cut and modify the original + clamp just a bit-again enlarging the existing hole to 3/8 inch.

It's tough to get the metal retaining bracket to bolt down the first time, but it goes with a bit of extra force. Not a big deal at all. There is enough slack on the - side to reach the terminal.

 

[super90]

Cruiserdrew,

So if I understand correctly, you are saying that absent the extra cables for your dual battery and winch, the original ones out the back have enough slack in them to reach the terminals without any mod and that the only reason you put the military terminals on was to make things more secure and to easily add the aux cables on?

TIA

 

[rhyary]

A related question. Can I fit a D31M blue top optima in the second tray on the 80?

Since I don't have any cables leading to the second tray, yet, I can built something around the D31 or the D34 if the D31 fits.

Rami

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Cruiserdrew,

So if I understand correctly, you are saying that absent the extra cables for your dual battery and winch, the original ones out the back have enough slack in them to reach the terminals without any mod and that the only reason you put the military terminals on was to make things more secure and to easily add the aux cables on?

TIA

Basically, right. You have to free up the negative just a bit, but it will go right into place with some coaxing. You do need to modify the ends of the battery cables just a bit, the positive much more than the negative. I may make new cables at some point, it isn't very hard.

Regarding the second question, It should fit in the second tray, but a group 27 will fit better. You many more options since the positions of the new cables are not critical.

 

[informationjunky]

InfoJunky....where did you order the 34R from at $122 delivered? That's a great price.

Cruiserdrew...I'm with Slomo. It looks like you have modified the cables a fair amount. Are the main cables now coming in from the front of the truck with aux. items coming in from the original openings in the battery box ?

Thanks fellas.

R.

http://www.dcbattery.com

They will send you a pdf with their pricing based on zip code and payment method (cheaper by check but I used paypal). This one included spacer, previos one I purchased from them did not.

 

[rhyary]

I was looking on the Optima web site www.optimabatteries.com and could not find group 27 battery.

I am also a bit confused about the answer from Cruiserdrew, since I couldn't find a group 27 battery, is it safe to go with a D31 blue top in the second battery tray?
I measured the length and at 12"+ it looks like the D31 will fit, but what about the 9"+ hight? will it touch the hood?

Rami

 

[Cruiserdrew]

I am also a bit confused about the answer from Cruiserdrew, since I couldn't find a group 27 battery, is it safe to go with a D31 blue top in the second battery tray?
I measured the length and at 12"+ it looks like the D31 will fit, but what about the 9"+ hight? will it touch the hood?

Rami

Sorry-There is no Optima Group27. The Toyota tray is made for group 27 batteries. There are very nice Group 27 AGM batteries available from the Marine store. I am considering using one of these in the #2 position:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...parentType=index&indexId=cat350007&hasJS=true

It's a good price, and good specs and it comes in a group 27 size.

 

[super90]

Looks like with the 31 series Optimas we have to be careful with the difference between Blue top and Yellow top since the post orientation and diminsions are very different. It looks like the Blue top will work since the positive terminal is really close to the corner of the battery in the TLC configuration. With the Yellow top, the post is much farther away and probably is not a "plug and play" operation.

Here is the Blue top schematic:

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/schema_D31M.asp

and here is the Yellow top:

http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/schema_D31A.asp

The positive cable looks to have very little slack in it compared to the negative cable.

I am guessing the Blue top D31M is the only one that doesn't require new cables.

 

[Slomo]

Super90, I think you called it. The yellow top 31 would probably require much more cable modification. Plus CruiserDrew's photo looks like the + cable barely made it on his blue top and he said it required the most modification.

Reading Optimas pr jargan the blue top and yellow top are described almost identically. Anyone know the real world difference for a cruiser with winch, lights etc... ?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Alvarorb runs the Yellow top group 31 in his cruiser. It has 3/8 bolt down post which I don't like, but it works OK for him. I *think* there is a standard automotive post group 31 yellow as well. The cables look long enough to me. For sure the blue top group 31 works as I have described. You are welcome to check it out at Cruise Moab, but it's a 1/2 job to make it fit.

There also are a whole world of AGM marine batteries available at West Marine and similar places. I think they would make excellent Cruiser batteries.

 

[informationjunky]

More information

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5813&highlight=optima

 

[elmariachi]

Here is my setup using a reverse pole 34R red top and a matching 34D/78 yellow top.

Jim

 

[Slomo]

Originally posted by elmariachi
Here is my setup using a reverse pole 34R red top and a matching 34D/78 yellow top.

Jim

Originally posted by informationjunky
More information

http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthrea...ghlight=optima

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that the side terminals on the red top were for small accessory use only. I was led to believe they were suitable as an alternate primary post location and you could run just as much as the top posts.