Battery for 1978 308GTB

I've had a red top in my 79 gts for nearly 4 years now. Fits perfect, no problems yet.

 

Apart from capacity and dimensions, the other thing to check is where the poles are placed and their polarity relative to the battery and car front. The leads often wont reach any other corner of a battery.

 

... and the base. You need that protruding step on the housing base for the mounting clamp to grip the battery. There are also batteries without that feature.

Best Regards from Germany

Martin

 

Something to consider: If you're going to be in VA, are you expecting to drive it year-round? Do you have an alarm or recovery system or stereo memory pulling power when the car is off?

I learned the hard way that red tops don't like sitting out the winter. It died the first winter. It took a couple of different bouts with a 10A charger to bring it back at all. If I didn't leave it on the tender it'd fall too low to start the car inside of two days. After three years, it was maxing out at 10 volts.

I recently replaced the red top with an Interstate. I left it sit for a couple of weeks before hooking up the tender. According to the tender, the Interstate was still fully charged. (Granted, I had the obsolete tracking system removed about the same time I changed batteries, so the Interstate has about 70 mA less load to carry.)

But unless you're planning to drive year-round, I wouldn't go with a red top.

And it gets too cold around the DC area for summer tires in the winter. (Not to mention the odd ice storm.)

(In the DC area, there's also the factor where the SUV drivers seem to get annoyed if you drive a Ferrari "out of season". (Like wearing a white belt after Labor Day.) )

The Interstate also feels lighter than the Optima (based on lifting batteries in and out), and even without shopping around, the Interstate is cheaper. (About $90 at the corner generic car shop, in stock on-hand.)

I was sold on Optimas when I had a Celica GT-Four hatchback, and people were moving the battery to the rear (inside the cabin) to get it away from the glowing turbo. (Inside the cabin, you have to have a sealed battery to avoid out-gassing.)

But now I'm a convert to Interstate for the 328.

I think I might still go with a Die Hard for the Alfa -- the last one lasted 14 years, and started the car after sitting for six months without a tender, when it was 12 years old. But the Alfa doesn't even have a clock -- when it's off, it's *off*. And that battery sits in the trunk away from all heat sources. Another Die Hard melted internally after a year in the Celica, up near the turbo. Die Hards don't like heat.

But then, Die Hards have had inconsistent quality over the last 30 years, and there are Interstate dealers everywhere around here.

 

I just use conventional batteries from NAPA...I'll find a recipt and post the number.

 

I had an Interstate MT 34 in mine for 5 years in the northeast. Never gave me any problems, but replaced it this year just because I do not want any problems when I get a salt free, 20 degree day and go driving, As previous post mentions- Interstates are low cost and imho totally dependable - plus it's Ferrari original equipment for US cars.

 

The Red Top Optima & the Yellow Top OPtima batteries have different purposes however in the real world I suspect the difference would not be noticeable [could be wrong hasn't been the first and wont be the last]. I'm on year six with the Optima RT and it hasn't missed a beat. I keep a RT in the Merak with a Battery Tender on so far so good 2.5 years and OK. I like the sealed battery no acid fumes to eat away at the plating, and I don't need to concern myself with maintaining fluid levels. Also, I have some 900 cold cranking amps....not too shabby. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Ciao,
George

 

Take the battery out, bring it to Napa or O'Reilly and you'll find what you need. I think mine from O'Reilly was like $60 and it fit perfectly.

Make sure the poles are on the correct side (which is opposite from most other batteries for US model cars).

 

I believe the correct battery size for a 308GTB is a Group 34, not the reversed poles. Correct? Anyone? Its time to get my 308GTB back on the road.

 

I had a red top for almost four years. It wasn't until just a couple months ago it started not holding a charge.

Anyway, based on what I saw here I switched to Interstate last week. My invoice says "Mt 34".

 

I have an Interstate in my '78 308 and it works great for me. Fits correctly, holds a charge over an extended period, never a problem. I have one in my XKE also. Parked the car last year in December, disconnected the battery, went back in May, connected it and the car started right up.

Be careful with the Red Top, if you get one. They do NOT like to be fully discharged. If you let it run down by accident, it will stop holding a charge. I have several friends who had them and had exactly this happen. If you get a Red Top, be sure to install a trickle charger for the periods of time when you will leave the car sitting. Otherwise you could inadvertently end up killing your battery.

 

Yep, that's exactly what happened to mine. I probably should have mentioned that my car is also a '78.

Now that the original question has been answered... I would be curious to see what the proper battery tie down looks like. Mine has a couple bungees rigged up with a carabiner. The Interstate is a little bigger than the Red Top and I am having trouble getting it secure.

 

Interesting thread. My 'red top' Optima died just as you guys have described. It was run down to totally flat and will not recover. Therefore, I replace.

 

The Yellow Tops are much better for a "sitting a lot" application. They are designed for deep cycle discharges.

Rick

 

The question has been answered but FWIW my brother has been an auto tech for 15 years and has never seen an Interstate leak or go bad early. He won't buy anything else. I had an old car I purchased that had a 6 year old interstate in it, it was still there when I sold it two years later. Can't speak for the Optima's.

 

Optimas are contra-recommended for installation in hot locations. Hot areas in a car, not in a state. The 308 batteries are placed behind the radiator and get blasted by hot air which is why there are many reports of premature failure in a 3x8. Why pay $200 for a battery which is NOT recommended when a $100 battery works perfectly?

 

Hard data, at last. Thanks.

 

Seems a lot of guys have had early failures of Optimas, but the one in my Fiat X1/9 SCCA race car is nearly seven years old, and subjected to much worse conditions than any Ferrari is likely to ever see. Maybe the exception that makes the rule?

 

Check out parts 7, 8, and 9 on this page:
http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_catalogs.php?M=FE&P=&V=diag&I=2353 (For a QV)

There's a lip on the bottom of the battery. A fixed angle bracket holds the back lip, and the bolt down bracket holds the front lip. The battery is held just by that bottom lip.

That worked for both my Red Top and the current Interstate in my 328.

 

I had 3 red top Optimas died, one of which was in the Ferrari, but strangely I have another red one which is even older and still working nicely. In my truck I have 2 optimas: one red and one blue.

Btw, I replaced the dead red top Optima in the Ferrari with an AC Delco which was the OEM brand of battery in my Ferrari.