308 Battery Replacement

Bosch is what's in mine, IIRC

Don't have it handy though.......

Anyone use this one??

 

Funny that your Die Hard was too big, I'd be curious what model that was.
The brackets on my 78 are just a hair too large to effectively clamp the standard sizes of batteries. I just put in a Die Hard I think I got a group 78? It fits, but isn't retained all the way by the clamp. Batteries theoretically should all be the same size, but I'm sure there are variances. There are quite a few threads wherein people discuss what variety of Optima battery they put in their cars. Do a search on that.

 

I use Optima batteries in all my cars. Optima makes a reverse pole battery if you car requires same. I used an "orange top" Optima which has reversed poles in my ex-348 Spider which required that.

 

Interstate in my '85 308...I had similar problem with Interstate, though. Died after only a couple weeks. Each time, I went to the Interstate distributor and got another one. Each one died soon after...then I went to a local garage and bought an Interstate...been in the car for 3 years. I called Interstate and was reimbursed for the purchase. They told me they had a faulty lot of batteries go out. You should have returned the battery...Interstate would have stood behind the product.

Interstate is the only company I know of that makes a battery with the poles reversed, as required in the 308.

 

Just dropped a new Optima Red Top battery in my 308 about a month ago...I purchased the model that has both the top and side post terminals...purchased from local AutoZone for roughly $130 or so. Fit perfectly...even better than the larger size battery that was already in the car.

I now have Optima Red-Tops in both the TR and 308....with no problems to date whatsoever.

FWIW, I hooked up the battery tender overnight to the Optima after installation in the car just to ensure it was fully topped off before driving. If I don't get a chance to drive either of the cars within a couple weeks or so, then I top them off with the battery tender unit.

 

Good point...I forgot to mention it....After all my battery problems, Algar Ferrari of Philadelphia suggested that I put a battery tender on...they installed it for me for less than $75.00...they said they put battery tenders on all new cars too...well worth the money.

 

Optima red-top in my 1984 308GTSi/QV USA model. It's great.

 

Optima here too.

 

I believe the correct size for the 308/328 should be the size 34R. That is a size 34 battery, but with the terminals in the reverse position. If you take a standard 34, and flip it around, the cables may not reach.

You should also be able to fit one of the new "universal" size batteries like the 78/34. This has the side terminals (for the 78 size) and has the top terminals closer to the mid line, so if you flip it around, the cables should still reach.

Both sizes are available in "standard" type batteries available from Interstate, Sears or Costco (btw, Costco's "Kirkland Signature" batteries are made by Exide, the same oem as the Sears "diehard"). Optima also makes batteries in the same three sizes.

You can get a Costco 78/34 with 900 CCA for $59. Quite a bargain.

The only Optima Costco carries is the smaller 75/35 with 720 CCA, which should still be fine. I think the factory spec is for a 550 to 600 CCA battery.

Dave