OK, I'm stumped.

According to several posts in the archives, the Optima "yellow top" battery
fits in the aux battery compartment in a Westy if you either cut off  the
top posts (and use the side terminals) or you cut holes in the top of the
battery compartment cover in order to accommodate them.  Then someone (Joel
Walker, I believe) made the brilliant suggestion that the battery would fit
if laid on its SIDE, thereby avoiding the cutting/drilling issue altogether.
Whoopee!  I decided to buy one immediately in preparation for an upcoming
trip....

Well, imagine my excitement as I picked up the phone today and found a LOCAL
dealer that could get me the battery for the same price as mail order!
Luckily, I decided to actually check the dimensions of the battery and
compartment before plunking down my $170.  Herein lies my dilemma:

The Optima D43/78-950 battery (the deep cycle, "yellow top" with the top and
side terminals) dimensions are 10" L X 6.8" W X 7.8" H

As near as I can figure, the compartment in the Westy is 11.5" L X 6.125" W
X 7.25" H  measured at the closest points (nominal measurement).

If laid on its side, the Optima will be about 1.5" too tall (wide) to fit,
and if placed upright, it will be 0.55" too tall at the tops of the
terminals.

My questions:
Has Optima changed the dimensions of the battery?
Has someone actually mounted the battery lying on its side in the
compartment?
Did you have to hammer the little ridges inside the compartment flat in
order to fit the Optima?
What did you use as a "hold-down" strap for the battery, and where did you
attach it?

I know this battery thread has been brought up MANY times, but I saw very
few posts from people that had actually installed the Optimas in the AUX
location.  Thanks in advance for your help!

Brent Christensen
'89 Syncro Westy "Klaus"
'95 Cherokee Sport 4 X 4