NAPA AUTOPARTS sells a gell cell battery that is the same size as the Optima
750. Retail is $109.00.  I stumbled across it the other day. I'm buying one,
so I'll let the list know.

Mark
87 westy

        -----Original Message-----
        From:   Chuck Mathis [SMTP:CMathis227@AOL.COM]
        Sent:   Tuesday, December 21, 1999 6:47 AM
        To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
        Subject:        Re: auxilery battery

        In a message dated 12/20/99 7:34:38 PM, susanb@WIZZARDS.NET writes:

        << thanks ...have been shopping around...hard to find here..the
tallest it
        can be
        is 6 and 7/8 tall (inches)...will hit the marine stores
tomorrow......sb >>

        Susan;

        I don't want to rain on your parade but the height of the battery is
going to
        cause some problems if you try to find one to fit in the original
hole.  I
        had several dealers chuckle out loud when I asked for a deep cycle
with
        "those" deminsions.  Marine deep cycles tend to be pretty big --
though not
        as big as golf cart batteries.

        I put a Sears Diehard Marine battery (more than double the capacity
of the
        original) in my '85 Weekender by rerouting the original cable
through the
        back of the compartment to the space below the rear facing seat.
There's
        loads of room under there, no height restriction, and the seat mount
makes
        for a good ground.  Why the Diehard?  I got it free.

        If you have the full blown Westy you might consider putting the
battery under
        the back seat.  Be sure to install a proper hold down and adequate
        ventilation.

        Good luck.

        Chuck

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