Oh I like that one! I may get that when I add more to Frankenbee. I need a few more gauge spots.

Sent from my SM-G900V using IB AutoGroup

 

Yeah I've been waiting for months trying to find it and i finally did and it's fairly cheap as well! Only comes in grey but i will paint it black anyway. It's a nice piece and fits the truck IMO.

Also does anyone have experience with Optima batteries? it is a warm -4* here in the lovely state of Massachusetts and my Expy barely started this morning so i talked to my dad and she is still running the original battery so i think it's time to change. The main reason i am looking at Optima is because they say non-spill and people say they really don't and the Expy has corrosion everywhere from my current battery.

 

I've never used Optima, but they have always seemed to be useful in more extreme areas. With the Expy being an everyday on the road car, I am not sure if it is worth the cost.

I have a Motorcraft in the F250 that has what appears to be an insulating jacket wrapped around it. I've been happy with it, but it was pretty sluggish in 3 degree weather this morning. No corrosion present either.

I had an Advance Auto battery in the Ranger for 8 years that only went dead because I didn't charge it during the rebuild. I put a new one in and I have been very happy. With all the discounts from Advance plus the eBates rebate, it is the cheapest place I have found to get batteries. My last one corroded after several years, but if you clean the terminals and apply a thin layer of dielectric grease after making your electrical connections, corrosion will not be a problem.

Another hand little item is a Battery Tender. I use it on my quad to keep the battery at peak with using the winch, heated grips, and lights to plow. I put it on Nicole's car the other night in the garage and she said the next day it started way better. It wasn't 3 degrees, but it definitely topped the old Napa battery off. Also a battery with no corrosion.

 

Good to know thanks! I can get one of those Optima red top for $147 on amazon with free two day shipping so i was thinking that's not that bad for a leak proof battery especially since a regular advance auto battery is $120-$150 here, i was going to get a terminal cleaner as well as some dielectric grease while i was at it. I think they Optima has a higher power rating as well it's 800CCA vs Advance's highest battery is 750CCA i dont know what the values are though so I'm going by bigger is better lol.

What kind of battery tender do you have? i wanted to get one for the truck since she is sitting and the battery dies rather fast since she sits now. I am not sure if it's worth it for the Expy since i use it every day so the battery doesnt run down but i wanted to get one for the F250 and the F150 since they both will run low with this warm weather we are having lol. I was thinking about a nice permenant mounted on in the F150 and just something mobile for no in the F150 i want to mount a permenant one once i do the 12v swap though to keep both batteries charged.

 

I have a two smuckers or something like that from wal mart. I once in a while put it on my 88 when I had a battery in it and sometimes the 02. The other one I use for the bikes. It would work on the truck if I wanted something more permanent but I don't need a permanent one.


I want to get a Battery Tender version of one as they sell one that can charge four at the same time which would be perfect for the two bikes and any of the other trucks we need to charge.




As long as the battery fits in your tray you should be good. I am running a 850CCA in the 89 F250 but I also have a lot of lights on the bed and such plus plan to have other stuff on it. The others I usually run a 650-750CCA just because they don't have to crank as much and not as many accessories.
Trav

 

Matt that overhead console looks sweet! I really like it. I think I might have to get one for my truck eventually, haha.


A 2011 excursion huh? Always dreaming and planning, like me haha. I've got all kinds of plans for stuff too. That would be pretty cool though. What you could also do is take a 7.3 or 6.0 excursion and swap the 2011+ front clip onto it. I've seen it done on 7.3 Super duty's before. Not sure how much work is involved though.


I've never had optima batteries, but I did put two new Motorcraft batteries in mine about a year ago. Seem to be holding up great with no corrosion and always crank pretty fast. They cranked a little slow yesterday, but it was in the single digits and the truck wasn't plugged in. Overall I am very happy with them.

 

Yeah i was thinking 7.3l it's a lot of work it's more like one of those dreams that i would like to do rather than actually plan to do lol i already have plenty of other projects going on obviously.

I am only thinking permanent for the F150 and F250 because they sit more than they are mobile so it would help prolong the batteries life span but i do agree i have walmart and advanced auto batteries ina ll my vehicle except for the Expy now and never had an issue my last battery in the 250 lasted 8 years lol while plowing and everything it dies about 3 years ago now.

 

In the 89 I have a walmart battery and it is really good. The 04 envoy has a AC Delco for now (never had luck with them). The 02 has a Duralast gold before they went with the new style ones which I won't get the new style ones (I have had that battery in their for 3 years now and seems to do good sitting around even after single digits). The explorer has a duralast red top that is 7 years old I took it from the bronco II after beating the crap out of it.
The 90 I have no idea what battery is in it but when it gets to the single digits it starts to make it hard to crank. I do know it is a little old though but other wise seems to do good.
Trav

 

Check out this overhead console out of a expedition rear climate. The guy took a piece of ABS or something like that and used a dremel to cut it out the switches. I will probably do similar with my 88 but haven't decided:

 

I use the Battery Tender Jr. It's perfect for small batteries, but you may want to go up a size for car batteries. It takes way longer to top off a car battery. 021-0123

CCA is cold cranking amps. It is a way of rating what the battery is capable of putting out. Higher would be better to a certain point. It would get more power to your alternator. It would also be why diesels have 2 batteries. It takes a lot more amps to heat glow plugs and turn over 8 cylinders at twice the compression of your 5.4L.

Take a look here: What does Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) mean? | OPTIMABATTERIES

The only other thing I can say is with the discounts, it should get the Advance Battery under $105, it is a local establishment, and it you have a problem they warranty their products for 3 years and recycle the old battery for free (refunding your $18 core charge).

This should fit your EXPY and it is 850CCA. I got it to $102 before tax and after the core charge. Take anothe 5.5% from ebates after adding sales tax.
AutoCraft Gold Battery, Group Size 65, 850 CCA 65-2: Advance Auto Parts

I suggest putting the Optima in the SD or the F150. Its more of a rough environment battery. Save the $$$

And fore the record, there are also deep cycle batteries. These are often found in marine use. They are good for power accessories but not so good at short bursts of current like starting a big engine. If you ever want to go with a dual battery setup in an offroad rig, they make a great pair. Winch, lights, compressor, welder on the deep cycle, keep the engine on the standard battery. I believe you can get isolators to charge both at the same time

 

Trav that's an awesome console! I'd like that in my 95.

Jeremy i completely forgot the discount applies to the other batteries lol i looked at optima at a discounted price and the advance batteries at normal...doh!

Thanks for all the info on that! I might swap to optimas in the 250 after the diesel swap. So the deep cycle batteries are for running heavy duty electronics but not for normal running use? So when i install a winch on the 250 ans put the 12v in does that mean i need 3 batteries 2 normal and 1 deep cycle? This is more complicated than i originally though, not that its hard just never knew the differences between everything.

 

Funny thing is it is in a 95. Member SMcox on here (although he posted it on F150 forum) with his 95 centurion F150 crew cab did that.
I think it would look great in black in my 88 especially with those switches.
Trav

 

I think Optima's would be good in the 250. Deep cycles are not good for starting big engines. Deep cycles give lower amps for longer periods of time. Regular batteries give you the CCA needed to start an engine.

You don't have to have a deep cycle battery. 2 regulars in the 250 would be fine. You'd won't be using the winch constantly. A winch will work on a conventional battery just fine. It's just that deep cycles are meant for accessory loads. They are good at providing good constant use and can be recharged with very little effect on the batteries total capacity. A standard battery gives you the energy you need on demand, but they do not handle being heavily drained and recharged like a deep cycle would. The battery will "wear out" like the old NiCd batteries is laptops and remote controlled cars.

 

This is why in motorhome you see Deep cycles for the home part (lights, fridge, and such) and regular batteries for starting the generator and the engine part (sometimes 1 sometimes 2 depending on weather gas or diesel of course.)


However in your set up you probably won't be using the winch like guys whom are offroad winching people out and themselves out on hard trails so a regular battery will be fine for the occasional oops somebody or you made a mistake type of deal.
Trav

 

I see thanks guys! it's good to know about the different types though since I may have a use some day if i ever go crazy on a vehicle pft...like that would ever happen lol.