Battery

I get the ones with the most COLD CRANKING AMPS, usually around 850. Since the original battery from europe was so huge,(photos show it is as LONG as the distance between the hold down rods), you will be able to fit ANY american battery in there. Even one for a 454 Chevy truck! Boy! Would that crank a 351C!! Marlin.

get an optima red top with both top and side terminals.its a sealed battery so you dont need to vent it.its also a spiral cell design so its better than reg. batteries.not cheap though around $135-$145.

I have an Optima in 4044.No more battery caused corrosion or gas,ever.Plenty of CCA'S
Guy

I agree, the Optima is great. Excellent price at Price Club!!

Read details here on the battery:
http://www.optimabatteries.com/

I use an Interstate battery. No corrosion ever, and it will crank even when leaving the car in the garage all winter long. My first Interstate battery lasted 7 years. I can't say enough concerning them (they're on all of my cars!)

Thanks for the input guys. Just as I suspected, looks like I can get whatever is no the shelf. I am suprised interstate preforms as well as some say. I'll keep you posted.

Be VERY careful with the height of your new battery if it has top-posts. It is possible to install a battery that is tall enough to allow the steel hood support "X" to touch both terminals when you slam the hood shut. This will instantly burn/melt two holes in the hood support if it doesn't melt the top of the case. Likewise if your battery hold-down clamp isn't tight, over bumps the battery can 'get air' and touch metal, with similar results. Finally, if you think you might someday drop the battery into the area below the floor, as the factory did in '75, choose a battery thats no wider than 7" and no longer than about 10" or you'll be buying another when you do this nice mod.

Height may still be an issue, You don't want the posts contacting the hood when it is closed. I also use the optima gel battery and am very pleased with it. California Car Cover makes a really cool billet aluminum hold down specifically for the optima.They are available in polished and several other anodized colors. The other advantage to the optima is that if you ever decide to free up some front trunk space it can be mounted in any direction, (even upside down!)

Jack and I must have been typing at the same time. Great minds do think alike!!!

I have had problems with the optima battery. They are hard to recharge if you let them drain and wait a while to recharge. I actually had to replace mine after only a year.

Jack is correct in saying that you can SHORT out the battery if it's too tall (27f) type
or not in the center (24f) type. the Best (my opinion) is a Mercedes Battery (like
used in the full size sedans (450se or sel) It is as wide as a 27F BUT shorter and
allot of cranking amps . also this is very very important . think of your pantera as
say a riding lawn mower, no wait bad example Your wave runner you don't drive
your wave runner to work every day do you? No you don't and you also don't drive
your P car every day. Automotive batteries NEED a charge cycle that they get in
every day driving. I Have found that using a Current Float charger (not i trickle
charger) keeps ALL my limited use batteries charged ready to go all the time using
these have allowed me to keep batteries WAY past the normal life span. these
surface current chargers are available at harbor freight 14 dollars and 8 when on
sale. See i did have something useful to contribute! and will see if my parole officer
will allow me to use this post to deduct time from my court ordered community
service! http://www.pantera.go.cc

Robert is correct about the batteries need to be charged.Anybattery that is discharged and not recharged promptly will have problems.If you must store the car or battery use an automatic charger or float charger to keep it charged.Do not use a manual trickle charger as it will overcharge and damage the battery.