Re: New member, setting off on a crazy adventure... PICS!!!

Posted by HH56 On 2017/12/1 15:57:12

With 6v you are going to be limited to the fact that not many CCA capacities are there to choose from that can fit in the group 2 dimensions of the tray. I am of the belief that you are better getting the largest capacity battery you can find that can fit and 675 may be about it in regular lead acid batteries. The Optima is the largest at about 800 CCA that can fit but is more expensive and in your face as far as looks. They also don't like a fast or high current charging.

The starter when turning a large inline 8 can pull in the range of 400+ amps so the more amp capacity the better and the need for larger battery cables than what todays parts stores sell as 6v meant more for use with the smaller sixes of the time. If you crank for a bit and run the battery down slightly with the crank then fiddle and crank again scenario that most go thru when trying to start a long sitting car you have a bit more reserve with a larger battery. That is one other thing to remember -- starting motors are intermittent so crank maybe 30 seconds or so then fiddle and let the starter sit and cool a bit. A long continuous period of cranking can damage the starter motor. Also, with a lot of cranking and no starting the plugs may foul with moisture from the raw gas so you may need to pull and clean them a time or two.

Another thing you might want to think about having is some kind of 6v battery charger because after sitting all this time, if it fires without a lot of cranking and rechecking and more cranking and fiddling the battery can easily run down. Once it does the spark gets weak and makes things that much more difficult.