My new Red Top Optima came with a removable plastic base - intended to bring it up to the standard height of a group 24 battery. The problem is the Optima is ever so slightly smaller in width and depth.

So - I took the plastic tray off the bottom - and cut parts of it out - and used the remaining parts as spacers on top of the Optima... the spacers fit between the OEM top hold down and the battery along the front and rear edges... they are wide enough to bridge the gap in width and depth between the battery and the OEM battery hold down frame.

The battery is now held down securely.... even if it is a bit Jerry-Rigged... by the original battery mount. At some point in the future... I may make a very OEM looking battery hold down frame.. downsized slightly to fit the Optima... but that's way down the priority list right now...

Just a thought..

Carl B.

I just noticed on the weekend that under my plastic battery tray there was about a 1 inch thick piece of ply to bring battery up to correct height to fit original battery bracket. You wouldn't even know it was there.

I just have a problem with raising the ~40 lb battery up an inch in the car. I try to keep the CG as low as possible.

Watch out for using wood in that area, it will hold water...any movement at all, and the paint will get scuffed under the wood and the rust rodent will smell the bare metal and start chewing...

Will

I only found it because I've pinched the battery for my tractor so when I replace it will try to find one of correct dimensions. As for changing centre of gravity I fail to see how this is a great issue as it's expecting a battery of that height anyway, it's not as if it's going above what is standard.

I just noticed on the weekend that under my plastic battery tray there was about a 1 inch thick piece of ply to bring battery up to correct height to fit original battery bracket. You wouldn't even know it was there.

Mine is the same way! New batteries must be shorter than stock.

Watch out for using wood in that area, it will hold water...any movement at all, and the paint will get scuffed under the wood and the rust rodent will smell the bare metal and start chewing...

Fortunately for me, the battery tray sides are tall enough to keep the wood from making contact with the metal.