It fits!

Modification of the stock battery tray is easy, since it's just plastic. Took about 5 mins with a dremmel. I guess you don't really need to use the stock tray if you wanted to save it.

 

nice, looks great

 

as far as Modifying the tray what was done?

 

looks really big

 

of course it OPTIMA... but compared to that little 9V battery they come with... haha...

 

Now it only has a bottom and a back, if that makes sense. No edges anymore.

 

Thanks Mark. If/when you have time, would you post the actual height, width & depth dimensions of your new Optima? I will go the the Optima web site to see if they post those specs., but my reason is that I want to see if these will fit the even smaller battery tray of the '09 Fits.

I have no battery issues yet with my new GE, but this battery is SOOO small that I expect to have some. If I can cram in the Optima ahead of trouble, so much the better.

Edit: Never Mind Mark-- got it. For others interested: L- 9 5/16", W- 5 1/16", H- 8 15/16".
Thanks again Mark.

 

How much does that thing weigh compared to a stock battery?

 

What Red Top model fits?

 

Direct drop in? none. The 75/25 might come close to fitting but the holding system will still need to be modified.

 

Hey MarkyMark,
Thanks to your Optima Yellow Top thread, I decided to try using the D51R battery as well. To mod the tray, I used a wire cutter, and easily snipped the excess plastic off the stock battery tray. Although the D51R is about an inch wider, it dropped right in. As a matter of fact, I still had about 1/2" room to spare (with a K&N SRI installed). The only issue I had was that the posts on the D51R are of a smaller diameter than the OEM battery posts. I had to shim the posts with sheet metal in order to get a secure fit with the clamps.
Thanks for sharing your idea and info,
-macbuddy-

 

Could u post a pic of the redtop in there? And i just wanted to make sure thats a pic of a GD. I was just wondering.

 

hey mark, do you notice if you headlights flicker still when you have the a/c and/or heater defrost running at the same time?

 

Just got my yellowtop put in today. So awesome. And maybe its just me but the car seems to be running a little differnt. The exhaust sounds deeper and i'm getting better fuel economy today. Suposedly there is a relearning phase on the ECU after you disconnect the battery. Maybe thats it. My lights don't flicker. But i have HIDs so they didn't flicker anyway. But i love the battery. Looks nice in there too.

 

sorry to bring back an old post, but for everyone that did this mod- did it take care of your power issues? those that had it.

 

this looks exactly like my engine bay haha. i have a rather large amp for my subs and had no power issues. but - my battery died after only 3 and a half years.... so i decided to put a little something bigger in that battery our car comes with is tiny. when i went to get it checked out to make sure the battery was dead the guy there asked me what kind of bike i had.... lmao

i still get dimming when i use the windows and turn on my fans.... but i wouldnt call that in any way an issue.

 

I prefer Odyssey's battery. yellow top is good too

 

SO this fits an 08 with basic modification of the tray?

 

Any brand 51R battery will fit your car, but you might want to reconsider buying the Optima. Word is that they are no longer made in the U.S. and quality has gone way down. I used to be an Optima fan and owned several over decades. I recently bought the Costco Kirkland 51R battery for my GE, and it fits fine. The Kirkland also costs almost $100. less than Optima, but of course the Kirkland is not a gel battery, and the Optima is.

 

AA has the optima for 119 + tax. What's your recommendation? Stock? I have a bone stock vehicle fwiw.