Best battery for 427 with alternator?

[428Marauder]

Recent purchase, 63 Galaxie, looks like the battery is toast. Has been converted from generator to alternator. Battery that is in there is a Duralast Gold Group 27 size battery. Isn’t that a marine battery? Is there some reason for using that size? Should I replace it with something else? Oreilly Auto says it should be a 29 NF size. TIA.

ETA: Apparently this car has had some issues with not starting when hot. If CCA is an issue what about something like this as a replacement?

https://www.batteriesplus.com/productdetails/SLI31SA?storecode=100&source=google&medium=shopping&campaign=ecommpla&gclid=CjwKCAjw7eSZBhB8EiwA60kCW8FZw-S2Al94Om5mD2rh_hTJqH7xiAbteFF7mVgizzoU31xDXHO3jhoCVvAQAvD_BwE

[BattlestarGalactic]

I'd measure the box and get the biggest that will fit under the holddown clamp.  I wouldn't rely on anyone's computer!

[cjshaker]

Did you do a load test on the battery to confirm it being an issue? Having a hot start issue usually, but not always, indicates some other problem. May be cable size, may be a faulty ground somewhere, or might be a starter issue.....or it could be multiples stacking up. I've seen each problem over the years.

I've been using a regular Napa battery for the last 8 years in my 10.5:1 427. Starts it fine year after year, but I did start having some issues with hot starts about 6 years ago. It did not want to engage when hot, after long drives, and that was a supposedly heavy duty Tough Stuff starter, which was only a couple years old, which replaced another Tough Stuff starter. A RobbMc starter cured it and I'm still using the same Napa battery. I do keep a tender on it during winter months.

Also, Larry is right, if you need a battery, measure and just get the biggest you can get. A decent counterperson (if such a thing still exists) should be able to look up size and post orientation easily, then get the best CCA they offer.

[fryedaddy]

i would like to have one of those lithium batteries.i think they only weigh about 5 or 10 pounds,about 15 volts and you can mount them anywhere,sideways,upside down,etc.

[Rory428]

I have a 27 series battery in my 59 Ford, with a 428 CJ engine, and a 3G 130 amp alternator. It has 850 CCA, and cranks over the 428 easily, with a factory big Ford starter, hot or cold. The 59 originally had an oddball long, narrow battery, so I installed a later battery tray from a mid 70s Ford PU.

[428Marauder]

Yes, I think the hot starting issue is independent of the battery, but also I am pretty sure this battery is dead. The starter will need to be investigated later. It has a tender cable hooked up but I can’t get it to react at all to my battery charger now, so that’s why I’m pretty sure it has a bad cell. Either way it is pretty old so it gets replaced. The group 27 that is in there now is pretty big. Google says 12 inches long by 8.8 by 6.8. The Duracell I posted is 13 inches by 9.5 by 6.75 and looks pretty heavy duty and is a good price. I’ll measure in the morning and see how much more room I have.

[Lowrider]

Autolite group 27 was the battery those cars came with back in the day. Ran one for years in my 63/427

[machoneman]

Pros and cons of running a deep cycle (i.e. marine) battery in place of a group 27 (auto battery)? Some say no since the std, auto battery is designed for high load starts. Any real world usage here?

[gregaba]

i tried them and bought 2 over time. Neither one lasted over 6 month's.
Switched to a NAPA Gold and still in my truck after 5 year's.
Now that I have bragged on it the thing will die tomorrow.
Greg

[428Marauder]

After removing that battery (12 long, 6.5 wide and 9 high) looks like it is already about max size. I’d buy the one O’reilly suggests but I’m concerned it doesn’t have enough CCA (I believe it said 550 or so).

[oldiron.fe]

                                                                                                                                                                  ALWAYS- check battery with good LOAD tester- NOT volt meter --you must ask/watch to have done                  correctly      must be set to battery amp rating more= better750 to 1000     load applied for at least               15 seconds voltage MUST stay 11.6/8 or better-  you will often get what for/why from sellers or NO                  equipment to do proper test        next upgrade battery cable size more=better make sure ends are               installed correctly    use star washers as they cut in a little to make good connection on ends                            in wis./mn. -20/30 temps need good stuff as much as 450/500 inch hot motor    on OEM starters I                      used a roller bearing in the nose cone NOT bushing BIG change -- or use aftermarket starter if needed         I worked at military equipment site with 5000 pieces of equipment 1000s of battery to maintain with                   battery shop 10/15 years used best snap/on load testers a must!!!

[oldiron.fe]

                                                                                                                                                                  the difference between auto/marine batt- if cranking rate is the same (should be posted /available)                  auto will not stand up to / too many total discharges--marine are built to stand up to many more as               used on trolling motors etc.

[428Marauder]

Seeing some more thumbs up for NAPA. They have a Legend series 27 that aint cheap at $180 but if it saves me some headaches over a Walmart battery I’m happy to spend the extra $50. Rated at 710 CCA.

ETA: Purchased. About $200 after taxes and that’s with turning in a core. Car started right up. So far, so good.

[fryedaddy]

back in the 80s i had a diehard i think we called it a 12 inch,but anyway i drove to work one morning,left my headlights on the whole 8 hour shift,when i saw my headlights still on i turned them off and hit the starter button and it fired right up after 8 hours of being on.

[gregaba]

One thing I did like about NAPA was I bought a battery for my mom's 13 Nisson and it went bad about 6 month's  later.
I thought I was going to have to jump though a bunch of hoop's and pay a fee for the 6 month's we used it but they just checked the date and went in the back and gave me a new battery.
No question's, no problem's.
Greg