<VV> Cold Cranking Amps

[FrankCB at aol.com]

Andy,
    If your Corvair always starts with only a few seconds of cranking, then 
you probably don't need a high CCA rated battery.  However, if like most of us, 
your Corvair is sometimes "reluctant" to fire up, then the higher the CCA the 
better.  This number indicates the CAPABILITY of the battery to deliver high 
starting amps for a longer period of time before it runs down.  No need to 
change the existing switch or wiring.
    IMHO, a big battery on a Corvair is like CHARITY in that it "covers a 
multitude of sins" which a 40+ year old car can be prone to.  A big battery has 
gotten me home with a slipped harmonic balancer (no charging and no fan) which 
required shutting off the engine every 1 - 1/2 mile for cooldown and 
RESTARTING 4 times for a 7 mile trip.
    A higher CCA battery will also usually have a longer warranty so it 
should last longer.  If you keep a Battery Tender Plus plugged into the cigarette 
lighter socket, you can easily get 10+ years out of your battery.  The original 
stock GM one on my 1995 Trans Sport is still going strong since January 1995 
when I first got the car.
    Frank "bigger is better for batteries" Burkhard

In a message dated 4/1/05 6:48:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, ASarkozi at aol.com 
writes:
Hi - Its probably been discussed before but my ADD prevented me focusing at 
the time . . .

Is there any benefit or negative to install one of these overstimulated 
700CCA, 750 CCA, 800 CCA or beyond batteries in a Corvair. My usual bias 
towards 
excess warrants that 700 would be desireable over 550CCA, 750 over 700CCA and 
so 
forth so if the battery fits, would the higher CCA be most desireable? Would 
the wiring  and switch survive? Anything else I might look forward to? Thanks

Andy