[Vwdiesel] Speaking of Batteries

[Dave Cook]

As I am sure I have mentioned, I am working towards putting a TDI motor into my '78 Bus. 


Since I want to attempt to put the radiators on the sides of the engine compartment, I am going to have to move the batteries.  For those unfamiliar, the bus' batteries are on either side of the engine compartment.  If I put the radiators there, they would block the air flow, and be inaccessible.  

Under the back seat seems most logical.  


This bus is a camper, and has two batteries, a starting battery and a "house" battery for the refrigerator and a couple other accessories.  I plan to maintain this setup.

Since they will be in the cabin, I want to use Optima batteries. They have three options: Primarily starting (red top), primarily deep cycle (blue top) and a combo (yellow top).  I bought a yellow top for our boat a couple years ago and it seemed to provide both very good starting power and the ability to keep the radio on for an hour at least.  I also swapped this battery into the Banana Rabbit while I was driving it.  It provided quick cranking in that application too (though this was mostly summer time conditions).  


So anyone have any recommendations on what to use?  A red and a blue?  Two yellows? Some other combination?

 
Dave Cook