Just replaced the original Motorcraft two weekends ago. I had a Motorcraft BXT65-650 in it from the factory. It provided 650 CCA and was $79.95 from the local parts store. I wanted an Optima, but couldn;t find a yellow-top locally, let alone the proper mounting kit for it. Total for the mounting kit and battery would have been well over $200, and it only provides 700CCA. I ended up going with a Motorcrafy heavy-duty 65-series (I think the number was a BXS65 IIRC) which provides 1000 CCA, and cost $100. (Actually $80 with my 20% discount from the local chain)

-Joe

 

HI!.. It seems a lot of people are hung up on cold cranking amps. That doesn't mean anything My YELLOW top OPTIMA is just over 700CCA and spins my 5.4 over faster and longer tham my old 1000CCA MOTORCRAFT battery ever did. When at the dragstrip I have to power two 16" electric fans which pull 40AMPS each plus a 15 AMP tranny cooler fan and a electric 10AMP water pump. That's 105AMPS!!!! Had them all running for over 45 minutes and when I went to start the truck back up, vrooooom! No problem at al. Plus the YELLOW TOP OPTIMA batter can be totally drained like 330 times and still except a FULL charge. I killed the MOTORCRAFT 1000CCA battery 3 times and it would not except any charge at all. After that all my vehicles now get YELLOW TOP OPTIMA batterys. For the little extra money they are they are WELL WORTH it. JMO.

 

Different needs for different folks.... I need a starting battery, you need a dual-purpose deep-cycle/starting battery. The yellow-top is an excellent battery.... don't get me wrong, I like 'em, but it's not the right tool for me. The truck sits most of the week. When it's sub-zero and the truck has been sitting for a week or two, CCAs are what it's all about. If I could find a battery that would fit in the truck that had more juice, both in CCAs and reserve capacity, I'd be all about it.

-Joe

 

Interstate batteries are good but DEKA is even better and sometimes cheaper than the interstates. Personally I have an optima yellow top-left over from my totalled jeep. R.I.P.

 

I put an Optima battery in my truck and at first I used the little plastic "OPTIMA GROUP 34/78" adapters that came with the battery, big mistake. They do not hold up well when driving off-road if fact mine broke off and the battery started bouncing around in my engine compartment. Here is what I did:

1. Purchased a Billet Aluminum Optima Battery Hold Down from eBay. (see link below)
2. Removed stock plastic battery tray.
3. Drilled holes for billet hold down in the sheet metal base under the OEM battery tray.
4. Purchase 1 10" rubber tarp strap, remove the metal hooks, take the bolts the where used to hold in the stock plastic battery tray, and put them through the holes at the end of the straps, screw the bolts back into the original location where the held the stock plastic battery tray, stretch out and put the plastic box that was behind the stock plastic battery tray to hold in place.

[Stock OPTIMA GROUP 34/78 Adapter - "NOT RECOMMENDED"]
https://www.f150online.com/forums/li...nd_height.html

[eBay Motors search for "optima battery hold down"]
https://www.f150online.com/forums/li...fsopZ1QQfsooZ1

[10" Rubber Tarp Straps]
https://www.f150online.com/forums/li...v_catlinks_txt

 

I purchased a Red top and am very pleased. If you have many different accessories that require power then a deep cycle battery or one with more power could be better for you. The one the truck came with will do the job for a stock configuration vehicle but when you start adding lights, winch, stereos, amps and so forth they take a toll on the battery. I bought mine at sears. I would have otherwise bought a sears brand because they are expensive but they tend to come with a good warranty. JMO