SBC Battery

[monmon030791]

What kind of battery should I use for my 350 small block it is bored out .40 over and also I have roller rockers I have basic cam and crank shaft. If anyone can give me the cranking amps I should look out for that will be good thanks.

[zbugger]

The basic battery for your particular car should be fine. Higher compression is when you should start looking into a mor powerful starting system.

[monmon030791]

Right now I have a 9 to 1 compression. And whats basic I really need details.

[class67]

AC Delco, DieHard, Duralast etc....any of these will be fine for your application!

[monmon030791]

I know -.- I want to know how much cranking amps.

[zbugger]

Stock would work. I think many are around 525-550 cca. You can go to the parts store, tell them what car you have, and that you need a battery. Just make sure your cables are good, and that your connections aren't corroded.

[monmon030791]

Yeah because some reason I charged my battery like 4 times and it dies with me after like the 10th crank or something and I always need a jump. I'm using an energizer 550 cranking amps I dont know if the battery is defective or maybe one of my wires what do you guys think?

[zbugger]

How's your alternator? Have you modified the ignition or added anything else electrical to the car?

[monmon030791]

No the altenator is not even in I just rebuilt the engine making sure if it runs.

[zbugger]

So, you're starting the car, letting it run a little, and not using a charging system?

[monmon030791]

Yeah does it drain the battery that quick? I let it idle like twice or 3 times and it only idle'd for like 10 seconds and i turned it off. and it started to die out more and more.

[mongoose]

yeah... starting will kill it faster then just letting it idle..

why are you starting and only letting it run for such a short time? not exactly the best thing for a motor..

[Blue71]

Starting is THE job of the battery, it loses "juice" quickly doing this work. As soon as your engine is running, the alternator handles the power the car needs as it spins PLUS it recharges the battery, as a benefit.

If your battery starts the car once, it doesn't lose much power, and the alternator recharges it to full very quickly in a short drive. But if you start the engine more than once, without giving the alternator time to recharge the battery, it loses voltage and cranking amps pretty quickly.

So - you need to hook up your alternator and run the car (although idling doesn't always give a good recharge - lower voltage than when you've got street rpm's) or trickle-charge the battery BEFORE it gets too low.

I bet your system and battery work fine, once you get it all running...