Put one in tonight thought I'd make a page for anyone interested:

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4405

http://www.scoobymods.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=3300

More pics at the link above.

Peaty

Good job and thanks as always Peaty :)

So, I couldn't help but notice that you had some aftermarket cables coming off of your battery terminals....What are you running those to? I am getting a small amp installed in my car and I will be getting a new battery. For some reason, someone suggested a yellow top. I do not understand the differnece between the two. Long story short, if you are running additional accessories off of your red top, I might go that route! Also, if I do not mind the length of the holding rods, is there any reason that I shouldn't just leave them an incha and a half longer? (other than cosmetics)

The Yellow Top is more of a deep cycle battery and is recommended for applications where high-current accessories are installed in the vehicle, particularly stereo systems that are likely to be used for long periods with the engine off. This type of use can damage standard lead-acid batteries if they are allowed to run down to a discharged state, but the Yellow Tops can tolerate hundreds of repeated full discharges without any ill effects. The Red Top is referred to as a "starting and ignition" battery and is intended more as a direct replacement for vehicles with only minimal aftermarket accessories installed. A Red can still take a number of discharges safely, but not on a regular basis and not nearly as many as a Yellow.
I've had a 35/75 Red Top in my car for over two years now and it has performed very well. I don't have a big system, just an aftermarket HU, although I do have a 50-watt amateur transceiver.

[QUOTE=tompetey]So, I couldn't help but notice that you had some aftermarket cables coming off of your battery terminals....What are you running those to?


The cables are the HyperGround Grounding Kit (I moved it from my RS when I sold it, not sure it does a heck of a lot but I had it so I threw it on) and you can see a fuse holder that's for my auto-IC spray pump.

I am getting a small amp installed in my car and I will be getting a new battery. For some reason, someone suggested a yellow top. I do not understand the differnece between the two. Long story short, if you are running additional accessories off of your red top, I might go that route!


Mulder answered the question nicely, I don't plan on installing an aftermarket stereo super system so for me the red top is fine.

Also, if I do not mind the length of the holding rods, is there any reason that I shouldn't just leave them an incha and a half longer? (other than cosmetics)

No reason to change the rods other than looks. I was tempted to just hit the silver nuts with some black paint and call it good. Eventually I'll get around to getting the right rods :)

Thanks for the info guys - I don't plan on having the amp (which is only 400 watts) running anything more than my components and only while the car is running so maybe I'll just get the red top. I will have to check the price difference! Again, thanks for the good advice guys!

Another thing, will the battery help if I am getting some goofy headlight dim (they are really quick and sporadic)? They happen with the radio off and with the radio on.

Another thing, will the battery help if I am getting some goofy headlight dim (they are really quick and sporadic)? They happen with the radio off and with the radio on.

Only if a weak battery is the cause, otherwise no. Actually I'd recommend finding and fixing the cause of that before installing a new expensive battery, lest you ruin it with a screwy electrical system. Start by checking the battery terminal connections for cleanliness and tightness, then check all the grounds, then put a voltmeter on the battery and make sure the alternator is charging properly.

since I am not in possession of a voltmeter, should I just bring it in to like an autozone where they can test for free? I have cleaned the terminals previously and they are tight. This same thing happened in my other Subaru (97 Legacy GT) and I tried everything including new battery, alternator, ground cables - nothing helped - why are my Subarus cursed?

Yes check all the grounds, bad grounds can cause funky things to happen. There are quite a few under the hood.

http://endwrench.com/images/pdfs/GroundsInfo.pdf