I'm halfway through the install today (got dark last night, ironically). I'm
putting a deep cycle Optima yellow top in an 83 Westy as the 2nd battery.

Great directions at:  http://www.vanagon.com/index.html

Not sure what kind of seats and swivel bases other installers have had, but
I was able to simply spin my swivel plate around until the battery
compartment was completely open. I did notice that the swivel base on the
driver's side is black and the passenger's is the orange bus color.
Replacement driver's swivel base?

Glad I bought the Optima with the side post option. I paid $145 for the
battery at a local auto parts store here at North Lake Tahoe.

Where does everybody ground their second battery?

Good luck,

Eric Henry
83 Vanagon, as yet unnamed but am considering "The Great Pumpkin"

----------
>From: Phil Walker <pwalker@NEXTDIMENGINEERING.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Smaller sized Optima battery?
>Date: Sat, Oct 14, 2000, 5:40 PM
>

> Has anyone installed a smaller Optima or other sealed battery in their
> Vanagon that prevents them from having to cut the sheet metal? I'd rather
> not have to hack away at things like it sounds if I go for the standard
> Optima battery.
>
> Phil Walker
> 89 Westy
>