Battery bad, dead, removal a problem Optima

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Help Please! My 33 I purchased used. Now the Optima battery has died and I am in the process of replacement.
Took seats out
removed radio speakers from panel below waterfall
removed passenger side access panel
loosened Optima battery
tried to take out through hole for access panel hole , too large will not fit.
How do I get it out??
There is a cross member under the car, welded in about 3/4 in. tubing at about atIMG_0007[1].jpg 45 degree angle. I could cut it out then replace it somehow?IMG_0008[1].jpg
Any better ideas will be welcome.

[TigerBill]

Ugh oh. I tried to use an optima battery and could not get it in, so went with an Odessey. Good luck. The AGM type batteries seem to have a habit of dying suddenly. When they drop below a certain voltage regular chargers wont recharge them, but I read where sometimes they can be revived by hooking them in parallel with a good battery and charging them both together. Might be worth a shot if you really can't get it out without cutting something.

[michael everson]

I bet it was installed before the fuel tank. Good luck. You could try from under the car, but doubt it will come out. Time to cut something. Wonder if you could safely destroy the battery then install a smaller one.
Mike

[68GT500MAN]

Optima now makes a charger specifically designed to charge these batteries. It is pricy, but works great.
Doug

[Silent T]

I also had an optima go completely dead on me and not take a charge after only being two years old.
I followed this dude's instruction:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slqd73ZOQvI