Rick Reece,
I've inquired about whether or not they can get the oem battery, they can't. They, like every other dealership, can only get the civic battery. On that note, the Furukawa's are made in Japan, I wounder how many you'd have to order to get some shipped over to the US. They'd have to ship them dry, but that would be even better because they could stay indeffinitely for later activation and use. Battery acid is cheap enough.
Cakley, keep us updated as I know you will. Don't feel so bad about the cost of the parts. I have a friend who has a newer suburban with 90,000 miles on it that needs 8 new fuel injectors at $90 a pop, and they are on back order. Then factor in about the hour labor for R&R, not a pretty job.