Tar Top Battery Acid Spill

[Peter M.]

I normally use a modern sealed low maintenance battery in my 66 BB. Any secrets/lessons learned when installing an original type tar top Delco battery ? I am concerned re boil over and other spills when running this battery to/from shows etc. Example - can I run the acid just a tad below the plates or at plate level - not do harm to the battery or the crank power and eliminate boil over or slosh effect ?

[Rick H.]

Re: Tar Top Battery Acid Spill

Though I have not run such a battery on my vette, I did use it extensively on my 55 passenger car. I ran the acid to spec level, which is the bottom of th cyinders in each cell and I had no spillage problems whatsoever. The only problems I had were when showing the tar melts and if it is windy all kinds of gunk gets in the tar and makes it hard to clean. Of course if you are overchargind the battery....

[William C.]

Re: Tar Top Battery Acid Spill

Rick is on the correct path, properly filled (1/4 inch above the top of the plates, there is no acid outgassing from the battery unless it is being overcharged. I have run a Tar top in my '62 for about 6 years now and it is not a problem as long as you top off the water level occasionally and keep the charging system to spec.