Delco Batteries

[Bill Clupper]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

In discussions I've had with reproduction battery manufacturers over the years, most of them have stressed that the reproduction batteries of today use much of the modern technology that has neen developed in the last 30 years. I'd suggest that you talk to some of the vendors, David Lane in Hudson Ohio, comes to mind, Others are also knowledgable ant they should be able to provide you the details. I personally have had very satisfactory service life out of the reproduction batteries i've used, and there are several manufacturers at different price levels to choose from.

[Bill Clupper]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

In discussions I've had with reproduction battery manufacturers over the years, most of them have stressed that the reproduction batteries of today use much of the modern technology that has neen developed in the last 30 years. I'd suggest that you talk to some of the vendors, David Lane in Hudson Ohio, comes to mind, Others are also knowledgable ant they should be able to provide you the details. I personally have had very satisfactory service life out of the reproduction batteries i've used, and there are several manufacturers at different price levels to choose from.

[Everett Ogilvie]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

Guess I'll take the plunge. Called the phone number for New Castle, and while the price for the tar top battery I need is more than the $79.00 sale price mentioned for the R59 Delco, it is not that much more than the modern Delco price I was quoted from Chev. parts. New Castle mentioned that the internal technology is up to date, and the warranty is pro-rated for 48 months. What the heck, it should look great sitting in the engine compartment!

Thanks all for the inputs!

[Everett Ogilvie]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

Guess I'll take the plunge. Called the phone number for New Castle, and while the price for the tar top battery I need is more than the $79.00 sale price mentioned for the R59 Delco, it is not that much more than the modern Delco price I was quoted from Chev. parts. New Castle mentioned that the internal technology is up to date, and the warranty is pro-rated for 48 months. What the heck, it should look great sitting in the engine compartment!

Thanks all for the inputs!

[John H.]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

Im not that familiar with the repro tar-tops (I have a correct-configuration new Delco in my '57), but we had three of the tar-top repros go dead over a two-day period at our Chapter Meet in May - didn't want to take and/or hold a charge, don't know which source made them. Doesn't make much sense to me to pay 2X the price of a good current technology battery and have questionable reliability.

[John H.]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

Im not that familiar with the repro tar-tops (I have a correct-configuration new Delco in my '57), but we had three of the tar-top repros go dead over a two-day period at our Chapter Meet in May - didn't want to take and/or hold a charge, don't know which source made them. Doesn't make much sense to me to pay 2X the price of a good current technology battery and have questionable reliability.

[Tom B.]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

John,

Just curious but, what do you think the problem was? Were they new? Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

John,

Just curious but, what do you think the problem was? Were they new? Tom #24014

[John H.]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

Tom - As I remember, one was less than a year old and the other two were less than two years old - just began to get weak and wouldn't hold a charge. Cars ran fine once push-started (on the alternators) or jumped, but wouldn't take enough charge to crank themselves. I'll take the deduct and stick with mine (I did, and still got Top Flight).

[John H.]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

Tom - As I remember, one was less than a year old and the other two were less than two years old - just began to get weak and wouldn't hold a charge. Cars ran fine once push-started (on the alternators) or jumped, but wouldn't take enough charge to crank themselves. I'll take the deduct and stick with mine (I did, and still got Top Flight).

[Tom B.]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

John,

Thanks. Looks like we got way down the line on this one.

I'm really not trying to make a point for or against either type battery. I think both have their respective values. One is newest technology the other "not-so-new-tech", but has "correctness". It did appear that reproductions were getting a bad name early on in the discussion so I asked "why not"? I use them without problems. My car is no trailer queen, but it is Bloomington Gold and I drive it. I also know reproduction batteries cost more, but so does my insurance. Shame on me for admitting it, but SOMETIMES I'll agree with my wife about all that I spend. Thanks again John. Tom #24014

[Tom B.]

Re: Good place to ask: Why not reproductions?

John,

Thanks. Looks like we got way down the line on this one.

I'm really not trying to make a point for or against either type battery. I think both have their respective values. One is newest technology the other "not-so-new-tech", but has "correctness". It did appear that reproductions were getting a bad name early on in the discussion so I asked "why not"? I use them without problems. My car is no trailer queen, but it is Bloomington Gold and I drive it. I also know reproduction batteries cost more, but so does my insurance. Shame on me for admitting it, but SOMETIMES I'll agree with my wife about all that I spend. Thanks again John. Tom #24014