C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

[Ed H.]

I just purchased a 93 Ruby ZR-1 with 16K miles. In 2007, these years (92-93) will be accepted for NCRS judging. There are two items that appear to have gone the way of Airbox 57,s and original L-88/89. The original black 970C oil filter and the big item, the maintenance free Freedom Battery 75-Series, date coded. I talked to Restoration Battery Co. and was told GM will not give up the tooling for the cases. I asked if the top of an original 75 Series battery could be cut off. The reply was yes, but they can'nt be reglued due to the type of plastic they are contructed from. He said they tried, but no glue, presently available on any market, will seal the battery. If they can'nt be reproduced, and the shelf life of one of these 75 series batteries is 6 years (long dead) it appears NCRS will have to make some type of concession for this problem. As far as oil filter is concerned, you can take a current 970C, Blue in color, part number 155(last three), have the stick on lable reproduced, and painted black. I am looking for any comments from the large group of restoration experts or C-4 judges.

[Mike M.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

i've been meaning to try the following: cut the bottom out of the original battery, solder battery cable to each underside post on the original battery and solder battery cable ends on the opposite ends of the hidden battery cables you soldered to the underside post. get a small battry that will fit up inside the empty case of your original battery sans bottom. hook up the cables to the smaller battery and fire up your LT5. let me know if it works and what small battery will fit and have the highest cold cranking rating you can find. good luck, mike.

[Harmon C.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

Mike has the right idea on the battery. NCRS dosen't change the rules just cause money can't buy a part that will judge correct. Their will be someone who will fix an old case and make it appear correct and get all the points. Everybody including the judge will know they have been had but it will appear correct.Their has been a change in the points deducted if the proper cold cranking amps is not made by GM any more in the later model Corvettes. But you still lose some points.

Lyle

[John D.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

Ed, The black ZR1 oil filters are not that hard to find. I see them on ebay often and the price is not out of sight. Having the decals made by a printing company is a major expense because the minimum order is typically 1000 labels. Ran into that problem with my May '83 car since the 84 to 91 C4's use the black PF25 filters. Repro labels are being made though for the PF 25 and they are dead nuts. None being made for your car though.
If you use a current Delco battery in your Corvette you get a 50% deduct. If you find an old original and it's no good it can be rebuilt with no fuss. Consult the 90-91 team leader, Tom Barr for info on having your original battery rebuilt. Barrhere@aol.com John D.

[Michael W.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

I bet every restorer here can think of at least half a dozen items on their favourite year cars that are not available for love nor money.

Nothing unusual about your situation that would warrant 'changing the rules'

[Ed H.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

John,
I E-Mailed Tom Barr and advised him that the E-Bay 970C oil filter is the current replacemant from Chevrolet. The E-Bay unit has the word "Duraguard" and the lable is the wrong color and appearence from the original filter. Who is repoing the P25 filter. Maybe I can go to them and convince them that by 2008 all of the ZR-1's (6,000+) corvettes will be authorized for NCRS judging. Parts sales for the ZR's will begin to rise.

[Ed H.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

Mike,
you have a valid point. I am taking my 57 270 to San Antonio for the Duntov. It has been an uphill climb regarding parts. My point was, how to pass judging, I understand about not changing the rules, as I have been following the rules of NCRS since I started my 57 project. Ve have our Vays. What I am looking for is reasonable alternatives. I have received a good one regarding the battery, build your own and pray for the best. But I need to know what the 92-93 battery looked like (photo). The oil filter situation seems a problem as I can't find out if the 90-91 filter and the 92-93 filter were the same. As a trained detective, I will start with the people that probably have a lot more knowledge than I, then attempt to solve the mystery.

[Mike M.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

ed: i have the original filters off my 90 ZR1 and the 95 crate LT5 that i've installed in the 41 willys. if i can get them both together, i'll see if there are any differences(doubt there are). mike

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

you can get the filter form the paddock for 3.95 ea they say they have black ZR-1 oil filters fits 90-95 PF 9070C. you might want to pick up a few!

[Ed H.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

Mike,
As I told Tom Barr, in an E-Mail I just transmitted to him, all 93-95 LT5 motors were built in 1993. I have a photo of the last motor #311230002, built on Nov, 21, 1993 at 1:30 PM. If you could take a photo of your 90 and your 95 oil filter lables, post or e-mail the photo I would be in your debt. I was contacted by Al Tremain, who is the manual coordinator for the forth coming 92-93 Tech & Judging quide. He wants me to do a photo shoot of my 93 ZR to go into the manual. The only thing I do not have on the vette is the original oil filter and battery.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

According to a talk several years ago that my Dad had with an ACDelco battery engineer, the only difference in the Corvette battery and the other Grp 75 battery at the time was the location of the "green eye". This was due to the placement of the hood latch and vacuum can right abore the battery in a Corvette which made the "typical" location not useful.

For service, GM doesn't care, and has eliminated the "original" style Grp 75 battery. We just replaced the one in our 92, and my friend did his last year. He still has the original 92 battery for possible judging purposes. As far as I could tell with a quick glance, the eye is the only difference in structure. Labels are another item, but they are not impossible to duplicate oneself.

Patrick

[Ed H.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

Lyndon,
I live in Las Vegas, and the only paddock I am familier with is the one's they show at the sportsbook in the casino's. Please help me, where or what is the paddock

[Ed H.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

Patrick,
you are right, the sight glass was placed on the negative side of the battery. Also the cranking amps were 75-525 for the L-98 and the B2K(Callaway Option). The ZR-1 was 75-695, representing 695 cranking amps.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

The Paddock 800 428 4319 www.paddockparts.com

[Joe L.]

Re: C-4 Oil Filter & Battery re ZR-1

Patrick-----

That's correct. The Group 75 batteries were of 2 types-----the 75A and the 75B. The 75A was used for the vast majority of applications using the Group 75 battery. The 75B was used for Corvettes only. The only difference was the location of the "Delco Eye".

Delco Group 75B batteries were always difficult to find. They were once available through Delco dealers but they were a special order item. Because of the way in which batteries are ordered and distributed, most Delco dealers were loathe to special order a battery, especially when a 75A would be acceptable to 99.999% of the Corvette customers of the period.