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OK its late, swing shift for me. I looked in the archives and found some threads about how some folks are getting hammered on their reproduction batteries during top-flite judging. Paragon sells a tar top battery. Has anyone ran this battery through judging? One NCRS member with a 65 in the archives suggested calling New Castle battery about their GM licesed batteries. He said that is where he bought his and received no point deductions during judging. I called them today. They will not build them till the end of May. I emailed this NCRS member. Problem: I don't know how he bought one from them when they haven't built one yet. I think it must be a change in ownership?? What are some of your experiences with your battery during judging? Where do you buy your batteries? Mine is supposed to be a tar-top. Thanks DG
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Re: Judging Battery for my 1965
New Castle Batteries was out of business for a time, so if they are operating it is under new ownership and there is no real way to predict the quality of the result from a judging perspective until some are out there. Generally the old new Castle, although not perfect to an experienced eye were a full credit battery.Bill Clupper #618 -
New, "New Castle"; will it have a tar top?
Dick,
Is New Castle going to make the battery with a tar top? I don't think Restoration Battery makes their with a a tar top. Any battery without the gooey top will get a deduct.
GaryComment
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Re: New, "New Castle"; will it have a tar top?
New Castle told me and the picture on their website show it to be a tar top. They have the GM license to reproduce these batteries. I expect a tar top. Reproduction told me they do not have a tar top battery and wants me to call them for details about this. I assume some type of trick to fool the judges. I am not going there. Thanks DGComment
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Trick to make a tar top
Dick,
I think the standard trick it to add something like roofing tar to the top of the battery. I've read that this can work reasonable well in terms of judging so long as the other cosmetics are correct.
GaryComment
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Re: New, "New Castle"; will it have a tar top?
It's only a 5 point deduct out of 4500. For 5 points I'll stick with a battery I can wipe clean. After a while a tar top has layer of dust on it and anything else that happens to stick to it. Thet look a mess after a while.Comment
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Re: New, "New Castle"; will it have a tar top?
Mike, It's an 8 point deduct on the midyears for sure if you use a plastic tar top. I believe Tim Mickey said his crew deducts only 7 points. So it's a 7-8 point hit. My 63 has an original tar top but it doesn't have much cranking power. Good for show though. I also bought a nice back up battery from Tom Kobman-his sealed one. Lots of power for sure. Looks good and lots of cranking. JohnComment
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Re: New, "New Castle"; will it have a tar top?
I have an old New Castle tar top in my car. Purchased it two years ago dated and has been great so far no point loss - I did tell a friend of mine about them lately who was looking for a dated tar top for his 63. He called me with the news that they had been sold and would not be making batteries for a 63 until May. If the new owners get the standards that the old owners had they will put out a real quality product. Trying to keep it clean is another story.Comment
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Re: Trick to make a tar top
I have a 65 Duntov and used Restoration Batteries in all my judgings. They will date code it for you and I am sure I always got full credit.Comment
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Re: Trick to make a tar top
Gary,
Someone told me they look for a neighbor to be recoating their asphalt driveway and ask them for a smidgit of the material. Then they go home and coat the 'tar top' areas with it. They claimed it passes judging every time.
Regards,
Kent KeechKent
1967 327/300 Convert. w/ Air - Duntoved in 1994
1969 427/435 Coupe - 1 previous owner
2006 Coupe - Driver & Fun Car !!!
NCM Founder - Member #718Comment
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Re: Trick to make a tar top
Gary,
Someone told me they look for a neighbor to be recoating their asphalt driveway and ask them for a smidgit of the material. Then they go home and coat the 'tar top' areas with it. They claimed it passes judging every time.
Regards,
Kent KeechKent
1967 327/300 Convert. w/ Air - Duntoved in 1994
1969 427/435 Coupe - 1 previous owner
2006 Coupe - Driver & Fun Car !!!
NCM Founder - Member #718Comment
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Re: New, "New Castle"; will it have a tar top?
I guess I did ok then only lost 5 points at the Windsor national.Comment
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Re: New, "New Castle"; will it have a tar top?
I guess I did ok then only lost 5 points at the Windsor national.Comment
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Re: Judging Battery for my 1965
I didn't know New Castle went out of busines...they seemed to have a good niche business in hot rod and restoration batteries.
Back in the days when some were paying astronomical prices for NOS R89Ws, I called New Castle about reproducing that battery. I talked to one of their top people...they did tool up for the battery, because I later saw it in their catalog. It's still listed in their catalog, but there's a foot note that says it is not currently being stocked. They haven't been stocking it for years to my knowledge; I don't know if they ever made any for sale. Corvette people were too busy buying date-coded restoration batteries, and the New Castle version never caught on in Corvette restoration circles.
I always suspected New Castle made a real battery...not one that would crap out in two years. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to test it.Comment
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Re: Judging Battery for my 1965
I didn't know New Castle went out of busines...they seemed to have a good niche business in hot rod and restoration batteries.
Back in the days when some were paying astronomical prices for NOS R89Ws, I called New Castle about reproducing that battery. I talked to one of their top people...they did tool up for the battery, because I later saw it in their catalog. It's still listed in their catalog, but there's a foot note that says it is not currently being stocked. They haven't been stocking it for years to my knowledge; I don't know if they ever made any for sale. Corvette people were too busy buying date-coded restoration batteries, and the New Castle version never caught on in Corvette restoration circles.
I always suspected New Castle made a real battery...not one that would crap out in two years. Unfortunately, I never got the chance to test it.Comment
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