Battery Replacement

[Leif A.]

Opinions, please. Time to replace the battery on my '67 L79 Coupe with Power Brakes and A/C. I understand I need to remove the wheel and access the battery through the access panel but my question to y'all...who makes the best battery (longest lasting, most cranking hours, amps, etc) for my car. Also, does anyone use a "Battery Tender" for longer life and full charges?

[Harry S.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Leif, since there are no computers in the car simply disconnect the battery when not in use. The battery should be fine. It also provides protection from fires if your harnesses are a bit aged. If your not having your car judged just go for the best battery out there, Optima is a choice I believe else a new Delco should be fine.

[Michael J.]

Re: Battery Replacement

I always use a Battery MINDer Plus on all my classic car batteries. Since mine are not run frequently, this is much cheaper than paying for new batteries every year or two if left to sit and discharge. With new batteries (even the correct older looking ones), when they get discharged very low, they are toast. I have not replaced a battery in five years using the minder.

[Jim H.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Leif, I've used Optimas and smart trickle charge battery tenders for a decade without incident. The fender louvers come in handy to snake the wires through. Nearly ripped it out of the wall first time I backed out w/o removing it, so now I leave a note on the windshield to remind me. I used to have a self contained battery tender on a '57 Belair that mounted via adhesive permanently to the side of the battery with a stub female extension plug. all I had to do was plug into an extension cord. That was convenient. JCH

[Leif A.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Harry, Michael, Jim,thanks for the great advise. I'll proceed with y'alls advice.

[Joe L.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Opinions, please. Time to replace the battery on my '67 L79 Coupe with Power Brakes and A/C. I understand I need to remove the wheel and access the battery through the access panel but my question to y'all...who makes the best battery (longest lasting, most cranking hours, amps, etc) for my car. Also, does anyone use a "Battery Tender" for longer life and full charges?

Leif------


Plan to have the car judged? If so, the only way to go is with a Delco brand battery. That way, you'll receive the least point deduction of any replacement battery. Optima is a great battery but will receive a full deduct.

[Edward I.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Leif ---

Just noticed your post - I just replaced my Delco stock size battery on my '76 with another Delco next physically longer battery this time around. This will be my 4th battery in 38 years, no Battery Tender, no disconnect . Just lucky I guess
At a junk dealer awhile back , noticed a pallet of old batteries ready to be recycled, every brand of battery was represented - get the correct size power wise and put your money down. Good luck.

Ed

[Craig J.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Battery Tenders make a difference in keeping your battery serviceable. I use them on the portable generator, lawn tractor, the Viper, and the Vette.

If you don't worry about originality, a lot of the Viper guys like the Diehard Platinum and the Odyssey batteries. Both are the glass mat design. I've heard Optima batteries are not the same high quality they once were, but that is only second-hand info...

[Leif A.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Thanks to everyone for your responses and personal experiences. Kind of wanting to keep the old girl all GM, so I just ordered a Group 24A-72 Delco battery from a local distributor.

[Jim T.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Leif hope you are getting the top of the line Delco battery. Have Delco's in three Corvettes and have always received very good long service life beyond the warranty period. For a Corvette that is not being used I disconnect the negative cable. I charge the batteries with my 6 amp chargers about every two to three weeks even though they are not being used. I always ask for the newest one on the shelf when I replace a Delco battery. When my sister-in-law's battery needed replacement in her Lincoln Town Car I installed a top of the line Delco.

[Dino L.]

Re: Battery Replacement

I bought a resto tar top that lasted about a year..... I replaced with an exact size Delco group 24, and bought a fake topper that has the filler caps.....looks great. I have rotary knob cutoff switch on the negative and have smart trickle charger on it when the car is not being used, the battery is 6 years old and is still good.

[Leif A.]

Re: Battery Replacement

ordered a battery Minder Model 1500, as well. Already have the cutoff switch on the car. New Delco (TOL), battery MINDer and cutoff switch...should be good for a long time. Thanks everyone for all your input

[Leif A.]

Re: Battery Replacement

OK, I just put a volt meter on the battery. Before start up it shows between 12.6-12.8 volts. When started and idling, shows 13.8-14.2 volts. Revving to 2,000 RPM shows 15-15.. volts. When attaching volt meter to alternator before start up shows 12.6-12.8. When started and idling shows 13.8-14.2 volts. However, under revs to 2,000 it pegs the meter at 16 volts (as high as mine goes). Do I have a bad alternator or bad voltage regulator (or both)??

[Rich G.]

Re: Battery Replacement

I think those readings indicate at least one bad diode. I had a similar situation with my non corvette daily driver. While I was pondering the abnormally high voltage reading two things happened in tandem: the voltage dropped to 12.6 or so and a large cloud of smoke emanated from the alternator.

In an earlier post you said you were going to have the alternator tested. Sounds like a good idea.

Rich

[Wayne W.]

Re: Battery Replacement

Longest lasting and highest cranking amps might be oposing concepts.

Opinions, please. Time to replace the battery on my '67 L79 Coupe with Power Brakes and A/C. I understand I need to remove the wheel and access the battery through the access panel but my question to y'all...who makes the best battery (longest lasting, most cranking hours, amps, etc) for my car. Also, does anyone use a "Battery Tender" for longer life and full charges?