Tar Top Battery - Source?

[Rick A.]

Re: Tar Top Battery - Source?

Joe,

Thanks. Spoke with both Restoration Battery and Antique Battery yesterday - both said that as far as they knew, NO ONE actually made a "TRUE" tar top battery. They both said they knew of each other's work and they were similar in appearance, etc.

[Dave Suesz]

The one I have...

has genuine tar on it, and it's a real pain in the a butt. If they are using a pliable polymer, as they now claim, I'd call that an improvement. For the really hard core, who want the sticky gunk on the battery, I suggest they melt some tar and pour it on. The "genuine tar" on my old one was one of the least desirable "OEM style" items on the car.

[Dave Suesz]

Yes! *NM*

[Dave Suesz]

Even the "tar" tops were fake...

The repro "tar tops" I have seen were actually modern construction batteries with plastic tops and tar poured over them. The original "tar tops" had the metal straps connecting the cells across the top, and tar was poured over them to preserve and protect the connectors. I'd be surprised if anyone still makes "real" tar tops.

[Chuck S.]

Well, Rickster...

I am afraid that for you, a genuine tar top battery may be like Stearman biplanes and Colt Single Action Army revolvers...You were born too late! Of course, you can still buy an old biplane or an old Colt Hogleg if you have the Long Green.

Unfortunately, batteries are an expendable commodity...once you start using one by charging it with electrolyte, they have a finite life even when setting on the shelf. I don't know, but I'll bet GM quit making tar top batteries more than thirty years ago, so you could figure any genuine replacement stock is exhausted by now at ANY price.

I know it's no consolation, and that relativism is bad, but everybody needing the tar top battery should have the same problem. They should receive the same deduct...Levels the playing field, so to speak, Right? Unfortunately, maybe not.

A smart judging alternative if the repro tar top batteries aren't working for you is to simply install a modern "Delco" application. You will then get a big portion of the judging points. Or, speaking pragmatically here, you could just resubmit the car for judging with your repro battery, and try to park in the worst lighted area on the judging field. I believe midyear batteries are buried down inside the front fender...hard to believe a judge could even see a good repro well enough to really whack it.

[Mike M.]

I got the same hit

I have a restoration battery in my 65 and got the same deduct last weekend. Mike

[Rick A.]

Re: Well, Rickster...

Chuck,

thank you sir! would think that NCRS would take all of this into account, knowing the "modern" POLY-TAR battery is all that is available, and from a SAFETY view, is much improved over the old. guess, I was just trying to justify why I took the hit

BTW - New Castle Battery has the same design as Restoration and Antique, so we all should be getting the same hits, RIGHT!?

[Mike M.]

Re: Well, Rickster...

all three batteries will score the same (no or minimal deduct) iff same judge, same day.mike

[Chuck S.]

Re: Well, Rickster...

Rick, I believe Mikey understands what I'm saying, and in theory the hits SHOULD be the same. Collectively, NCRS does apply judging standards equally to everyone on how individual components fail to meet originality criteria.

However, individual judges vary in their ability or concern regarding the ultra small details. (You've heard that expression..."The devil's in the details"? ) In my opinion, when requested, the judge should be able to explain deducts by ticking off specific areas where the judged battery (or any component) is different from the original, and is therefore betrayed as a repro. (He said your "tar" was too shiny?) You might lose some judging points, but hopefully receive a worthwhile education on batteries.

In my opinion, the knowledge that genuine tar top batteries are impossible to find is insufficient justification to assume a battery is a repro...judges should be ready, perhaps eager, to show they know the difference. If they don't know how the judged component is different from an unobtainable original, then don't deduct. JMHO.

[Mike M.]

Re: Even the "tar" tops were fake...

Dave: weren't the repo's Dr.ED did in the 80's real tar tops? i've got a couple that i got from him, used to duntov some of my vettes and they then died. i'll check one out next time i go to the barn but i think ed was so compulsive that he wouldn't have settled for a plastic top with tar overlay(although that's what i'd do if i was rick.). m ike

[John M.]

Re: Tar Top Battery - Source?

Rick,
I have known several people who have masked off the strips on the Poly top batteries and have trowled roofing tar on top of it with a small putty knife.
One guy actually sprinkled some dust on top of the fresh tar to "age" it. He took no points on his battery! The point deduct was so small on the Poly top, that I never got up the ambition to pull my battery out and re-work it! There is a point where it just doesn't make much sense to chase any additional points. once you reach the 98% + point on your points, it just gets down to bragging rights. I am sure that I could have worked on the car for another 3 years and not ever reached 100%, so I just took my 99% and called it good.

Regards, John McGraw

[William C.]

Re: Tar Top Battery - Source?

Just for the record, New Castle still makes the reproduction tar tops and will be for the (foresible) future. They are also about to release a polytar sealed battery tar-top lookalike in the near future, with a tar option available for judging. Might want to get a real tartop now and see what the future holds for the "next" battery purchase, PH: 1-800-622-6733

[William C.]

Re: Well, Rickster...

Sorry, the new castle battery is still old fashoned tar, you just have to ask rather than assuming.

[William C.]

Re: Even the "tar" tops were fake...

Yes, Dr Ed made real tar tops, just as New Castle does today!

[Joe R.]

Re: Tar Top Battery - Source?

Just could not help but add my two cents to this string! No judge on the field thinks for one second that there are any "original" tar top batteries in any Corvette. There is no such thing as an "original" battery whether it is New Castle or Antique Auto Battery (Restoration Battery is Antique Auto Battery) so prepare yourself for a slight deduction for a reproduction battery.

The poly-tar battery from Antique Auto Battery (Restoration Battery) is made exactly the same as originals but they use plastic dividers and poly-tar instead of pitch (tar). This leads to a much cleaner battery after dust etc. finds it way to the battery.

Get real and petition the powers that be at NCRS to accept the batteries as they have the belts, radiators and hoses.

Regards,

JR