Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

[Michael J.]

I know no one makes a reproduction of the Freedom II, but I am just trying to find an AC/Delco 75 size battery with only side posts, any one know of a place online or elsewhere? I have tried all the auto parts stores like O'Reilly's, Sears, Walmart, etc. and no luck. Thanks.

[Leif A.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

Michael,
Have you tried these folks?

http://www.batterysales.com/delco-pro.cfm

[Michael J.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

I saw them, but since they have no pictures of any of the batteries, I was not sure which ones would be more correct. Guess I will have to call and see if they can send me some pictures or a better description, thanks.

[John D.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

Michael, According to Tom Kobman of Restoration Battery your battery does not exist. No one is making it he said.
I was on the phone with Tom right after I read your post. So I thought of you and asked him.

But one might think there just has to be something aftermarket wouldn't that would fit as there are a ton of '81's on the road. Maybe a nice black battery of some sort. Good luck, John

[Mark E.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

Does an '81 have vent tubes?

[Joe L.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

I know no one makes a reproduction of the Freedom II, but I am just trying to find an AC/Delco 75 size battery with only side posts, any one know of a place online or elsewhere? I have tried all the auto parts stores like O'Reilly's, Sears, Walmart, etc. and no luck. Thanks.

Michael-------


I didn't realize that an 81 used a group 75 battery. I thought all C3 used a group 78 battery. In any event, will a group 78 fit in the 1981 battery box? If it will, that's what I'd use.

As far as a group 75 goes, the most common configuration in a Delco battery I've found for this size is side terminal only. The dual terminal are harder to find. A group 75 with dual terminals is called a 75DT. My local Delco dealer in Fremont, CA has plenty of the side terminal only group 75's in stock---more than 50. If you want a side terminal, though, they only have 2.

[Michael J.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

John, I have an AC/Delco 7 year Warranty Professional Series 75 battery in the car, and they do make replacements. I have finally found a dealer only 80 miles from me that has them to order. They are not popular batteries.

Mark, no, no vent tubes, the '81 had a maintenance free Freedom II battery, sealed system battery.

[Michael J.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

Thanks Joe, yes, as per judging, it has to be side terminal only. I have found a source only 80 miles away where I can order one, ah, the joys of old cars with odd parts.

[Joe L.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

Thanks Joe, yes, as per judging, it has to be side terminal only. I have found a source only 80 miles away where I can order one, ah, the joys of old cars with odd parts.

Michael-------


Does the judging guide say that it should be a group 75? I realize that AC Delco says that a group 75 is the correct size. However, they say that for most of the C3 years going back to 1972. I can say, for certain, that 1972 Corvettes did not use a battery the physical size of the group 75. They used a battery the size of the group 78.

[Michael J.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

Joe, the TIM & JG for '80-'82 just states the battery was a Freedom II model 695, white case with blue top, maintenance free with no individual cell caps or external venting. It is listed as 465 CCA, but it never states a size, per se. However, if you go to a replacement battery website, it lists size 75 as the one you should use. I don't know the difference between 75 and 78, but I would guess as long as it is an AC/Delco and fits the same, it would be as good as anything for judging.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

I don't know the difference between 75 and 78, but I would guess as long as it is an AC/Delco and fits the same, it would be as good as anything for judging.

Not true. I got significant points deductions for the wrong physical size ACDelco battery when my 72 went through judging.

[Michael J.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

Good to know, the standard deducts do show it has to be the same configuration, maybe the 78 is too big/small to qualify?

[Joe L.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

Good to know, the standard deducts do show it has to be the same configuration, maybe the 78 is too big/small to qualify?

Michael-------


The original batteries used for 1969-74 Corvettes (R79/R89) had the following dimensions:

L=10.25", W=7", H=8.67"

The current Delco group 75 battery has the following dimensions:

L=9.1", W=7.1", H=7.7"

The current Delco group 78 battery has the following dimensions:

L-10.3", W=7.3", H=7.7"

It seems to me that, overall, the current Delco group 78 battery is closer to the original battery size than the Delco group 75.

I do not know what the dimensions were for the Delco batteries originally used in Corvettes from 1975-82. However, my recollection is that they were about the same size as the original 1969-74 batteries.

By the way, the Delco 78 battery supplies about 100 CCA more starting power than a group 75.

[John D.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

The battery situation is just going to keep getting worse as you all know. Only one manufacturer in the USA right now for batteries according to Tom Kobman.
If you are truely serious about buying a repro battery you better hurry as the availabilty of those is drying up. You better get your name on a waiting list as Tom said they are hard to get.
Don't assume a repro part readily available today will be available tomorrow. Getting worse all the time with manufacturer's cutting back because it costs a ton to make a part and the profit is minimal.
Minimum orders kill ya. I had to have a fillister screw made for FI's. Had to order many many 1000's of the screw. More screws of one size than there are FI's. Whew!!!!

[Michael J.]

Re: Source for a replacement AC/Delco battery for an '81 Corvette

The 75 I currently have tightly fits in the compartment, an inch longer would make it very difficult to get in and out I think. The 75 I have has 700 CCA, as do the replacements. I will search around and see if I can find the Freedom II dimensions. The guys over on the Camaro and Firebird forums have been making their own replacements from old Freedom II cases with Optima batteries inside. But not sure I want to go there.