Resto battery

[Paul D.]

Decided to replace resto battery that is over 4 years old in my '67...I ordered new from same vendor as the older battery...
upon swap out I noticed the new battery way heavier than older battery..Anyway I cut the older case and found a small imported battery inside the case with wires up to the terminals...The newer one seems like a dry white lead inside...I have been using this vendor for years and do not know why older battery is small sealed unit....both batteries were pretty close in price....Is the norm to fill the case with an imported small battery?....buyer beware....

[Michael J.]

Re: Resto battery

Did you get it from Restoration Battery? I think they are vendors for ones manufactured by Antique Auto Battery, which seems to make the vast majority of these.

[Jim D.]

Re: Resto battery

Decided to replace resto battery that is over 4 years old in my '67...I ordered new from same vendor as the older battery...
upon swap out I noticed the new battery way heavier than older battery..Anyway I cut the older case and found a small imported battery inside the case with wires up to the terminals...The newer one seems like a dry white lead inside...I have been using this vendor for years and do not know why older battery is small sealed unit....both batteries were pretty close in price....Is the norm to fill the case with an imported small battery?....buyer beware....

Why do you think it's an imported battery? The only "resto" battery maker I know of is Antique Battery (Restoration Battery is only a re-seller) and they use an Odyssey battery that is one of the very few batteries still made in the U.S.A.

[Paul D.]

Re: Resto battery

AAB......10 mm bolts to the leads....Could be made in USA.....I was just wondering why they sent me a lead battery when the last one was smaller one....I did not ask for anything different...I had used AAB for flight and PV with no issues before(2008)....If the small ones were so good why did they send me lead?....Although I did get 4 years of service with a tender hooked up for storage.....just curious....seems like a lot of money for the small unit...

[Patrick H.]

Re: Resto battery

Although I did get 4 years of service with a tender hooked up for storage.

Was it dead?
Just wondering, as I got 9+ years of service from one of the first gel batteries that Restoration Battery sold. It's still in the car, and I'll replace it in the spring.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Resto battery

I ran mine completely dead twice, but it each time it charged back up and is still going strong. My first episode was due to a leaky diode in the alternator. I don't recall the reason for the second episode, but I didn't give up on it either time.bI just have to remember to disconnect my knife ground switch when I put the car away. Sometimes it is more than a month before I can run it again (maybe again for Christmas).

Stu Fox

[Larry M.]

Re: Resto battery

Was it dead?
Just wondering, as I got 9+ years of service from one of the first gel batteries that Restoration Battery sold. It's still in the car, and I'll replace it in the spring.

I agree...................10 years on my AAB/Restoration Battery. Still holds a good charge and starts the car as needed.

I would call your supplier (Restoration Battery??) and ask about the change. Years ago, I used to buy the wet, lead/acid restoration batteries, but they only lasted a few years. The gel cell one is MUCH better................and no acid to leak out on the tray and frame rail.

Larry

[Donald O.]

Re: Resto battery

I have to replace the battery in my 67, I bought and installed it in spring 2000. I no longer has much reserve capacity. I think I paid $49 plus tax at the time.

So should I replace it with a gel or lead acid, with both the same CCAs.

Don

[Frank D.]

Re: Resto battery

I'm not a big fan of the gel batteries, many are. If you're thinking of replacing your battery with one of the restoration batteries the new ones are gel and they sure ain't no $49. More like $270 NOT counting shipping that heavy beast.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Resto battery

At this point in my life I will never attempt to put another heavy lead acid battery in my 63 - ever. The last one I pulled out I had to lift it by pressing it tightly from each side while lifting straight up until I could get a grip under it. I could never do that again. When I put the new gel battery in it was almost a pleasure due to the significant less weight.

I now have a real good Schumacher charger standing by which I use to bring the new battery up to full charge before I attempt a start after the car has sat for sometimes up to a month (lately). It is also good for checking the condition of the charge both by volts and percent.

Afraid the car will have to sit again through January at least while I go north to have my eye surgery to correct the mistake done by one of the central Florida quacks. Now I know what they mean when they say medical care in Florida and Arizona is still like being in the Wild West territories.

Stu Fox

[Jim D.]

Re: Resto battery

At this point in my life I will never attempt to put another heavy lead acid battery in my 63 - ever. The last one I pulled out I had to lift it by pressing it tightly from each side while lifting straight up until I could get a grip under it. I could never do that again. When I put the new gel battery in it was almost a pleasure due to the significant less weight.
Stu Fox

I quit using those heavy lead/acid batteries years ago. I now use Odyssey batteries in all my projects. They have twice the power at half the weight and last 10 years. The one I have for my current project weighs 15 lbs. and is 7" x 7" x 3". Obviously not a direct replacement in any Corvette but it's an example of the superiority of Gel over lead/acid in both size and weight.

P.S. To the O.P. - that is an Odyssey battery in the picture you posted

[Frank D.]

Re: Resto battery

Afraid the car will have to sit again through January at least while I go north to have my eye surgery to correct the mistake done by one of the central Florida quacks. Now I know what they mean when they say medical care in Florida and Arizona is still like being in the Wild West territories.

Stu Fox

That sucks Stu....I've had pretty good luck with the procedures I've had locally around Orlando except for dentists. The yokels around Clermont have one hand in your mouth and the other in your wallet...

I was hoping to see you at Lakeland but - do what ya gotta do..

[Paul D.]

Re: Resto battery

The replacement AAB looks to a lead mat style.....looking at Oddessy site and their batteries are rated at 550 ah.....the older battery was not spinning starter like it did when new......I will save the case if I need to install an Oddessy.....

[Jim D.]

Re: Resto battery

The replacement AAB looks to a lead mat style.....looking at Oddessy site and their batteries are rated at 550 ah.....the older battery was not spinning starter like it did when new......I will save the case if I need to install an Oddessy.....

The Odyssey battery that AAB uses/used in their batteries is not listed on their site and is not available retail. It is made specifically for AAB to use in their products. I meet up with Bruce Essig of Odyssey every year at SEMA so I'll ask him next year what's up with AAB. He's told me some funny stories about them.

[Michael J.]