1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

[Mark E.]

I have an opportunity to buy a 1969 battery compartment cut out from its donor car's floor to replace the compartment in a 1970.

Are these two compartments for MY69 and MY70 the same?

I know the holes for the cables moved around year to year, but are they in the same location for 1969 and 1970?
The entire bottom of the 1970's compartment is missing, so I don't have it as a reference. Page 215 of the 1970-72 JG has a photo of the negative cable, but no information for the positive cable. A photo showing the bottom of the overall box for MY70 would be great.

Any other differences?

Thanks again guys!

[Lawrence M.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Mark,
In 1970 the battery was turned around so the cables attached with the battery facing the rear of the compartment. I'm thinking the battery hold down on the bottom of the battery compartment would have also changed.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Mark,
In 1970 the battery was turned around so the cables attached with the battery facing the rear of the compartment. I'm thinking the battery hold down on the bottom of the battery compartment would have also changed.

Thanks for the heads up. That's a big difference. Is the hold down hardware different too?

I ask because I can relocate holes. Hardware is a show stopper.

[Lawrence M.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Mark, I do not know if the hardware changed. I would think the battery hold down hardware itself stayed the same as the late 69 and 1970 batteries were the same.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Thanks for the heads up. That's a big difference. Is the hold down hardware different too?

I ask because I can relocate holes. Hardware is a show stopper.

Mark------

The hold-down hardware and its installation location are the same. The battery cables are different.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Thanks Joe.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

New development: My source, Gulf Coast Corvette, also has several '74 and newer boxes available.

Would these be the same as a 1970 battery box?

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Any help with this question is appreciated.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Any help with this question is appreciated.

Mark------


First of all, the battery box was not a separate component; it was part of a much larger underbody fiberglass panel. I believe it would be extremely difficult to replace that complete panel.

However, if you are talking about removing the battery box section of a donor panel and "grafting" this section onto your car, that's another story. I think it would still be difficult to do properly and virtually impossible to do it in an undetectable manner, but it could be done. In that regard, I believe the battery box section from any 1968-75 Corvette will work OK. Even later to about 1977 ought to work, too.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Joe,

The bottom of the existing box is missing. So I intend to cut a seam in the existing box, trim the donor box accordingly, then splice it in. It's been awhile, but I've done this repair twice before with good result. If the fiberglass work is clean, the work is detectable but only if you're looking for it.

I think you're saying the shape of the box is the same 68-75. But what about location of the cable holes and design of the hold-down hardware? We learned from the posts above the orientation of the battery changed in 1970.

So does this mean 1970-1975 boxes are the same? Including box shape, cable hole locations, hold-down hardware...

[Joe L.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Joe,

The bottom of the existing box is missing. So I intend to cut a seam in the existing box, trim the donor box accordingly, then splice it in. It's been awhile, but I've done this repair twice before with good result. If the fiberglass work is clean, the work is detectable but only if you're looking for it.

I think you're saying the shape of the box is the same 68-75. But what about location of the cable holes and design of the hold-down hardware? We learned from the posts above the orientation of the battery changed in 1970.

So does this mean 1970-1975 boxes are the same? Including box shape, cable hole locations, hold-down hardware...

Mark------


As far as I know, the configuration of the box is the same for 1968-75. The hold-down hardware and location is the same. However, I do not know about the holes for the cables. There may be some difference in that respect, although I fully expect the 1970-75 to be the same in regard to cable holes.

If you've done it before, I guess you ought to know but I do not understand how this repair could be done with near undetectability.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

One trick is to place the seam as high as possible where it's hard to see.

I would greatly appreciate if someone would post a photo of the bottom of a 1970-75 battery box. I'd like to see the location of the cable holes.

[Mark E.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Well, sometimes you just need to do your own research.

I'll look at battery boxes and cable hole locations at the upcoming Frisco Regional and report back.

[Dallas K.]

Re: 1969 vs 1970 Battery Compartment

Mark, Call me. 316 200 4125