Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

[Garry E.]

Has anyone replaced the tar on an older original tar top battery or an older Restoration tar-top unit? What type of tar material did you use, and were you pleased with it? Murray Foreman (Australia) has used a product called Instant Bitumen Bonding Agent with good results. The product flows on "brown", but dries "black". Unfortunately, the product is only sold in Australia.

Any suggestions for an alternative product?

Thanks

Garry Eastwood
#38705

[Duke W.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

I've never done that, but a good product might be Henry's Asphalt Emulsion, readily available from Home Depot. It's a water soluble emulsion of asphalt and clay, but once dry is very "tar like" and is waterproof. Once dry it's relatively soft and flexible, but hardens with time, like most "tar" products. It's easy to apply and work with a brush or putty knife with water cleanup as long as it hasn't hardened and mineral spirits if it does take a set.

I've used it for decades doing maintenance and repairs of my original 46-year old built up roof.

Duke

[Garry E.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

Duke..... thanks for the suggestion!... I've saw this product the other day at HD..... I might give it a try!

[Ronald L.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

The Restorer had an article on this about 8 or so years back, and yes, looking to see what people think will work.

Note that the original seems waxy... brownish in color and the finger nail test ... not too sticky are key to identical in appearance.

The shiny black stuff used by some over the last 20 years doesn't even get close.

[Garry E.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

Thanks..... I'm going to try Henrys Asphalt Emulsion sealer & damproofer.....

[Jaime G.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

Thanks..... I'm going to try Henrys Asphalt Emulsion sealer & damproofer.....

Garry, I applied that material to the battery on my 62 and still got docked by the judges with a standard deduction. All I accomplished
was a tedious job to duplicate the factory appearance. The judges dint buy it. I would not do it again. Just my thoughts.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

Guys - chemically speaking the water based stuff isn't going to work. If you want to get into the details of why not we can, but its NVA to get to what we need to do here.

So back to the basics - what was the original 'tar'?
Tar or a waxy based similar substance?
Does anyone have the battery print?

Tar is black and goes blue in color.

The tar on the original DC12s I have is brownish and waxy looking.

Who has the chem lab to get us an analysis?

[Garry E.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

Jaime..... I know what you are saying..... Carlton and the judges in Denver a few years ago didn't like it either on my '64.... result - standard deduction on my Restoration battery.... However, both my cars have since Duntov'ed and won't be judged again (at least, not by me...). I'll go through the extra effort with this tar simply to try and make this battery and the one on my '57 appear "vintage".....

[Joseph L.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

Getting the sample to a lab is easy. There are several major labs in LA. Run O&G, GRO, BETX and you will have an idea of how much hydrocarbon is in the tar. The question is what to include as solids and how much of the heavy ends is in the tar (the 'wax'). There is a lot of dirt in tar.
Easier is heat up some Henrys, add an equal amount of a specific size coarse sand, and let it set up for several days in the sun. You will see what you have.

[Jaime G.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

Jaime..... I know what you are saying..... Carlton and the judges in Denver a few years ago didn't like it either on my '64.... result - standard deduction on my Restoration battery.... However, both my cars have since Duntov'ed and won't be judged again (at least, not by me...). I'll go through the extra effort with this tar simply to try and make this battery and the one on my '57 appear "vintage".....

Garry, go for it. Thats the true spirit of the hobby. Regards

[Scott S.]

Re: Replacing the "tar" on a tar top battery

I have used roofing tar. The type used on flat roofs. It comes in paper barrels. The roofers breakup the contents and melt it in the tar pot. Just call a flat roofer and they will most likely give you some pieces.
Scott