Replacement battery for 1972 LT1

[Fred H.]

Looking for input on a proper replacement battery for my 1972 LT1. The original Delco battery with ventilated caps has been replaced by the previous owner.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Replacement battery for 1972 LT1

The current replacement is a Group 75 battery.
Menards sells ACDelco batteries, and usually much cheaper than anywhere else.

If you want a reproduction battery, then Jim's Auto Battery now makes them:

https://jimsbatterymfg.com/shop/batteries/general-motors/r89s-b/

Yes, the website is bad; used to be worse. I'd call.

Or, someone who resells Jim's:

https://www.batterycentralmall.com/Batteries/TurboStart/Script/R89_S.html

[Fred H.]

Re: Replacement battery for 1972 LT1

Hi Jim, Thank you for your input. My car is a matching #'s 1972 LT1 Convertible with AC. Almost completed with restoration and want to use whats considered a correct battery>

[Joe L.]

Re: Replacement battery for 1972 LT1

The current replacement is a Group 75 battery.
Menards sells ACDelco batteries, and usually much cheaper than anywhere else.

If you want a reproduction battery, then Jim's Auto Battery now makes them:

https://jimsbatterymfg.com/shop/batteries/general-motors/r89s-b/

Yes, the website is bad; used to be worse. I'd call.

Or, someone who resells Jim's:
https://www.batterycentralmall.com/B...ipt/R89_S.html

Patrick-------


For some strange reason ACDelco specifies a group 75 battery for 1972+ Corvettes while specifying a group 78 for 1969-71. I'd use the group 78 in any 1969-82 Corvette. It's a larger battery with more CCA and it will fit just fine.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Replacement battery for 1972 LT1

Patrick-------


For some strange reason ACDelco specifies a group 75 battery for 1972+ Corvettes while specifying a group 78 for 1969-71. I'd use the group 78 in any 1969-82 Corvette. It's a larger battery with more CCA and it will fit just fine.

Yes, I pulled the 75 from the ACDelco site.
Thanks for the update.

[Joe L.]

Re: Replacement battery for 1972 LT1

Yes, I pulled the 75 from the ACDelco site.
Thanks for the update.

Patrick------


The group 78 battery is also closer to the original R-89 in size. The length and width are almost exactly the same. The group 78 is about an inch less in height, though.

The Group 75 battery is about an inch shorter in length but is otherwise the same as the group 78.

[James G.]

Re: Replacement battery for 1972 LT1

Hi Jim, Thank you for your input. My car is a matching #'s 1972 LT1 Convertible with AC. Almost completed with restoration and want to use whats considered a correct battery>

If you are looking for the least number of points to be deducted, making the car score as high as it can possibly score, then there is no alternative to finding a NOS R89 and adding acid OR finding an old R89 of someone else's, neutralize the acid and gut it, the NOS ones are still fairly common although they are not dirt cheap (nothing is, I have found), occasionally they can be had for under $500.
When it eventually dies, gut it and put a BRAILLE inside, which I intend to do to the NOS one I bought when mine dies.