Battery for 1972 LT1

[Heath H.]

Is there a new battery still in production for my 1972 LT1 that would be good for NCRS judging? If so, where would I buy it?

[Don L.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

Hi Heath and welcome to the TDB. Your question leaves for some debate/discussion. There is a feeling from several members here that batteries are a "dollars for points" issue, and that the investment to buy a reproduction battery is not worth the judging points return. I happen to be of the "other school". I want my car, whether it's for judging purposes or for my best attempt to replicate how these cars looked when new. That said, I bought a reproduction battery for my '72 SB in 2008. It just this year began to show signs of weakness (I think I was lucky to get so many years out of it), so I ordered a new one from Jim's Batteries (GOOGLE them) the week before last. I called to follow up yesterday and was told they'd be making a batch of this type battery late this week. I don't know if this means they'll be building some for inventory or not.

Be aware though, this reproduction is just that. There are discernible differences between this repro battery and it's original counterpart. I still like it more than the modern replacement battery in that it looks MUCH like the original when compared to a modern unit and it uses reproduction fill caps and vent tubes, as did the original.

This thread may get some debate and debate is great. If other viewpoints are raised, the value of the thread to you will be that you'll learn a lot about these batteries and you'll see, as a new poster how the TDB works.

And speaking about how the TDB works, look below this thread to see the "Similar Threads" listing. There you'll see discussions about batteries from past postings. See how good this TDB tool is?

Hope this helps,
Don

PS, let's hear about your car. Pics would be good too. Please?

[James G.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

I'm with you Don, I like my cars to be as close to the way they left the factory as humanly possible, so I along with a number of others try to find NOS batteries. Some gut immediately and use a Braille inside, some fill with acid, use til it gives out, then neutralize, gut the (previously) NOS battery, and put a Braille Battery inside case. After my NOS battery (below) gives out(been going for 15 months now) the Braille plan is what I plan on going with.

FWIW people do the same to the reproduction batteries as well... so don't toss your dead repro!

_MG_1153.JPG

[Gary S.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

My opinion is to buy a modern Delco, drive the car to the next meet, paste an NCRS sticker on your window and have a fire extinguisher (both with extra points) and enjoy the car. My non-original, non-Delco battery lasted 12 years and, even then, I only replaced it because I wanted a security blanket. I am part of the dollars for points crowd

[Heath H.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

Thanks everyone. Don, I just bought the car a couple of months ago. It is my first Corvette, but it has 22,000 miles and seems pretty original - even the alternator. But the original battery is long gone. I haven't bought the restoration books yet so I'm not even sure what the exact OE battery model was.

[Heath H.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

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[Larry M.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

Heath,

Very nice looking car. Thanks for posting the photos, and welcome to the NCRS. For your list of restoration books, make sure to include as one of the first, the NCRS Technical Information Manual and Judging Guide for 1970-72, 6th Edition.

Larry

[Don L.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

Thanks for the story and pics of your car, Heath.

I just moved from Michigan to North Carolina, and my reference manuals are still boxed up “somewhere” in the house/garage. Working from memory and a little GOOGLING this morning, I think the restoration battery for your car is the Delco R-89S. I’ve attached a link from Corvette Central's catalog for your consideration.

https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...y-r-89s-173023

Others here may correct me but this is what I think is the one for your application

Hope this helps.

[Larry M.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

I should have thought of this earlier...these pages are from the 5th Edition.
battery 1.pdf
battery 2.pdf

[Edward J.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

There seems to be a lot of original 70/72 cars showing up , I was in New York a couple of weeks ago at a chapter meet and there was a 24K 72 there that was very preserved . By the was Heath very nice car thanks for sharing some pic.s Hope you have plans for judging meets or maybe Bow tie judging in the future.

[Heath H.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

Thanks for the information everyone, and thanks Larry for the photos of the battery pages. I really appreciate it.

[Terry M.]

Re: Battery for 1972 LT1

Just to be precise: the current 1970-72 TIM&JG is the 6th Edition