Re: 70 LT-1 T60 hd battery
Let's separate this into a couple of 1970 issues.
1) The RXXW was the standard battery for the LS5, and the T60 option for the small block -- ALL small blocks. The RXXS was the standard battery for ALL small blocks.
2) Later 1969 and early 1970s (ALL motors) used the R79(X) batteries. Later 1970s used the R89(X) batteries. The difference -- which we covered in the closing days of the old board -- The 79 series batteries had a different thread size for the negative terminal. The positive terminal was 3/8x16 threads -- the negative terminal was 5/16x18 threads.
The later 1970s (and ALL 1971 & 72s) used the 89 series batteries which had the same size threads for both positive and negative terminals -- 3/8x16.
Late 1969 and early 1970 standard battery = R79S
Late 1969 and early 1970 LS5 and T60 battery = R79W
Later 1970 and 1971 & 1972 standard battery = R89S
Later 1970 and 1971 & 1972 LS5 and T60 battery = R89W
I can't remember when we estimated the change took place (I'll leave it to you guys to look up), but if you have a funky (how's that for a technical term?) bolt for the negative terminal -- or maybe even one of those replacement clamp on terminals for the negative only -- odds are good your car had a 79 series battery originally.
I don't remember borrowing anyone's battery for my car. I have an R89S on the shelf -- long dead now -- that functioned fine for judging. It was a fresh dry-charge that I put in service just for the judging. It easily lasted the several years I spent in that process. In fact Tom Kubman gave me the R79S sticker that I put on -- SERVICE REPLACEMENT batteries (which this is/was didn't come with the assembly line sticker. I also have an R79S dry charged sitting on the shelf as a museum piece. It will not be put into service by me in my lifetime. Few noticed the 89 battery with a 79 sticker on it, but it was fun when they did.
There is a whole other story about the size and style of the battery terminal bolts – but that is another story for another thread – or look it up in the old Restorers – there are descriptions and photos there.
The definitive reference to the early side terminal batteries and their cable terminations was a series of three stories that I did for John Amgwert in the late '80s, one of which was a first person account of the introduction of the side terminal battery into the Chevrolet line by the Delco representative to Chevrolet in 1969 and 1970. BTW: I see from my Cadillac Club publication he is still alive. He is one of the founders of that club and lives in Arizona. Those stories included line drawings and photo images generously supplied by Delco. There is no way one could duplicate those stories today -- the reference materials now exist only in the NCRS archives.
To cut the cheese a little finer – since NCRS does not judge window stickers – most folks have used the reproduction R89W – that was the only reproduction side terminal battery available for some time. I believe there is or was an R89S available for a while, but I am not sure of the current state of the reproduction market. Since I am no longer team leader I don’t keep up with the market place. Anyway, since we don’t judge window stickers any side terminal C3 (except late 1969 and early 1970) could have come with an R89W. I think the deduct for the 89 series battery in place of the 79 series is minor – but of course the least expensive option is the current service replacement Delco. Now that Delco batteries are not made by Delco (you should see what the new C6 battery looks like – not even worthy of a Corvette) there may be a greater deduction for lack of configuration. You would be wise to check with the team leaders about that issue if you decide to go that route. They now look like they have caps that open – and not the Delco Eye caps either.
Sorry this is so long – I hope y’all can make sense out of it.
Let's separate this into a couple of 1970 issues.
1) The RXXW was the standard battery for the LS5, and the T60 option for the small block -- ALL small blocks. The RXXS was the standard battery for ALL small blocks.
2) Later 1969 and early 1970s (ALL motors) used the R79(X) batteries. Later 1970s used the R89(X) batteries. The difference -- which we covered in the closing days of the old board -- The 79 series batteries had a different thread size for the negative terminal. The positive terminal was 3/8x16 threads -- the negative terminal was 5/16x18 threads.
The later 1970s (and ALL 1971 & 72s) used the 89 series batteries which had the same size threads for both positive and negative terminals -- 3/8x16.
Late 1969 and early 1970 standard battery = R79S
Late 1969 and early 1970 LS5 and T60 battery = R79W
Later 1970 and 1971 & 1972 standard battery = R89S
Later 1970 and 1971 & 1972 LS5 and T60 battery = R89W
I can't remember when we estimated the change took place (I'll leave it to you guys to look up), but if you have a funky (how's that for a technical term?) bolt for the negative terminal -- or maybe even one of those replacement clamp on terminals for the negative only -- odds are good your car had a 79 series battery originally.
I don't remember borrowing anyone's battery for my car. I have an R89S on the shelf -- long dead now -- that functioned fine for judging. It was a fresh dry-charge that I put in service just for the judging. It easily lasted the several years I spent in that process. In fact Tom Kubman gave me the R79S sticker that I put on -- SERVICE REPLACEMENT batteries (which this is/was didn't come with the assembly line sticker. I also have an R79S dry charged sitting on the shelf as a museum piece. It will not be put into service by me in my lifetime. Few noticed the 89 battery with a 79 sticker on it, but it was fun when they did.
There is a whole other story about the size and style of the battery terminal bolts – but that is another story for another thread – or look it up in the old Restorers – there are descriptions and photos there.
The definitive reference to the early side terminal batteries and their cable terminations was a series of three stories that I did for John Amgwert in the late '80s, one of which was a first person account of the introduction of the side terminal battery into the Chevrolet line by the Delco representative to Chevrolet in 1969 and 1970. BTW: I see from my Cadillac Club publication he is still alive. He is one of the founders of that club and lives in Arizona. Those stories included line drawings and photo images generously supplied by Delco. There is no way one could duplicate those stories today -- the reference materials now exist only in the NCRS archives.
To cut the cheese a little finer – since NCRS does not judge window stickers – most folks have used the reproduction R89W – that was the only reproduction side terminal battery available for some time. I believe there is or was an R89S available for a while, but I am not sure of the current state of the reproduction market. Since I am no longer team leader I don’t keep up with the market place. Anyway, since we don’t judge window stickers any side terminal C3 (except late 1969 and early 1970) could have come with an R89W. I think the deduct for the 89 series battery in place of the 79 series is minor – but of course the least expensive option is the current service replacement Delco. Now that Delco batteries are not made by Delco (you should see what the new C6 battery looks like – not even worthy of a Corvette) there may be a greater deduction for lack of configuration. You would be wise to check with the team leaders about that issue if you decide to go that route. They now look like they have caps that open – and not the Delco Eye caps either.
Sorry this is so long – I hope y’all can make sense out of it.
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