Restoration Battery

[Gerard Q.]

Re: Restoration Battery

Gerard, thanks for posting the pic of your setup. I notice your battery/cable orientation (connections facing front) seems to be 180 degees from what's shown in my '72 AIM. Which is right?

Gerard has it backwards.

Yes it's backwards but makes it easier to reach the cutoff switch.

[Jeff A.]

Re: Restoration Battery

I did not like paying $300 for those batterys.
The last time one failed 2 years ago - I made my own.

Took a lead filled battery and hollowed it out from the bottom.


Then I drilled and bolted the posts from the bottom - I attached cables inside.



Then I inserted an Odyssey 925 CCA Racing battery - about $90.


Filled it in with fireproof foam and I was good to go.


2 years and still working good. You would never know the difference.

When this fails - i will just replace the Odyessy.

This was for my A/C car, because the battery faces sideways.
For the 63 - I just used a topper, cut to size to fit in the box.

[Peter G.]

Re: Restoration Battery

I HAD a Restoration Battery in my '73 LS4.

I started having trouble with it not starting the car after one year without any notice! Starts fine one day and then won't turn the engine over!

This battery to me is just for "looks" I have used a trickle charger on it when the car is not driven, I have charged the battery with a "commerical" battery charger and still problems.

The last straw was at the Rocky Mountain Regional this month. Had the Restoration Battery in and on the day of my car to be Flight Judged. It wouldn't turn over the engine! It took me hours to finally get a quick jump from a portable charger from some of my buds.

Lost points on the OPS on "Ease of Start".

Got the car home and put back the Delco Freedom Battery I bought several years ago from by Chevrolet Dealer.

I would rather take the "Standard Deduction" point hit with the Freedom than to have to worry about that Restoration Battery junk.

Some of the guys told me prior to buying the Restoration Battery to not waste my money on it, but I didn't listen.

Replacing and jumping the battery on C3 cars is no easy task with the battery behind the drivers seat.

Just my experience.

[Rich D.]

Re: Restoration Battery

I put a Restoration Battery sealed R79S in my 1970 about three years ago, and proceeded to drive the car almost daily without issue.

Then, about two weeks ago I took the car off the road for some trans/rear end work. When I went to start it the other day, the battery was almost dead. Maybe the clock drains them when you don't drive them regularly?

[Bill M.]

Re: Restoration Battery

Bill;

They (I) used to have a bottle for battery filling that had a nozzle that stuck down into the cell, and would close off or stop the filling at the correct water level (electrolyte). I don't recall exactly how it worked or whether it worked well, but it was a lot less messy.
Stu Fox

Stu:

I remember those. You pushed the filler tube into the cell. That opened the valve and let water run into the cell. The air to replace the water running out came from the end of the filler where the water was entering the cell. If you looked at the end of the filler tube, it was "split". One was water out, one was air in. When the water rose to that level, it shut off the air and the fill stopped. They worked really well. (I guess the depth of water in the battery cells from the top of the case must have been standard!)

[John D.]

Re: Restoration Battery

I have a Restoration Battery (89W) in my 1971 454 Vette. I purchased it in August 2006. It will not hold a charge. It is not a lead acid battery, but a sealed unit in a repro case. What is the life of these. The car is rarely driven and I have charged it twice..Thanks! Jim

Jim, I have the oppposite situation. I have a back up sealed battery for my 63 in case the tar top takes a powder and I am amazed the Resto battery just doesn't discharge. Hard to believe. Course it is still in the original box and I tried to charge it yesterday and it didn't need it. I have owned it for over two years this month. Typically I will charge it every 4 or 5 months. Call Kobman up as he stands behind his product. John

[John D.]

Re: Restoration Battery

Stu, I have an old battery water filler. Works automatically. Spring loaded nozzle on it. Bought it from the Mac Tool guy. I am going to NAPA shortly and will ask them if handle them. Looks like a small water pitcher with spring loaded spout on it. I'll chrip back on if they have them. Course Terry said they are history but I will ask around anyhow. John

[Stuart F.]

Re: Restoration Battery

Thanks John. I sure would be interested in locating another one of those battery fillers. Don't know if we were able to get to the back (outer) cells with them, but I'd sure like to try one again as the turkey baster leaves a lot to be desired. They tell you not to overfill the battery with water too! Ya, Right! Good luck. I never was much at filling a little hole with water to a certain level blindly.

Stu Fox

[Bruce B.]

Re: Restoration Battery

MAC tools sells a 2 quart battery filler which like some others stops at a preset level. It is thier part number BF2108 and sells for $16.99.
It is used primarilly for golf carts and fork lifts.
Check with your local MAC Tool guy.

[John D.]

Re: Restoration Battery

Thanks John. I sure would be interested in locating another one of those battery fillers. Don't know if we were able to get to the back (outer) cells with them, but I'd sure like to try one again as the turkey baster leaves a lot to be desired. They tell you not to overfill the battery with water too! Ya, Right! Good luck. I never was much at filling a little hole with water to a certain level blindly.

Stu Fox

Stu, NAPA sells a a 2 qt bottle and they also sell new nozzles for the bottles. Price for 2 qt is 16.99. Same price as the MAC one that Bruce told us about. Probably same part. Anyhow I ordered a NAPA one for my self a little while ago.If you have trouble finding one let me know. Anyone having the old style batteries should have this on the shelf for sure. Mine has lots of miles on it and is probably 35-40 yrs old. John

[Norm C.]

Re: Restoration Battery

Stu,,,, My other "addiction" besides the Vette, is boating on Puget Sound.

As the greater Seattle area has one of the highest boats to population per capita, we have several large boating supply stores. Cruising boats are known for large and several batteries (both 12v & 6V).... while the industry continues to move towards gel and matt batteries, majority is still wet cell, so those filler bottles are plentiful,,,, ck out any marine supply stores in your area or email me and we'll see what we can do if you're not successful in locating one.

[Pat M.]

Re: Restoration Battery

My resto battery for my 70 is like Gerald's and will hold a charge, and has held up well for 2 years. But it drains fairly quickly if not instantly recharged by the car's system.
Jeff - ingenious job on the hollowed out battery. I kept my 96's original battery for years, and then eventually thought I could find a replacement, so I just took the stickers off and junked the battery.
Not a good idea, since you can no longer find a Duraguard configured exactly right for a 96, and I wasn't even thinking about the date code.
If I would've kept it, I could've tried what Jeff did. Woulda, coulda, shoulda, I guess.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Restoration Battery

Thanks John and Norm for the information and offers to help me locate a fill bottle. I'm sure if I keep my eyes open better and put it on the list for my next NAPA visit I' be able to come up with one. I recall others have said they were running into them at swap meets all the time too. My nearest NAPA is at least a gallon away so I've begun making "to buy" lists.

Stu

[John D.]

Re: Restoration Battery

Thanks John. I sure would be interested in locating another one of those battery fillers. Don't know if we were able to get to the back (outer) cells with them, but I'd sure like to try one again as the turkey baster leaves a lot to be desired. They tell you not to overfill the battery with water too! Ya, Right! Good luck. I never was much at filling a little hole with water to a certain level blindly.

Stu Fox

Stu, Just got a new battery filler from NAPA that I had ordered. I compared it to my very old filler and naturally the new it has been downsized about a quart. But this makes it nice as it should work just fine for a midyear battery now as it is a lot thinner. Part # 700-1161 bat fill- list 24.41. My cost was 19.12 plus tax. John D.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Restoration Battery

John;

Thanks for the heads up on the battery filler. I've made a note of it and will get one on order next time I visit our local NAPA store. Sounds like just the ticket to get the job done right.

Thanks again. I appreciate your thinking to pass this along.

Stu Fox