Battery for C-2

[Hector G.]

The battery in my 66, 427/390, is dead. I need a new battery and plan on showing the car in a year or so. Any suggestions on a battery for the car? Thanks for your help.

Hector

[Greg G.]

Re: Battery for C-2

Hi Hector,

I just purchase a battery from http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/products.htm

For my 1965 396. I believe they have lead acid repoductions that will pass judging. I elected to get the Gel cell repoduction and I am very happy with it. They cover a new modern Gel cell maintance free battery with a case that looks correct for you application. They will even date code it for FREE. I would say it would pass judging as well as any battery out there.

It could take up to 2 weeks to get ( they make them up when ordered) but told them I needed it for a meet and they had it at my house in less than 5 days.

Greg

[Hector G.]

Re: Battery for C-2

Thanks for the info Greg.

[Larry M.]

Re: Battery for C-2

The battery in my 66, 427/390, is dead. I need a new battery and plan on showing the car in a year or so. Any suggestions on a battery for the car? Thanks for your help.

Hector

Hector:

Your primary choices are either a reproduction maintenance-free acid-gel battery, or a 5 YR or 7 YR ACDELCO standard Group 24 battery. I would not even consider a reproduction acid-lead type battery, as they have very poor reliability and life expectancy (2-3 years at best), and also have the potential to leak acid. The reliability of the reproduction maintenance-free battery and the standard ACDELCO battery are much better.

I am not certain if the Year 1966 DC-12 reproduction battery from either ANTIQUE AUTO BATTERY or from RESTORATION BATTERY (www.restorationbattery.com) is 100 percent correct, as I recall hearing some issues with the tar top. This means that the reproduction battery could take a 10 percent originality deduction during judging; the Group 24 ACDELCO battery will take a 50 percent "standard deduction" on originality.

Since a battery has around 15 to 20 originality points assigned to it, a reproduction battery may lose around 2 points and cost $250. The standard Group 24 ACDELCO will lose around 8-10 points and cost a less than $100.

I personally like the look and fit of the reproduction maintenance-free battery and have one for my 1967 Corvette. However on a reliability and $$ per judging point basis, the standard Group 24 ACDELCO is hard to beat.

Larry

[Hector G.]

Re: Battery for C-2

Thanks Larry. Good information. I'm leaning towards purchasing the Delco #24. The price range for the 7yr is $100 to $169.

[Jim T.]

Re: Battery for C-2

Hector AC Delco batteries must of had a big price increase in the last year. I bought a 7 yr professional AC Delco last year and it cost less than $100 from an AC Delco parts store, not a car dealership parts counter. Mine was for my 96 LT4.