Delco Freedom Battery

[Pat F.]

Looking to locate a Delco Freedom Battery, Cat No 655, series side terminal number 75. This is the LT1 Battery in a 1993. Have tried many places but I am finding that this battery is too new for restoration purposes. Have put out Wanted Dead or Alive Posters at local Dealerships and Junk Yards. Been a member for 27 years and finally have chance to have my car judged. Just a little help from my friends would be greatly appreciated.

If you want you can contact me at fulassoc@comcast.net

Thanks in advance


Thanks in advance.

[Joe L.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Looking to locate a Delco Freedom Battery, Cat No 655, series side terminal number 75. This is the LT1 Battery in a 1993. Have tried many places but I am finding that this battery is too new for restoration purposes. Have put out Wanted Dead or Alive Posters at local Dealerships and Junk Yards. Been a member for 27 years and finally have chance to have my car judged. Just a little help from my friends would be greatly appreciated.

If you want you can contact me at fulassoc@comcast.net

Thanks in advance


Thanks in advance.

Charlie-----

As you know, these batteries were a "sealed" type battery. As such, they are an inherently "wet charged" battery. This means that even if you were to find an NOS example, the chances that it would still work would be slim to none. Plus, for a totally correct battery you would need to find a 75B. These were extremely rare in Delco SERVICE battery inventories of the day. So, finding one now would be a lot harder than finding a needle in a haystack. And if you did find one, you'd have to also find one that still works.

[Pat F.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Charlie-----

As you know, these batteries were a "sealed" type battery. As such, they are an inherently "wet charged" battery. This means that even if you were to find an NOS example, the chances that it would still work would be slim to none. Plus, for a totally correct battery you would need to find a 75B. These were extremely rare in Delco SERVICE battery inventories of the day. So, finding one now would be a lot harder than finding a needle in a haystack. And if you did find one, you'd have to also find one that still works.

Joe, being a long time member but new at trying to get a corvette judged, do you have any suggestions on locating a battery or do I just take my lumps at judging?

Thanks
Charlie

[Patrick H.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Some people have had batterys "re-cored" (I'm not sure that is the correct term).

You might check with Antique Auto Battery at http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/

They "might" be able to help you.

Patrick

[Pat F.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Some people have had batterys "re-cored" (I'm not sure that is the correct term).

You might check with Antique Auto Battery at http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/

They "might" be able to help you.

Patrick

Thanks for the information. I will give them a try. I don't even have a core to be recored. That is I guess my first step.

Charlie

[Joe L.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Joe, being a long time member but new at trying to get a corvette judged, do you have any suggestions on locating a battery or do I just take my lumps at judging?

Thanks
Charlie

Charlie-----


At this point, even finding a used 75B of the original configuration is going to be difficult. I would expect that the vast majority of these batteries have been recycled by now. I would just obtain a current Delco group 75 battery and be done with it. To do otherwise is going to involve WAY more hassle and expense than the "points" involved justify.

Also keep in mind that even if you find an "NOS" battery, working or not, SERVICE Delco batteries usually have different labeling than those used in the PRODUCTION. So, a SERVICE battery will not be entirely correct, either.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Thanks for the information. I will give them a try. I don't even have a core to be recored. That is I guess my first step.

Charlie

Oh, OK.
I thought you might have still had yours.

Then as Joe mentions your next best option is likely to just buy the current battery and not worry about a few points.

Patrick

[Tom H.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Don't give up, Charlie !!

I know there are guys out there who saved their original batteries. There will be on that shows up for you to examine.

I wonder what the chances are of someone reproducing the correct label for these batteries ??

Tom

[Pat F.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Charlie-----


At this point, even finding a used 75B of the original configuration is going to be difficult. I would expect that the vast majority of these batteries have been recycled by now. I would just obtain a current Delco group 75 battery and be done with it. To do otherwise is going to involve WAY more hassle and expense than the "points" involved justify.

Also keep in mind that even if you find an "NOS" battery, working or not, SERVICE Delco batteries usually have different labeling than those used in the PRODUCTION. So, a SERVICE battery will not be entirely correct, either.

Joe, thanks very much for your time and information. I just didn't want to loose all those points if I could help it.

Charlie Fullam

[Pat F.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Tom, you are right on both points. I will keep you updated and look to receive your packages this week.

Charlie

[Pat F.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Patrick, thanks for your response and information, as I mentioned to Joe, I just didn't want to loose everything on the battery.

Once again thanks for your time.

Charlie

[Lyndon S.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

[Joe L.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

Patrick, thanks for your response and information, as I mentioned to Joe, I just didn't want to loose everything on the battery.

Once again thanks for your time.

Charlie

Charlie-----


As others have mentioned, it's perfectly ok to keep looking for one. It's always nice to, at least, know what the original looked like. However, knowing what one looked like and having an actual usable battery are two different things. For the most part, batteries are like living things; they live until they die. When they die, that's the end of it; there's no "resurrection".

I'll be VERY interested to learn of what you find out when you contact Restoration Battery regarding the possibility of rebuilding one of these batteries. The Delco group 75 battery is a relative small, sealed battery. I just don't see how it would be possible to rebuild one of these things and maintain anything like original performance. But, we'll see. At least, if you find out that the battery is not rebuildable then you'll know that your quest for an original is merely academic. That's fine, though; I often go to great lengths to inspect or obtain parts for which my interest is purely academic.

Interestingly, yesterday I went to a car show with a LONG-TIME friend of mine that's also the original owner of a 1970 Camaro Z-28 which he factory-ordered. I've mentioned this car before here. It has 181 original miles; he drove it only the first day he took delivery of it. He mentioned to me yesterday that the only original part that's not on the car is the battery. I knew that but I guess he forgot that I knew. I recall that he removed the battery from the car not long after he parked it in his parents' garage and put it on a shelf. Eventually, the battery leaked and he disposed of it. I would probably have done the same thing. In fact, I recycled the original battery from my original owner 1992 Corvette years ago. A battery sitting around and waiting to leak is just something I don't want to have around.

[Pat F.]

Re: Delco Freedom Battery

__________
Kelly

You outlook is exactly the one I am taking. I appreciate all the advice from other members and never having taken a corvette through judging, I am keeping track of it all. This is a great place to find out little things that no one else has.

Charlie