R 89 Battery

[Harmon C.]

I have a couple R 89 batteries some have a smooth top and some have a top with a raised grain texture. They all have the DELCO and ENGERIZER raised on the top face.The sides are the same grained texture on both styles. Are the smooth top R89ST and the R89WT grained on top? Was both originaly installed?

[Ralph S.]

Re: R 89 Battery

I have the original R89W from my 73 it has the grain. It was an option with the small block engine.

[Harmon C.]

Re: R 89 Battery

Thanks Ralph

[Terry M.]

Re: R 89 Battery

Lyle,
Some place between 1995 and 1999 I wrote a story for The Restorer about the first Sealed Side Terminal battery -- That battery was the R79S. That was very shortly followed by the R89S & R89W. In conjunction with that story John Amgwert printed some of the AC Delco supplied prints of those batteries. You may get some insight from those prints.

My best recollection of that situation is that the type of battery R89ST or R89WT should be molded into the side of the case -- I believe near the bottom of the sides -- for the original batteries. Original R89ST batteries have a rubber case with a series of split circles (the AC Delco battery logo) on the sides with a smooth top. The R89WT was the first battery to be mass produced with a plastic case, and the original R89WT batteries had the grain pattern on the sides AND top.

I am not sure what you have if your battery has grained sides and a smooth top.

I believe the reproduction batteries do not have that size indication on the base, and all the reproduction battery cases are molded of plastic.

[Harmon C.]

Re: R 89 Battery

What I have is some R89ST's that came out of PA and R89WT out of OH. As I recall the R89ST's were sold local so in a pinch I bought a couple. It just took a few days to sort it out.Are you coming to the regional this week?

[Terry M.]