R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

[Ron N.]

I plan to buy one and install it in my 67. I would appreciate any feedback on what to expect when it's judged in October at the Lone Star Regional.

Thanks.

Ron

[Ray G.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

I plan to buy one and install it in my 67. I would appreciate any feedback on what to expect when it's judged in October at the Lone Star Regional.

Thanks.

Ron

Hello;
Have them in my "Top Flight" Corvettes
Great product in my opinion, minimal point loss. Impossible to have an original.
2 & 3 years old.
Suggest following directions exactly.

Hope this helps.
Ray

[Larry M.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

I plan to buy one and install it in my 67. I would appreciate any feedback on what to expect when it's judged in October at the Lone Star Regional.

Thanks.

Ron

Ron:

I can't say for certain what the Lone Star Regional judges will actually deduct, but batteries are covered in the NCRS Judging Reference Manual under Section 4 Standard Deduction Guidelines:

Deduct 10% if the battery does not have appropriate date and plant stamping.

Deduct 30% for reproduction differing from original design and construction in minor detail.

For 1967 cars, I believe that the battery carries 25 originality points and 15 condition points.

For a current R-59 reproduction maintenance-free battery that is correctly date/location stamped, the originality deduction should be between zero to a max of 7.5 points. Since its new, there should be no condition points deduction.

I would expect a zero deduct, but some judges may find some differences and take the larger number. Judges have been known in the past to "thump" the top cover to see if the upper portion of the battery is hollow, or ask the owner to remove a battery cap to check for acid/lead plates. Other judges have not.

Larry

[Gerard F.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

I plan to buy one and install it in my 67. I would appreciate any feedback on what to expect when it's judged in October at the Lone Star Regional.

Thanks.

Ron

Ron,

I got the standard deduct of 30% on originality (8 points) at a Chapter event on that very battery, correctly dated. I really didn't see how they could tell it was a service replacement battery, but I didn't want to a argue it. Better than the 40 point deduct I got the previous time for my Exide battery.

[Steven C.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Ron:

I can't say for certain what the Lone Star Regional judges will actually deduct, but batteries are covered in the NCRS Judging Reference Manual under Section 4 Standard Deduction Guidelines:

Deduct 10% if the battery does not have appropriate date and plant stamping.

Deduct 30% for reproduction differing from original design and construction in minor detail.

For 1967 cars, I believe that the battery carries 25 originality points and 15 condition points.

For a current R-59 reproduction maintenance-free battery that is correctly date/location stamped, the originality deduction should be between zero to a max of 7.5 points. Since its new, there should be no condition points deduction.

I would expect a zero deduct, but some judges may find some differences and take the larger number. Judges have been known in the past to "thump" the top cover to see if the upper portion of the battery is hollow, or ask the owner to remove a battery cap to check for acid/lead plates. Other judges have not.

Larry

Larry, the standard deduct for the regional team is 7 points (rounded down). It is easily discerable from an original.

[Gerard F.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Larry, the standard deduct for the regional team is 7 points (rounded down). It is easily discerable from an original.

Steven,

Not trying to argue, but let's explore this.

In what way, are they easily discernable from an original?

Before I bought this battery, I was told that this 67 R-59 battery appeared exactly like the original. I even got it date and plant stamped correctly to my car.

Yes, it's a gel battery, and you really can't tell unless you take off one of the caps. I heard sometime back that there was restriction on removing a cap at judging.

Seems like a 30% deduct is a heavy deduct for something that appears like the original and is correctly date/plant stamped.

Seems pretty inconsistent that there is only a 10% deduct for lack of a date/plant stamp. What kind of battery would get a 10% deduct?

Why bother getting this nearly $300 battery date/plant stamped if you are going to get a 30% deduct regardless.

Again, I'm not trying to start an argument. Maybe Restoration Battery will get some corrective information from this thread.

Steve Lavigne, where are you on this? Just trying to get some consistency here.

And having fun,

[Ron N.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

I appreciate your replies. I read the JG but wanted some practical experience input to help me in setting realistic expectations.

Many thanks.
Ron

[Tony S.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Ron. From my experience, the restoration batteries are junk and their warranty is a joke. Other than that, no problems.

Tony

[Jack C.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

I have one in my 68 for nearly a year. I use a Battery Butler when not in use and no problems.

[Stuart F.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Tony;

Like the man said; " you got to follow the directions". Have had mine for 6 years now and the only times it failed is when I failed to keep the water topped up. Here in Florida we perc it out pretty quick with a Battery Minder on and the car sitting (don't know about other regions). It bounced right back each time just by replenishing the distilled water. It tests great too. Have since included it in my prestart maintenance, specially when the car has sat for a few weeks. I don't like the inconvenience, but it's worth having a correct period battery. I even use one of those green eyes in one cell to keep check on it - just like the old days.

Stu Fox

[Rob M.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Ron,

I'm with Jerry on this one. I have a Restoration (maintenance free) battery that was date stamped in my car. I have had it for at least 3 years and have had no problems at all. Regarding judging, it depends on the team I guess. I had no points at the chapter meet, but took 8 at the Tahoe Regional.

I would like to know how it differs in "minor detail" so that I can learn.

Thanks

[Dan H.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Rob, probably the only 'detail' is that it doesn't have is sand and bird feathers stuck in the tar top!
Dan

[Larry M.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Ron,

I'm with Jerry on this one. I have a Restoration (maintenance free) battery that was date stamped in my car. I have had it for at least 3 years and have had no problems at all. Regarding judging, it depends on the team I guess. I had no points at the chapter meet, but took 8 at the Tahoe Regional.

I would like to know how it differs in "minor detail" so that I can learn.

Thanks

Rob:

The 1966 battery is a "tar top", and the current reproductions do have a noticeable difference in this area that is detectable in judging.....unless you revised the "tar" consistancy yourself. Some has done this.

The 1967 R-59 battery does not have this "tar top", and the top cover is made of the same material as the rest of the case. The difference(s) here are the fact that it is (currently) acid/gel and does not contain lead plates and liquid acid. These are not so easily detected unless you remove a filler cap or "thump" the top of the battery case to detect the hollow ring.

Larry

[Tony S.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Tony;

Like the man said; " you got to follow the directions". Have had mine for 6 years now and the only times it failed is when I failed to keep the water topped up. Here in Florida we perc it out pretty quick with a Battery Minder on and the car sitting (don't know about other regions). It bounced right back each time just by replenishing the distilled water. It tests great too. Have since included it in my prestart maintenance, specially when the car has sat for a few weeks. I don't like the inconvenience, but it's worth having a correct period battery. I even use one of those green eyes in one cell to keep check on it - just like the old days.

Stu Fox

I followed the directions. But just try and make a warranty claim. Resto Battery puts you in touch with some gal at the manufacturer/distributor whose personality is the only birth control she needs.

So I call the guy who sells them. Promises to send me a dated replacement before Waco. He has two months to send it to me. Did it ever arrive? No.

I ended up buying a current Delco and am happy with the standard deducts. At least I know it works and I have the satisfaction of knowing that I'm not giving any more money to Resto Battery.

Tony

[Stephen L.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Gerry Fucillo

Steven,

Not trying to argue, but let's explore this.

In what way, are they easily discernable from an original?

Before I bought this battery, I was told that this 67 R-59 battery appeared exactly like the original. I even got it date and plant stamped correctly to my car.

Yes, it's a gel battery, and you really can't tell unless you take off one of the caps. I heard sometime back that there was restriction on removing a cap at judging.

Seems like a 30% deduct is a heavy deduct for something that appears like the original and is correctly date/plant stamped.

Seems pretty inconsistent that there is only a 10% deduct for lack of a date/plant stamp. What kind of battery would get a 10% deduct?

Why bother getting this nearly $300 battery date/plant stamped if you are going to get a 30% deduct regardless.

Again, I'm not trying to start an argument. Maybe Restoration Battery will get some corrective information from this thread.

Steve Lavigne, where are you on this? Just trying to get some consistency here.

And having fun,

I used to have a Restoration Battery in my car in previous years. It never seemed to be fully charged. It finally crapped out and I bought a modern DELCO replacement. It stays fully charged, really spins the engine when starting, and its about 4 years old. I don't use a battery minder or any charger for that matter. Costs less too. A friend made me a date stamp, so I placed that on the battery.