R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

[Clark K.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

At our chapter meet last month we were told specifically by the team leader that peeking under the battery caps to look for gel was a big no-no.

Peeking under the battery caps will only show a shallow dry cylinder that is sealed off from the internals. There is no "gel", or anything else to see, under the caps. The instructions that came with the battery in question stated that the new owner should NOT put water or water/acid into these small areas. -Clark

[Clark K.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

In my opinion, Antique Auto Battery ( info@antiqueautobattery.com -or- 330-425-2395 ) is the source for the most authentic restoration batteries for C2s. For a 1963-1966 Sting Ray, order their DC12 battery. Eckler's sells the same DC12 for $289.99 and it is "drop-shipped" to you from Antique Auto Battery.

This is Antique Auto Battery's description of the DC12 ('63-'66) battery: "Black hard rubber case with "DELCO" in raised letters on the side, POLY-TAR top with "DELCO" yellow/black caps or black/yellow caps. 100% CORRECT".

For a 1967 Sting Ray, order their GR59 battery. The description for their GR59: "Black hard rubber case with Delco half circles on the side, "DELCO ENERGIZER" on top cover, five push in Delco caps and one Delco eye cap with Delco half circle in red-orange & correct decal in black and silver. 100% CORRECT".

I find it interesting that the last words the vendor uses to describe these two repro batteries is "100% correct". Are we going to start sticking nails in tires to ascertain that the rubber compound is the same as the original tires? Are we going to use light meters to determine the reflection rate from chrome bumpers? No. Then there should be no "tests" not covered in the JG to determine correct batteries.

The 1965 JG makes no provisions for removing battery caps, thumping the battery case, poking a fingernail into the "tar" top, or anything else. In my opinion, any judge that interprets the JG as allowing such "tests" for originality is at the least nitpicking and at worse, in violation of the JG. The spirit of the JG is for the car to attain the appearance and functionality at the time of new-car dealer prep. This particular repro battery does both.

If your reproduction battery, manufactured by Antique Auto Battery, correctly date-stamped on the battery case, suffers originality point deductions from any NCRS judge at any level, I recommend that you politely protest such deductions using the above reasons.
-Clark

[Clark K.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Clark,

Does it actually have tar-like material on top? Or just plastic that "looks like" tar?

If it is just plastic, then it is discernible. Some owners go through the process of adding just a tiny layer of tar to the top to complete the illusion. Those guys should get the credit.

Patrick

Patrick, the battery in question appears, without touching the top, to be indiscernible from original tar-top batteries. The JG only covers the visual appearance of the battery.

[Patrick H.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Patrick, the battery in question appears, without touching the top, to be indiscernible from original tar-top batteries. The JG only covers the visual appearance of the battery.

Unfortunately the judging field and the judging guide don't always address the same issues. So, just as judges are allowed to touch some items of the car they are likely allowed to touch the top of a battery to evaluate for tar, and its presence or absence. And, since touching the top surface of a battery doesn't fall under a safety category I suspect that it will continue to occur as a way to separate the "real" from the repro tar top batteries.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Clark,
There are numerous tests that are routinely done by judges that are not mentioned in the Judging GUIDE. Exterior judges check for clips and weights on the outside of the wheels using a business or credit card; operations judges do all kinds of checks not spelled out in the Judging GUIDE. A judging technique DOES NOT need to be spelled out in the Judging GUIDEGUIDES, but I would be surprised if that technique is called out there.

Protest away.

[Peter G.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

After several Chapter members advised me against buying a Restoration Battery for my '73 LS4 I did purchase one.

Like others who have posted I had nothing but trouble with the battery. Maybe the first year it worked like it should, but after that it was just not dependable.

At the Denver Regional 2008 it would not start the car and I took a pretty good hit on ops for it! As it turned out it was the difference that kept me from making "Top Flight" at the event. Not to say the problem of getting the car started and driving it back home thirty miles.

The battery is expensive. It looks nice, but....

I put a Delco battery and just take the standard deduct. The car starts every time and the car gets a consistent "Top Flight" when judged.

I have the Restoration Battery on my workbench thinking that I would put it in the Corvette again. I have a battery minder on it all the time and the lights indicate "ALWAYS" charging! The battery isn't hooked up to anything except the minder?

Sorry, it wasn't a good experience for me. Maybe I got a bad battery?

[Bill S.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

i bought a lead acid r59 for my car. it has never been filled and charged. i understand they are out of production. how and where were they dated?

[Jeff A.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Terry, I would be surprised if gel type do NOT need a battery tender. I have heard of battery tenders on C5s with gel type batteries all the time.

Someone else will hopefully confirm this for us.

Chris,
I recently took delivery of a Restoration gel battery for my '66. Enclosed with the battery (on hot pink paper) was a notice stating the following:
"ATTENTION - Because we have been in the battery business for over 30 years...we KNOW that your classic car is NOT driven enough to maintain your battery. Therefore, Restoration Battery highly recommends maintaining and extending your battery's life with the BATTERY MINDER PLUS."
They further go on to offer the Battery Minder Plus for $48 (w/free shipping).
Hope that clears things up.
Jeff

[Scott S.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Gerry Fucillo

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.

Under "Battery & caps", the Judging Sheet says Originality is worth 25 points, and Condition is worth 15 points. The NCRS Judging Reference Manual says 10% deduct for missing plant & date stamp, and 50% deduct for a correctly sized Delco service replacement.

Do I understand correctly that a modern Delco replacement battery would cost 12.5 Originality points (25 - 50%), and with a correct date/plant stamp you would not get the 10% deduct, and condition (if new) would take no deduct?

In the above scenario, out of 40 points possible for the battery, you should "only" lose 12.5 points?

[John H.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Do I understand correctly that a modern Delco replacement battery would cost 12.5 Originality points (25 - 50%), and with a correct date/plant stamp you would not get the 10% deduct, and condition (if new) would take no deduct?

In the above scenario, out of 40 points possible for the battery, you should "only" lose 12.5 points?

There's no way to have a correct plant/date stamp with a modern Delco replacement, so that doesn't apply.

If you have a modern Delco replacement (as I do on my cars), you'll get a 50% standard deduction against the 25 originality points (13 points).

[Scott S.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

There's no way to have a correct plant/date stamp with a modern Delco replacement, so that doesn't apply.

If you have a modern Delco replacement (as I do on my cars), you'll get a 50% standard deduction against the 25 originality points (13 points).

Thanks John, I understand now.

Scott

[Joe R.]

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

Hi Ron:

I have a dated battery from Restoration Battery in my 67. It was a zero-deduct at the Boston Regional in 2006 and again at the Boston National in 2007.

I had heard that the standard-type battery (called "flooded wet cell") that Restoration Battery sells does not last long, so I spent the extra money to get an Optima AGM type (sometimes called a "gel cell," but not quite the same technology).

One advantage of the Optima AGM technology is that it has a very low self-discharge rate, so it doesn't need to be kept on a trickle charger as long as there is no external drain on it, even for periods of a couple months. During the winter I sometimes go for a couple months without starting my 67, and I have never detected any difference in the cranking speed whether it has been two days or two months since I last started the car. I do use a battery disconnect switch, so there is no external load whatsoever on the battery while the car is stored.

Another advantage of the Optima battery is that it's easier to handle during installation, since there is nothing to spill.

[Russ S.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

In my opinion, Antique Auto Battery ( info@antiqueautobattery.com -or- 330-425-2395 ) is the source for the most authentic restoration batteries for C2s. For a 1963-1966 Sting Ray, order their DC12 battery. Eckler's sells the same DC12 for $289.99 and it is "drop-shipped" to you from Antique Auto Battery.

This is Antique Auto Battery's description of the DC12 ('63-'66) battery: "Black hard rubber case with "DELCO" in raised letters on the side, POLY-TAR top with "DELCO" yellow/black caps or black/yellow caps. 100% CORRECT".

For a 1967 Sting Ray, order their GR59 battery. The description for their GR59: "Black hard rubber case with Delco half circles on the side, "DELCO ENERGIZER" on top cover, five push in Delco caps and one Delco eye cap with Delco half circle in red-orange & correct decal in black and silver. 100% CORRECT".

I find it interesting that the last words the vendor uses to describe these two repro batteries is "100% correct". Are we going to start sticking nails in tires to ascertain that the rubber compound is the same as the original tires? Are we going to use light meters to determine the reflection rate from chrome bumpers? No. Then there should be no "tests" not covered in the JG to determine correct batteries.

The 1965 JG makes no provisions for removing battery caps, thumping the battery case, poking a fingernail into the "tar" top, or anything else. In my opinion, any judge that interprets the JG as allowing such "tests" for originality is at the least nitpicking and at worse, in violation of the JG. The spirit of the JG is for the car to attain the appearance and functionality at the time of new-car dealer prep. This particular repro battery does both.

If your reproduction battery, manufactured by Antique Auto Battery, correctly date-stamped on the battery case, suffers originality point deductions from any NCRS judge at any level, I recommend that you politely protest such deductions using the above reasons.
-Clark

I talked to antique car battery on a DC12 for my 66 which they claim is 100% correct and they admitted that it does not have the correct soft tar and it is a gel battery. Tell me how that is 100% correct.

[Gary J.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

Gentlemen and Ladies, this is my humble opinion this is one area that needs to addressed, Regional deduction is 7 points from my experience for the best possible product available in all aspects, the Restoration Battery R-59. WHY? It is almost impossible to find an original wet cell and the cost is almost a grand$. This part has a life expectancy just like the tires which also will dry rot.

There should be Zero deduction at any level of judgeing for batteries and tires that are the best possible available. Size, color, appearence and materials. These cars are not getting any younger and we are suppose to have original batteries and tires that would be 44 years old and be in perfect working order.

I can feel the daggers and stares as I write this but would a dose of reality really leave that bad of a taste in one's mouth?

Thanks for listening to my 1 cents worth.
PS my car scored raw (no diving points included) 97.6% even with the deductions but it still hurt for all my efforts and it is al but impossible to correct these two deductions.

Gary

[Stuart F.]

Re: R59 Battery from Restoration Battery

I believe they are taking some license on the description words, i.e. 100% correct in appearance. I have one in my 63 and it looks exactly like the previous dated wet cell repro I had which didn't last long. Another great advantage is that it weighs significantly less - much easier to put in/take out.

Stu Fox