C1 Battery J bolt needed

[Roger W.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Nice 59 Wayne. I notice that your cove molding is off a little bit on the front wheel well opening. There was a discussion a few weeks ago about this very subject. My 59 had no mounting holes due to body work. The best position I could get with my molding is very similar to yours. Your beautiful car gives me some encouragement. I also found a few other examples in various books and mags that have the same molding position.

[Robert B.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

I would say Wayne and Johns looks closer to the one that is in the Corvette Restoration Book, even the two I have look closer than the Paul Mazut reproduction. Be nice to know which are original even the book seems a little vague.
Phil

Wayne,

Not sure if you want to learn what was "original" or what the judges are looking for. Before I bought Paul Mazut's bolts I referred to the Judging Guide for my year (1960). For what its worth I reproduced the illustration and text from that Guide below (first two pictures).

I too plan to have mine judged and would like to use parts that I believe the judges will look for. I plan on going with the ones I bought from Paul (third picture) as I think they look closer to what the judges will be looking for. JMHO.

Good to know that Antique Auto Battery Co in Ohio now sells a tar top, thanks for sharing!

SAM_0121.jpgSAM_0122.jpgSAM_0110.jpg

[Donald H.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Wayne,

Not sure if you want to learn what was "original" or what the judges are looking for. Before I bought Paul Mazut's bolts I referred to the Judging Guide for my year (1960). For what its worth I reproduced the illustration and text from that Guide below (first two pictures).

I too plan to have mine judged and would like to use parts that I believe the judges will look for. I plan on going with the ones I bought from Paul (third picture) as I think they look closer to what the judges will be looking for. JMHO.

Good to know that Antique Auto Battery Co in Ohio now sells a tar top, thanks for sharing!

[ATTACH=CONFIG]38535[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38536[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38537[/ATTACH]

I also bought a set from Paul. He says that he believes that originals were not the full J like his, but his do match what is shown in the 58-60 TIM & JG.

[Philip P.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

I for one would like to know what the originals look like, the bolt Wayne has looks more like the one that is "original" in the Restoration Handbook, the one identified as "original" in the Judging Guide looks more like the reproduction. Maybe they are both correct. In looking at some of the diagrams in the AIM and Adams book, they look more like the one Wayne has. It will be interesting to see what I get from Corvette Central, but that will be a while as it is on back order until the end of April. I like Dick's idea of making my own, nothing like playing with fire.
Phil

[Bill M.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

I for one would like to know what the originals look like,Phil

I really had to dig to find these. Here are the originals for my '59:

[Wayne S.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Hi Roger,
I hadn't noticed the molding being off a bit. This is the first I've heard about this. I'll check the discussion board. My car is a "no hit" car with 64,000 original documented miles. Never any bodyw If the molding is off a bit...it came that way from the factory. I completed a frame off restoration on my Vette last year. I did 100% of all work myself. It took 3 yrs but it turned out pretty good. Tell me about your 59. waynesullivan@verizon.net
Thanks for the info.
Wayne

[Wayne S.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

I don't think I have ever seen an original J Bolt for a C1 Vette that has a "hail head" on it. I've certainly never seen one pictered anywhere either. Very interesting.

[Philip P.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Well those "original" bolts puts a complete different spin on it. Which one would you put on the engine side, the "J" or the "nailhead". Would be interesting to see how the "nailhead" one would be judged.
Thanks for the pictures.
Phil

[Wayne S.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Don,
I guess we have a slight difference of opinion here.
I'm not going to change what I know to be an original 59 Vette J Bolt that came on my car (and is fairly well supported as original by Bob Baird in his 58 to 60 Restoration Handbook). I don't want to get into the habit of removing what I know to be an original part just to match the Judges Manual. I think that is clearly stated in the very front of the Judging Guide under Fasteners & Finishes, as something you shouldn't do. It is a tough call. I too want the points and there is nothing saying yet that I won't get them. Frankly, I'll be surprized if mine don't pass and yours will too. I guess I'm willing to "take the chance" on this one. I admit....I have changed the headstamps on several bolts to match the Judging Manual. But those were bolts that I knew had been "messed with" before...such as on my hood latches. Good luck with your judging. I'll let you know how it goes with mine.
Wayne

[Wayne S.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

I cleaned up my original 59 Vette J bolt and have included a better picture here. There is also a picture of a current reporduction. If you notice the end of the bolt, near the bend, on the original, you can see "rings" which looks as though it were cut off with some sort of tubing cutter. This matches exactly the rings on Bob Bairds original bolt on page 180 of his 58 to 60 Corvette Restoration Handbook. The end near the bend on the repros appears to be cut off with a hacksaw or slicing tool. IMG_5927.JPGIMG_5921.JPGIMG_5923.JPGIMG_5925.JPG

[Bill M.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Well those "original" bolts puts a complete different spin on it. Which one would you put on the engine side, the "J" or the "nailhead". Would be interesting to see how the "nailhead" one would be judged.
Thanks for the pictures.
Phil

You're welcome.

re "original": I got this car with the original battery in it, and I'm the only one to change the battery....ever.

The nailhead one can only be put on the driver side; it will hit the inner fender on the passenger side. It has to be installed before you install the battery. (It is a royal pain if you forget to install it first, because the battery has to come back out.) I remember being able to install the washers and nuts on the j-bolt, then slipping the j-hook into the frame tray. That made the blind operation on the passenger side a little less painful.

edit: I wondered if I had a picture of the nailhead. Here it is in unrusty form with the original battery installed; about 1964:

[Wayne S.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Hi Roger,
I checked my molding a little closer and I think what you are seeing that makes you think the molding is off is actually the underside of the fender. It could be off 1/16th of an inch at the very front. When looking straight at it, it's not noticible, but from a bit of an angle, you see the inside of the fender well. It's such a small amount, I could probably fix it pretty easily. This is original molding. It was dinged up so I sent it to Bob Mayle in NY and he removed all the dents and dings and buffed it to perfection. All 4 peices were $160 and it's original. His e-mail address is ssnybob@cs.com (phone 716-683-4018) I've attached some add'l pictures. Hope that helps.IMG_5931.JPGIMG_5929.JPGIMG_5930.JPG
Wayne

[Dick W.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

I cleaned up my original 59 Vette J bolt and have included a better picture here. There is also a picture of a current reporduction. If you notice the end of the bolt, near the bend, on the original, you can see "rings" which looks as though it were cut off with some sort of tubing cutter. This matches exactly the rings on Bob Bairds original bolt on page 180 of his 58 to 60 Corvette Restoration Handbook. The end near the bend on the repros appears to be cut off with a hacksaw or slicing tool. [ATTACH=CONFIG]38544[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38545[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38546[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]38547[/ATTACH]

Looks to be cut on a lathe

[Philip P.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Wayne, any idea what the angle of the hook is, it looks close to 90 degrees compared to the almost half circle of the reproduction.
I am thinking of doing what Dick suggested build one or two.
Thanks Phil

[Wayne S.]

Re: C1 Battery J bolt needed

Phil,
Not sure of the degree of bend. 90 degrees would be like an L. I would guess more like 60 degrees.
Wayne