I've heard it said that the 3-cell 'gang' caps appearing on Corvette Energizer batteries in 1968 were unique to Corvette. The logic goes on to say Corvette was the only vehicle mounting the battery inside the passenger compartment and the gang cap allowed a rubber hose to vent hydrogen gas created during the battery charging process to the car's exterior. Further, Corvette judging literature documents two versions of the gang cap (items A and C in the attached photo), but I found a third gang cap that's not mentioned in our literature (item B). Does anyone know the story here? Gang cap 'B' is obviously a Delco product...
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
THANKS, Joe! When the Judging Guide books for C3 cars are laid side by side, the early cars ('68-73) call out the "A" version of the gang cap. Then, starting in late '73-75, the books call for a 'flat top' version of the gang cap that I think is my "C" item. But, the "B" version isn't defined anywhere and the logic that Corvette was the ONLY car to use a gang cap due to the interior mounting of the battery seems to die on the vine. Cap "B" is obviously a Delco product that was used 'somewhere' in 'some' application and it's a no brainer that it's intended to seal battery cells and vent H2 gas. So, scratch my head, where in the heck was it used?Comment
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
Jack------
I have never seen the "B" style cap on any Corvette. As far as the GM #1969388 (the "A" style cap) and the 1876244 go, they were used only on Chevrolet vehicles and no other GM cars. I presume the only Chevrolet application was Corvette but I'm not 100% sure of that.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
I have seen the "B" cap many many years ago when I was running the gas stations, but it wasn't on a Corvette.Peter Gregory # 4157
National Corvette Restorers Society Since 1980
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
Gang caps were used on Corvair batteries which were in the engine compartment. I always thought they used the flat top (C in Jack's photo) style, but I have never researched that subject. I can get in communication with some Corvair people, but I don't know who in that club is knowledgeable and who blows hot air – so it would be a task frought with danger for me/us. There must be someone in NCRS who also has a passion for rear engine GM products.
The reason for the gang cap in early (1960-62 and maybe later) Corvairs was that the openings in the battery were very close to the engine compartment lid, and the acid vapors from the battery would have quickly damaged the lid.TerryComment
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
Hum, that's an interesting lead, Terry. I've been through MANY 'Vairs' in my trips to the yards and haven't seen one with a gang cap on the battery. But, there's a shop at the bottom of the hill here (Rear Engine Specialties) and the owner, Steve, has been around FOREVER. I'll ask him about this.
Yes, the 'B' cap looks old with styling from the 50's. The point(s) were:
(1) Were there other vehicles beside Corvette that needed/used battery gang caps?
(2) If so, why?Comment
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
And the winner is, drum roll please, Mr. PETER GREGORY!!!
I stopped by Rear Engine Specialties working the hunch from Peter's recollection (the 'B' cap may be a 'Vair part). It took all of 12 seconds for the owner, Steve, to look at my collection of three gang caps and ask how many NOS originals of each I wanted! I was floored...so I sat down and learned as Steve lectured.
It was circa 1964 that the 'B' cap made its debut on Corvair. Attached is a picture from the 1965 Corvair shop manual. Yes, the Corvair battery was in the rear engine compartment (open to the flow-through air that bathed the engine), but apparently this gang cap was designed much earlier than when it went to production in 1964. Hence, the stylized 'Delco' artwork that's a throw-back to the 50's.
The story goes on to recite the standard heater system in the Corvair had its 'guts' located beneath the middle rear passenger seat where it collected heat from the rear engine and using a blower fan, make-up air was routed through an under body tunnel, forward, to the dash. There was an 'optional' gasoline heater (instant heat on a cold winter morning) that mounted in the front trunk, but that was the exception to a base car.
Well, it appears Corvair fought owner complaints of air borne 'odor' in the cabin that were run to ground more than once to be associated with the rear mounted heater/blower system picking up heat and make-up air from the rear engine compartment area. One concern was that H2 gas discharge from the engine compartment mounted battery 'might' be a safety issue...
Apparently that was the reason for the gang caps on the battery. The connected vent hoses were routed to exhaust any battery gasses into the LH rear wheel well through a body grommet at the base of the battery tray.
Also, when questioned, my good ole boy local United Delco battery distributor confessed total ignorance about the 'B' gang cap. He 'guessed' that it was some kind of Taiwanese part. So, other than Peter Gregory, we're not alone in our former ignorance!Comment
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
Jack -
Air that entered the engine compartment through the deck lid and tulip panel louvers (the ONLY entry point for air, as the engine was sealed to the rear rails on all four sides) only had three exit points for the hot air after being engine fan-forced past the cylinder barrels - the two thermostatically-controlled flaps at the rear of the engine shrouding on each side, and (if the heater was turned on) through the long plastic duct below the underbody which fed the front floor heat outlets and the windshield defroster duct. That's where the hydrogen odor issue arose (with the heater on); if the heater was off, a flapper valve closed the entry to the duct at the engine shroud outlet so no air entered the duct.
My Engine Line at Willow Run in '65-'66 dressed the engine (including all the sheet metal shrouding and thermostatic bellows actuators), and my Overhead Chassis Line joined the body and chassis and installed the long heater duct and controls.Comment
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
I had a 1960 Corvair that I bought in 1970 after just getting married at a young age. Paid $100 for it and put a quart of motor oil drippings from the gas station EVERY DAY in it! It not just leaked out, but blew most of oil out through the back engine grill. It was a mess, but with a good set of Atlas snow tires and the engine in back that little Corvair could go through any deep snow.Peter Gregory # 4157
National Corvette Restorers Society Since 1980
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
I talked my Dad into buying a 1960 Corvair in the late Fall of 1959. We probably had one of the first ones, but I knew nothing about numbers then. That is how I knew to suggest to Jack a few days ago that it was probably a Corvair part -- I just had the reason for the cap off a little, but I know that the battery would corrode the underside of the engine compartment lid from experience.
I also know that the aluminum casting for the shift housing was bolted to the sheet metal floor. Can you spell galvanic corrosion. My Dad blamed me for breaking it speed shifting, but years later when I learned about galvanic corrosion I brought hin the text book and pointed to my excuse.
Then there was the two 360* loops in the middle of a turn with four young service men in the car -- and we were all sober. I did stop at the next bar, and cured that problem.
Then there was the steering box that rusted off its mounts.
But it was a wonderful car and I had a load of fun with it. With snow tires it would go anywhere as Pete said.TerryComment
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
Thanks John! That confirms what my local Corvair guy said. He also said, he know of no instances where there was a bona fide threat to life/limb/property from the 1st generation battery system that lacked the hydrogen gas routing vent caps on the battery. His 'hunch' was the gang cap came along because designers felt in 'might' be an issue under just right conditions and they'd go and plug the hole while they were working parallel issues...Comment
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Re: Delco Energizer Battery Gang Caps
Boo! Hiss! Bad Jack...
I played the drum roll and saluted Peter Gregory for the credit on the 'B' cover being a Corvair part when it was...hold your applause, please... MISTER TERRY!!!!
A P P L A U S E sign is now illuminated...
You know Terry, I keep thinking about the stylization of the 'DELCO' emboss on this thing thinking it's from an era earlier than 1964. While drifting off to sleep last night, I had a mental mis-fire.
I remember being 8-9 years old and the older fellas were working on a new Ford Crown Vic. One of them asked me to check and confirm that the battery was disconnected and I looked all over the engine compartment for the battery. Then, I turned to see them laughing at 'da kid'...
If my memory is right that car had its battery located under the rear seat. Didn't Delco used to supply Ford before they were acquired by GM? Could it be this gang cap and the hydrogen gas issue goes WAY back??? That would explain the older stylized Delco artwork.Comment
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