Advice on a original looking battery

[Back in Black]

I am restoring my 1970 chev to be mostly original. I need a battery and was wondering if anyone had imput on some stock appearing ones that can be purchased without too much trouble

Thanks

Jason

[pound41]

I have had my 69 camaro 12 yrs now. The truck market has followed suit on many things now becoming available. There have been repoductions available for years. I haven't bought any camaro parts in some time but I would guess there would be even more available now. Camaros had from 6 bangers to big blocks So you could find one for our trucks, Search that and you will find them. Good Luck

[chevybill]

There is also a fake restoration top that will make a newer battery appear original looking, unless you are really inspecting the battery.

[cdowns]

www.antiqueautobattery.com

[Libby]

HI,
I'm looking for one of those fake old looking battery tops, do you know who sells them?
Libby

[69rut]

Battery topper

They make tops to fit over modern battries, around $50 last time I looked.

[Libby]

Hi 69rut,
Thaks for the tip, that's just what I was looking for. Simple, easy and cheap!
Libby

[truckdude239]

http://www.batterytoppers.com/

[VinceY]

Here is a battery from a 72 brouchere from Chev about wagons that included Suburbans and Blazers.

[davepl]

My first big question for bringing this thread back to life is: WHICH battery did a '70 come with? I stuck an R59 in there for now, but according to RestorationBattery.com it should be an R79S after May 1969.... for cars. But I don't know what trucks had.

First thing I do when I walk up to a car with what LOOKS like a real GM R59 battery is to slide that cheap little cover around. Then I laugh and laugh... if it says "No Expense Spared" on the sheet.

Don't get me wrong, I have one of them on my Camaro on a Delco battery too. But beyond a certain level, you need the real deal.

I have the reproduction R59 (though it's a gel version) in a couple, and now I have to get 2 more because my truck is dual battery. Not cheap :-(

I did find an NOS one on eBay that had never had acid in it. Still in the box. $1500. I guess if I had an LS-6 convertible Chevelle I'd go that route.

[davepl]

Ah... The R79S is side-post, but the trucks converted to side post about a year later, and my '70 is and always was top-post. Sound right?

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by davepl

Ah... The R79S is side-post, but the trucks converted to side post about a year later, and my '70 is and always was top-post. Sound right?

Interesting Dave, seven years after I pulled this battery up on that number. $450 would be a special dedication for a "low stock" no-stated warranty battery: https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...correct-173031

Better option, looks like the same battery. I inquired, just curious (update: Sealed only. Six weeks out. First year replacement then three years prorated replacement): https://www.batterycentralmall.com/B...pt/R89_HC.html

I'm curious if anyone knows vintage GM enough to say which terminal was nearest the RH fender, top & side posts, and any variance by year, model and engine? (Edit: See post 13. - Info. on the web indicates a standard across all GM vehicles.)

From info. I've seen, I think the positive side was nearest the RH fender on top post batteries. Judging by the above replacements, side posts were the opposite. Just guessing here (Edit: confirmed)

I know GM transitioned from top to side posts in 71. I imagine the same for all GM. My 71 had top posts (using up stock), but I'm taking the side post route. Anyone know of a current original appearing option?

Edit, here's one option for a maint. free battery: https://www.firebirdcentral.com/R89_...r_p/bat-82.htm

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

Interesting Dave, seven years after I pulled this battery up on that number. $450 would be a special dedication for a "low stock" no-stated warranty battery: https://www.corvettecentral.com/c3-6...correct-173031

Better option, looks like the same battery. I inquired, just curious: https://www.batterycentralmall.com/B...pt/R89_HC.html

I'm curious if anyone knows vintage GM enough to say which terminal was nearest the RH fender, top & side posts, and any variance by year, model and engine?

From info. I've seen, I think the positive side was nearest the RH fender on top post batteries. Judging by the above replacements, side posts were the opposite. Just guessing here.

I know GM transitioned from top to side posts in 71. I imagine the same for all GM. My 71 had top posts (using up stock), but I'm taking the side post route. Anyone know of a current original appearing option?

Edit, here's one option for a maint. free battery: https://www.firebirdcentral.com/R89_...r_p/bat-82.htm

My '69 top post battery has always had the positive terminal toward the fender. I'm almost positive that when they went to the side post battery in '71, the negative was closest to the fender.

Also, some folks are selling spring ring cables for top post batteries which is NOT correct. Here's a picture of the end of the original positive cable from my '69 and a couple of the closest I could find.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

My '69 top post battery has always had the positive terminal toward the fender. I'm almost positive that when they went to the side post battery in '71, the negative was closest to the fender.

I remember you saying that about side posts. Just kidding Jim, I just read your post under a similar thread.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

I remember you saying that about side posts. Just kidding Jim, I just read your post under a similar thread.

And... you probably remember me posting the pics I just added above!

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

And... you probably remember me posting the pics I just added above!

That I do.

Be a good day when I need a battery. These and OER batteries seem to agree with you, the negative terminal is nearest the fender for side posts. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...p+GM+&_sacat=0



Strikes me the original side post batteries were R89W. That’s assuming a truck didn’t get more juice for RV, I’m guessing.

So in a nutshell, original appearing battery is around $360, almost cool cover is $50ish, or just put a battery in it.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

That I do.

Be a good day when I need a battery. These and OER batteries seem to agree with you, the negative terminal is nearest the fender for side posts. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...p+GM+&_sacat=0



Strikes me the original side post batteries were R89W. That’s assuming a truck didn’t get more juice for RV, I’m guessing.

So in a nutshell, original appearing battery is around $360, almost cool cover is $50ish, or just put a battery in it.

In post 11 Dave said the side post is R79S.

I cheaped out on mine and bought a cover just for the visual effect. On my '58 Vette I bought a totally correct battery, but I restored that car to win NCRS awards. I'm not sure how the topper for a side terminal battery is attached.

Here's a pic of the topper which requires a flat top battery.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

In post 11 Dave said the side post is R79S.

I cheaped out on mine and bought a cover just for the visual effect. On my '58 Vette I bought a totally correct battery, but I restored that car to win NCRS awards. I'm not sure how the topper for a side terminal battery is attached.

Here's a pic of the topper which requires a flat top battery.

Topper looks nice to me Jim. Downside I prefer maint. batteries, but what the heck, I may get a topper.

Good point on R79S. Found this information. http://nastyz28.com/threads/help-r79....190432/page-2

1970 side post batteries:

R79 . . . . 2900 cranking amps. -11 plates per cell ** 10-1/4"x6-15/16"x8-25/32"

R79S . . . 3250 cranking amps. - 13 plates per cell ** 10-1/4"x6-15/16"x8-25/32"

R79W . . . 3750 cranking amps. - 15 plates per cell ** 10-1/4"x7-1/32"x8-21/32" (RPO T60 HEAVY DUTY BATTERY OPTION)

Regular production R79 series side post batteries began use on assembly line production in late 1969 - A 1970 LS4 454 Impala with a 10-27-69 build date listed RPO T60 HD battery as R79W on the build sheet.

Van Nuys built 1970 Camaro's with RPO T60 HD Battery option will have the R79w listed on the build sheet in box 49 - Most 1970 Z28 Camaros came with the standard R79 battery

The R89 battery replaced the R79 series battery in June/July 1970 on late 1970 models and became the standard series battery for the 1971 model year

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Some more info. My truck shows T60 on the build sheet. Dave took some interest in batteries. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=642019

https://books.google.com/books?id=t5...20r89w&f=false