Battery Side post or top question

[69Z28]

Somewhere alone the line then the side post cables had a change in construction or whatever and went to a different part number I assume. The AIM drawing is dated 4-29  and released 5-13 and the last date noted in the revisions is 7-7-69 which doesn't indicate a change at least on the part numbers. Out of curiosity Gary what date is your car? Mine is 06A and I'm pretty sure it is a first week car based on the VIN. Didn't you tell me it was September in one of your PM's? Wondering if the plant was getting ready for the new models and the new numbered wires were being used then. Something to think about.

[tmodel66]

Sorry !!  MY bad Gary but I guess my memory is going faster than I thought. I got mine from Classic Muscle but of course I have the lowly L48.

[69Z28-RS]

No problem Tmodel! 
Actually I got a call back from Bowtie Muscle Parts later this afternoon, and Mara gave me the part numbers of the side post battery cable parts she has for the late '69 Z28.  (Lectric Limited is her supplier, but she gave me better information than I got from LL).  The two parts are numbered: 6297683AR and 6297650?), and the lengths she stated are 1" longer than I measured from mine (but note that mine originals are old and stiff and I may not have stretched them out perfectly straight when measuring).   

From the info she gave me, these cables seem the closest to what I believe are original as you can get today. 
Note:  Mara also mentioned that Lectric Limited *could probably* make the cables to whatever length was needed - although I think the lengths she gave are good!, and she also said LL could probably print whatever number was desired?   Her price was $55 each, and they are very good to deal with.

[69Z28]

Ok, I think there are still some unanswered questions here. So what I'm deciphering, for a normal run of the mill June built 69 Z28 it should have received a Y77 side post battery with negative on the left and positve on the right when it left the plant. Is this correct? Was the R79 battery an optiontional replacement and if it was, why?

Something I am also curious about is the reproduction battery cables and store bought batteries. All the cables offered online don't indicate the attaching bolt sizes for + and -. Anyone buy cables lately to verify if the bolt sizes are correct especially if you have an original battery? And what about todays normal store bought batteries, will you be able to use the original factory cables with them?

I think having this info up front would really save us all from buying the wrong parts. What do you think?

[69Z28-RS]

1) I think your post is incorrect re the 'terminal polarities'..   See the pix of the Y77 from the CRG info site, attached below.  you can see the polarity is POS on the left, and NEG on the right!
2) Per the CRG information on batteries, the R79 was a HD option to the Y77 (also POS on the left and NEG on the right) per the photos.
3) The original batteries (Y77) used different sized screw threads for Pos and Neg, but I believe all currently available batteries use 3/8" screws.  Note:  The screws inside the cables are removable/replaceable if you happen to have the wrong size and own a NOS Y77, OR the 3/8" screw can be cut down and re-die to 5/16" if needed.   
4) Y77 batteries are no longer made or reproduced to my knowledge, but the R79 is available in reproduction ($340?). and you can buy a R79 battery 'topper' for $49 to capture 'the look'.
I believe the above is accurate as of 'today', and I'm sure someone will correct me if it isn't..

[69Z28]

Yes, positive on the right and negative on the left if your looking a the battery installed and facing the engine. The pic is correct. I was thinking of going back to the original side post look sometime since what I have installed now is incorrect and I'll need a new battery in the next year or two. Getting close. I'm going to guess that the reproduction cables offered all have the 5/16 head on both pos. and neg. cables, which is fine with me. As for the current batteries being sold, I'm sure Delco has a decent replacement for the Y77, at least I hope they do.

I was doing some online searches a few minutes ago and just found a post saying that the different size attaching bolts were an issue and were eventually changed. Knowing this will help cut done on the time it will take locating replacement parts, at least for me anyway. If you have the original equipment cables and the extra funds to purchase a known good NOS battery that would be good for some but I'm not that worried about it.

So someone is reproducing the side post battery topper now. I think ALL the stuff I've been reading is a bit dated for the most part. I'll have to look into what is out there.   

1) I think your post is incorrect re the 'terminal polarities'..   See the pix of the Y77 from the CRG info site, attached below.  you can see the polarity is POS on the left, and NEG on the right!
2) Per the CRG information on batteries, the R79 was a HD option to the Y77 (also POS on the left and NEG on the right) per the photos.
3) The original batteries (Y77) used different sized screw threads for Pos and Neg, but I believe all currently available batteries use 3/8" screws.  Note:  The screws inside the cables are removable/replaceable if you happen to have the wrong size and own a NOS Y77, OR the 3/8" screw can be cut down and re-die to 5/16" if needed.   
4) Y77 batteries are no longer made or reproduced to my knowledge, but the R79 is available in reproduction ($340?). and you can buy a R79 battery 'topper' for $49 to capture 'the look'.
I believe the above is accurate as of 'today', and I'm sure someone will correct me if it isn't..

[69Z28-RS]

Yes, positive on the right and negative on the left if your looking a the battery installed and facing the engine. The pic is correct. ....

Sorry~     I started to say something about 'right' and 'left' being relative..  depending on where one was viewing from..

[69Z28]

That's ok Gary. I was wondering if you would catch that.

Yes, positive on the right and negative on the left if your looking a the battery installed and facing the engine. The pic is correct. ....

Sorry~     I started to say something about 'right' and 'left' being relative..  depending on where one was viewing from..

[69Z28]

Hey guys, I've been trying to find the part number for an AC Delco side post battery for my Z and can't seem to find anything except top post and the dual top and side post. Is there a side post only battery or am I going to be stuck with the dual or a top only?

[crobjones2]

not to get too far off the subject,
when was the HD battery used? what qualified the hd battery use?
I ask because my 06A had the top post cables - when it clearly should have the side post

[bertfam]

when was the HD battery used? what qualified the hd battery use?

RPO T60 was available on any car but I would imagine they sold more in the northeast and midwest where it get's COLD.

Ed

[crobjones2]

Would it have been more likely on a C60?

[69Z28-RS]

It was probably much more likely on a 'customer ordered' car.  I've special ordered a few new cars in the past ('70 RR, '73 RR, '77 MC, etc), and each time I did I always ordered *every* HD option they had, which usually included 'HD Cooling', HD battery, HD suspension, etc.    The key was that when it was specified on the order, the additional cost was minimal!   Typically dealer orders did not specify such things, because customers buying cars off the lot likely believed they were all the same.. and all it did was add to the dealer cost.  Example:   Hemi suspension on my '70 RR was an additional $25, and the 15x7 Rallye wheels were an additional $43.   I don't recall what the HD cooling and HD battery were, but it was typically 10-20 ea...

[bertfam]

Would it have been more likely on a C60?

Not necessarily. C60 came with the 61amp alternator, so a heavy duty battery wouldn't have been required. Remember, the only job the battery has is to start the car. Once that's been accomplished, the alternator takes over and powers everything.

Ed

[KurtS]

Remember, the only job the battery has is to start the car. Once that's been accomplished, the alternator takes over and powers everything.

Actually, an alternator puts out very little power at idle. Just off idle and the output goes up considerably. Not a big deal on an old Camaro where there were few electrical loads.

But on a new car, the battery contributes at idle. After 2-3 hours of idling, the battery may be completely discharged (depending on conditions). This is always a concern for emergency vehicles that idle a lot.