Delco Battery Toppers

[cook_dw]

I ordered one of the battery toppers a week or so ago and it came in last week so I went out today and got a new battery.  I cant take credit for this as I have read in other threads and posts of the toppers not fitting all the way down and having to open the holes up.  So I took to the dremel to get it close then used a socket wrapped with 320 sandpaper in a drill to even everything out..  I still have to modify the Delco Eye to make it look correct..  Hope to get to that sometime this week..  I failed to get a pic of the posts in relation to the openings before hand but you will get the idea..  Just thought I would pass this along to anyone else that maybe thinking of going the topper route.

[lakeholme]

Do how well does the topper fit down on the filler holes?

[cook_dw]

They fit over the posts but you have a raised plastic portion around the posts and because the holes are off it doesn't want to lay down all the way.  I guess once the terminals are on you wouldn't see it but it bothered me so I opened the holes to make it lay flat and made me feel better..  Still sucks that you pay $50 plus for a topper and have to modify it but I'm used to it..

[1968RSZ28]

Darrell,

Don't be so negative.  I'm shocked how good that looks!  I hope you don't have any reluctance about your modification because the results are all positive.  I can tell you know watt you're doing because you transformed the battery topper into something electrifying.  You should be inducted into the CRG Hall of Fame!  Got to cut this short because I'm going cycling.

Paul

P.S. - I hope you got a charge out of that! 

[cook_dw]

Lol thanks Paul but I'm pretty grounded in my ways..  But I'm amped you think so highly of me..   

[BULLITT65]

Darrell nice work, taking a repro poor fitting junk part, and turning it into a piece that would pass as original on first glance.
As you said "I'm used to it". Thats what separates the men from the boys when doing this stuff, being dealt a bad knock off, and turning it into a visually pleasing item under your hood.
This must be a record for me complimenting your work in one week, first the drive shaft clean up, now the battery topper...

Not sure it constitutes the hall of fame, but how about (CRG)player of the week?

[X33RS]

I run 2 toppers, they aren't bad.  After the first $300 battery dumped after 2 years I decided no more of that.  Toppers are good enough, lol.

What may keep me from a topper on the Z is that they don't make a technically correct R59 topper with reverse polarity.  Negative is supposed to be on the radiator side.  I found the correct battery for the car with reverse polarity so the cables fit/look proper, but I haven't seen a topper that matches.
   

[lakeholme]

They fit over the posts but you have a raised plastic portion around the posts and because the holes are off it doesn't want to lay down all the way.  I guess once the terminals are on you wouldn't see it but it bothered me so I opened the holes to make it lay flat and made me feel better..  Still sucks that you pay $50 plus for a topper and have to modify it but I'm used to it..

Exactly, that's why I asked. I struggled with a topper a few years ago. They do not lay down uniformly flat across the face of the battery. Since the filler holes in the topper did not seat well with the ones in the battery, I finally gave up on it and gave it to a friend with a 70 442. He tried it and it didn't work well on his battery either.
I agree with your sentiment. It would be nice if it fit!
You'd get my vote for CRGer of the Week. 

[dale_z28]

Where are you guys getting these toppers? I've seen guys with the old-style battery's but I didn't know they could have been covers. I won't pay a premium price for a battery, but I might go the "topper" route.

[X33RS]

They are all over the place.  If you're resourceful and shop around, you can find them for about $40.  That's what I paid for mine.  Some places charge as high as $70 or $80.

[cook_dw]

They fit over the posts but you have a raised plastic portion around the posts and because the holes are off it doesn't want to lay down all the way.  I guess once the terminals are on you wouldn't see it but it bothered me so I opened the holes to make it lay flat and made me feel better..  Still sucks that you pay $50 plus for a topper and have to modify it but I'm used to it..

Exactly, that's why I asked. I struggled with a topper a few years ago. They do not lay down uniformly flat across the face of the battery. Since the filler holes in the topper did not seat well with the ones in the battery, I finally gave up on it and gave it to a friend with a 70 442. He tried it and it didn't work well on his battery either.
I agree with your sentiment. It would be nice if it fit!
You'd get my vote for CRGer of the Week. 

Thanks guys for the vote of confidence but Im a nobody just trying to help out fellow Camaro enthusiasts..    


I got mine from thepartsplaceinc on ebay for $52.20 shipped. 

  http://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-72-GM-Cars-R-59-Battery-Topper-Top-Post/330339489207?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131003132420%26meid%3Dee9ecea570334c5cb92d0d288b1843ba%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D2%26sd%3D270413479823

[Mike S]

 How do the sides line up with the top edges?
I have an old (and dead) R59 that I thought of gutting and putting a modern and yet smaller battery inside but so far no luck finding internals. I may use the NOS one I have since the 80's that still has the wax plugs in the well openings, but like what was mentioned prior, getting a only couple of years out of it was my concern.

Mike

[cook_dw]

It's not too noticeable but obviously you lose not having the Delco logo on the casing and it does drop back to where the actual battery case is..  I try to get a pic of the side tonight.  I thought about finding an old battery and gutting it but I believe the problem would be finding one that will work inside of it plus you'd have to modify the posts potentially..  For the money and now that it looks a little better (at least to me) I'm happy with the topper. Most people won't notice if it's real or not.  I also removed the sticker off the topper to make it look more correct..  I did keep it though.   

[hgger69]

I had mine for a couple of years now and it does it for me! 

[Mike S]

  I may give that top a consideration. The Delco Eye is painted?
I have seen them at shows with varying degrees of side overlap as well as side wall color.
If I can find a new style battery that fits well but the side is of a different color, maybe something like Krylon Fusion  paint would work.
Another idea I have been tossing around is to use a new battery to get to a show then swap it out with an R59 (dead).
Then I'd worry about paint chipping from around the bolt heads of the support bar. ARGH! 

Mike