I read on this forum that many suggest using the A C Delco 7 year battery, so I bought one yesterday.
$125.00, does that sound like a reasonable price?

I had previously purchased the correct 1968 Battery with the vent caps and hoses for my 68 and paid over $250.00 from Restoration Battery and it only started the car when the enigne was cold. Had it checked and it only had 1/2 the cranking power it should have had. Not enough cranking power to start a factory orignal small block when the engine was hot. So much for trying to stay all original.

Kurt

 

I don't recall what I paid for my 6yr Delco but $125 seems fair...... I also have a restoration battery in my car right now. It's started my car hot/cold with no problem for over 3 yrs and still going strong. I think you may have had either a bad battery or a starter heat soak problem.



In any case a Battery Tender charger and a battery cutoff are a must to keep them in good condition unless yours is a daily driver.

 

I agree about the Battery Tender. Have been using them on all my cars for years, great product. I keep all the toys on the Battery Tender when they are not being used.
At first I also thought starter heat soak but after three starters with same battery and same problem, I ruled that out. Also, everything on car is new and/or restored to new condition.
Then I installed my neighbor's WalMart battery and my original starter and car starts everytime, hot or cold. Not a daily driver, just a weekend toy as I just spent last 10 years restoring to factory new condition. When I took the battery to a nearby auto center they put a tester on it and did a cranking amp test (as Restoration Battery suggested) and it registered well below where it should be. I still have the Restoration Battery, it looks pretty, great for shows, but need to wait for car to cool before it can be started and driven home.
Restoration Battery told me to call AC Delco for a warranty claim. Thought that was strange since I didn't buy the battery from A C Delco, I bougth it from Restoration Battery. Since I paid them, they should have warranteed it.
Hope the 7 year A C Delco lives up to its reputation, just doesn't look stock in the 68 as it is a sealed unit and I was trying to keep everyting stock / original.

 

Wife's 98 Tahoe came with the AC Delco battery (bought truck used).
I can't speak for the price, but it has always been my "old faithful".
Now, if it only had dual terminals ... then it would be perfect.
CCAs look kinda low (550) for the one pictured.

 

That's too bad....I agree with you, they should have stood behind their product...I'm glad I didn't (don't) have that problem because they are expensive.

 

It spins my sb real good.....and trust me it never gets that cold.

 

JMHO, but I've never, ever have fallen for those "restoration" batteries. I flat out refuse to ever buy one. For the few points they're worth and short life spans that I've always heard people complain about, they're not worth $100, let alone $250.

 

Thought I saw in an issue of Driveline that someone is making a cover/shell that you can put over any battery and have the appearance of the old style batteries.
Roger

 

RMS73,
You are correct.
The guy at Restoration Battery wanted to sell me a new AC Delco sealed battery that had one of these phony covers on the top of it to make it look like it had battery caps and holes. He did say that to get enough clearance to close the battery compartment door on a C3 you had to file the bottom of your battery caps so they would go further down into the holes and not stick up as far. If you don't file them, the battery door won't close as it will hit the caps. I wasn't about to spend another $250 -$275 for another battery from him seeing as the first one didn't work very well and his warranty was virtually non existant. I had read where others said not to buy the resotration style battery but I had to learn the lesson the hard way for myself. I learned, and I won't forget soon.
Kurt

 

I had to get through 2 AC Delcos before I got one that lasted. What sucks is the warranty is only in place by the delaer that sold it to you, if he installed it. I was pretty pissed at that and another dealer honored it, even though he said he didn;t have to.