c3 battery location
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6th Gear
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c3 battery location
I recently purchased an early 68 convertible, production #164 the battery is under the hood where the expansion tank would normally be. This car was produced 9-6-67 and the radiator is old style, no expansion tank. The battery platform is original and bolted to the frame at the factory and there are no holes for cables in the battery box behind the seat and no cable clamps on the chassis for the batt cables. Is anyone familiar with this non conventional arrangement in early 68 cars? Thanks for your input
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
I'd venture to say most of us have never seen the combination you have there. Take some pictures and post them here. I'm sure there's lots of interest. 
Melting Slicks
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From: Raleigh NC
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I would suggest taking your question to the NCRS Technical Discussion board.
http://www.ncrs.org/forums/forumdisp...cal-Discussion
http://www.ncrs.org/forums/forumdisp...cal-Discussion
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Yours is not a factory installed location. All 68 battery compartments were located behind the driver's seat. A previous owner (Bubba 
) most likely moved it to a more accessible location.
) most likely moved it to a more accessible location.
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From: Shamong, NJ
All manual trans, small block, no air 68's used the same 19" aluminum radiator, with the separate expansion tank, as 63-67 small block Corvettes. 68 small blocks with air conditioning and/or automatic and big block 68's used copper radiators with attached tanks.
If your car is a 327, manual trans, without AC (and I'm sure you don't have air, as a battery would never fit in the area under the evaporator box of a factory AC car), it should have an expansion tank . Any other 68 will have a radiator with attached tanks.
I've never heard of a 68, with an under hood battery. I know of 2 very early 68's, one is one of the first 80 cars, and the other has a VIN near yours. Both of these cars have the battery in the rear compartment.
When it comes to 68's, anything is possible, but I'd want to have more info before I'd claim that the factory mounted the battery, under the hood!
Team Owner
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi b,
I too think it's pretty unlikely this configuration came from St.Louis.
I'd be interested in seeing pictures of the battery box fiberglass with out the holes, and also the battery cables that were used.
Regards,
Alan
My thinking is that a mid-year owner found the 68+ location very inconvenient and moved the battery to where he was used to it being.
I too think it's pretty unlikely this configuration came from St.Louis.
I'd be interested in seeing pictures of the battery box fiberglass with out the holes, and also the battery cables that were used.
Regards,
Alan
My thinking is that a mid-year owner found the 68+ location very inconvenient and moved the battery to where he was used to it being.
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Thread Starter
6th Gear
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upon careful inspection all the holes in the battery box were glassed over many moons ago, the cable holes were nicely done the other small holes more crudely. The battery support tray is a very sophisticated piece of work, it actually appears to me that the right fender would have to be removed in order to attach it. I will have to get the car up in the air and do some further investigation. Seems like a lot of work to go through simply because you thought getting to the battery was a pain!
Last edited by bmarson; Dec 31, 2012 at 01:35 PM.
Team Owner
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Where is the vacuum relay for your wiper door? Once upon a time it was on the rear of the fender skirt just about where the battery now resides. Washer bottle has been moved up on to the skirt. It's actually easier to get to where it is now.
Team Owner
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi bm,
I can certainly understand someone making that change since having the battery behind the driver's seat is pretty inconvenient.
Thanks for the pictures.
I felt that if this was something that was done at St.Louis early in 68 production there would be some knowledge of it as thoroughly as 68 cars have been scrutinized.
Can we see the REST of your new, old, car now?
Regards,
Alan
I can certainly understand someone making that change since having the battery behind the driver's seat is pretty inconvenient.
Thanks for the pictures.
I felt that if this was something that was done at St.Louis early in 68 production there would be some knowledge of it as thoroughly as 68 cars have been scrutinized.
Can we see the REST of your new, old, car now?
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
6th Gear
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Does anyone know what happened to cars that were delivered to the Chevrolet Central Office in 1968? Were they simply for executives to drive back and forth to work or did they fool around with them? Testing, evaluations, promotions, that sort of thing
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...did they fool around with them? Testing, evaluations, promotions, that sort of thing...
Team Owner
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Hi Mike,
Are you implying that perhaps some 'comparison testing' was done with other makes and models on the streets of Detroit?
That kind of activity would have be illegal, wouldn't it!?!?
Regards,
Alan
Are you implying that perhaps some 'comparison testing' was done with other makes and models on the streets of Detroit?
That kind of activity would have be illegal, wouldn't it!?!?
Regards,
Alan
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Team Owner
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Have you read Burton's biography of Duntov? There is a hint of some of the uses for Corvette corporate cars in the Detroit area.