Battery removal question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 492
Likes: 16
From: IL
Battery removal question
Currently my vette is in storage and I'd like to remove the battery and charge it before I start it up next month. The lower 10mm bolt, will a regular size 10mm wrench fit in there? Or do I need a thin profile wrench? Just curious, I haven't gotten a chance to look into it yet.
Last edited by turbobuick33; Feb 24, 2019 at 08:48 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Bang Bang Chicago Illinois
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
i do it the same way but have only done 3-5 since I bought it new 29 years ago.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,333
Likes: 1,143
From: Vermilion OH
I use a standard 10mm Snap On wrench and loosen the bolt a few turns and the panel slides right off. When I reinstall the panel, the lower bolt is the last to get tightened and it's only a couple of turns and its snug enough to hold the panel in place. I've never had an issue doing it this way.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 9,060
Likes: 214
From: Epping NH
Currently my vette is in storage and I'd like to remove the battery and charge it before I start it up next month. The lower 10mm bolt, will a regular size 10mm wrench fit in there? Or do I need a thin profile wrench? Just curious, I haven't gotten a chance to look into it yet.
If the negative lead on your battery was disconnected, the battery shouldn't have lost much of a charge over the last few months of storage. But what I do is use a lithium jump starter after storage to help any lose of charge in the battery...plus it's an great emergency if you find yourself with a dead battery because a light was left on. I use a , little pricey but worth it.
On a different note, I was actually able to start my car (96 LT4) with the GB40 alone...battery completely disconnected! Won't go anywhere without the GB40 in the storage compartment!
Last edited by bac22; Feb 25, 2019 at 08:10 AM.
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Safety Car
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From: Minneapolis Mn
I will mention something here I ran into. When I bought my 86 and needed to replace the battery I ran into an issue. The Bubba that last had that panel off put the panel tab between the bolt head and washer then they tightened it down. A Craftsman 10 mm would not fit through the gap, I did find though a HF 10 mm would. It was a bear getting hold of the head of the bolt to loosen it up, taking maybe an hour of failures before I finally got a hold on the head and got it loosened up. Once I had the bolt loose and the panel off, I've made sure to never do it that way again.
Last edited by hcbph; Feb 25, 2019 at 10:14 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: South-central Missouri
I will mention something here I ran into. When I bought my 86 and needed to replace the battery I ran into an issue. The Bubba that last had that panel off put the panel tab between the bolt head and washer then they tightened it down. A Craftsman 10 mm would not fit through the gap, I did find though a HF 10 mm would. It was a bear getting hold of the head of the bolt to loosen it up, taking maybe an hour of failures before I finally got a hold on the head and got it loosened up. Once I had the bolt loose and the panel off, I've made sure to never do it that way again.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,708
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From: indy indiana
I let mine sit all winter. The battery is dead. Which side is the ground on? dont want to pull the panel. For reasons I forget, I once charged the battery by putting positive on the hot starter bolt and grounded it to the frame. Use Caution if you try it this way.
Last edited by ghoastrider1; Feb 25, 2019 at 10:31 AM.
Race Director
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From: SCMR Rat Pack'r Charter Member..Great Bend KS
Racer
Joined: Mar 2018
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You can also widen that gap. Just loosen the two bottom most screws in the fender liner, and then loosen one or two bolts on the bottom of the lower skirt, and it'll drop down.
ghoastrider1 - Red is positive, black is negative/ground. Ground side is closest to the body panel.
ghoastrider1 - Red is positive, black is negative/ground. Ground side is closest to the body panel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2009
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From: Vermilion OH
The ground is the outermost cable. The one closest to the removable panel.
Racer
Joined: May 2018
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Is there no electricity where the car is stored so you can’t just charge it in the car? I don’t think getting the battery out is all that bad, I didn’t time myself when I replaced the battery last year but I don’t recall it taking more than 10 minutes or so start to finish.
Pro
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From: Louisville, Ky
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If you have a grinder you can just buy a cheap wrench and grind it to fit.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2015
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From: Bang Bang Chicago Illinois
C4 of Year Finalist (stock) 2019
I am replacing my battery soon. If you want to see how I do it let me know. I am not too far away from you. I am at 75th and Lemont Road in Downers Grove.
Melting Slicks
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From: Delta B.C. Canada
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