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77 Canamman · 03-19-2010, 02:34 PM

I have had excellent luck with the Autozone Duralast Gold batteries-one of the very few items I would recommend purchasing from Autozone. They are manufactured in the USA by Johnson Controls, and I was able to get 9 years out of my first one. Five of my vehicles are equipped with them. The Group 78 battery that I bought for the vintage Pontiacs has a generous reserve capacity, stout 800 CCA, and a 8 YR. warranty with 3 YR. free replacement. With the supplied tray spacer, it fit well in the tray and factory vinyl dipped wire retainer. The only issue I have with the Duralast Gold batteries is that they had that ugly bright yellow top-it stuck out like a sore pecker and doesn't look original at all, Hence the reason for the topper. The topper fit snugly over the top of the battery. Only modification was I had to cut off the plastic carrying strap that came with the battery.

mike nixon · 03-20-2010, 12:30 AM

Never had any luck with AZ parts.

I run Deka Batteries with good results

Mike

77 Canamman · 03-20-2010, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike nixon

Never had any luck with AZ parts.

Mike

Yes, me also. That is why I made the comment, "one of the very few items I would recommend purchasing from Autozone."

77 Canamman · 05-01-2010, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiedlerh

As near as I have been able to figure out, the above Danger decal was probably used starting in 1973 due to DOT regulations requiring charcoal flame arrestor battery caps. Thus for 1973-up the Red Delco caps are incorrect and the plain charcoal gray caps and no Delco eye shoud be used.

I struck it lucky yesterday. I purchased a rotted 1971 GrandVille parts car solely for its 455 engine. Oddly, the car still had a 1976 vintage Delco R89W battery in it, and all of the charcoal arrestor caps were present. These will make the topper in the Can Am more authentic. Now, I need 6 more for my '73 GTO..(LOL)
pics to follow.

77 Canamman · 05-01-2010, 09:05 PM

As promised..

Horst, are you still planning to reproduce the correct decal?

fiedlerh · 05-03-2010, 12:57 AM

Yes, but I'm finding out there were dozens of Delco battery numbers. I suppose it would make sense to do the R89S and the R89W since those batteries are being reproduced plus the R89 for the standard battery. You could put the R89 label on an R89S and no one would know the difference. The artwork to make the 3 labels is done.

Wish I knew what cars and years got these labels. Pretty sure about 73-74, but beyond that I don't know. Trouble is if I start selling these, people would expect me to be an expert, i.e. "Is this label correct for my points judged 76 Corvette?". "Hell-if-I-know" is not a good answer. The list at http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/prod03.htm has been "genericized" and is not 100% correct. Guess I'll have to scrounge up some old Delco battery catalogs. HPP also has a pretty good article on old Delco batteries.

Since your 1976 battery had it, it is probably safe to assume it is correct thru at least 1976 for Pontiac. Anyone know if 1977 was the changeover year to the Delco Freedom battery? The Can Am brochure shows the R89 style battery/label, but it was probably produced in 1976.

77 Canamman · 05-03-2010, 07:13 AM

When you have them available, I will be interested in purchasing three R89W decals.

fiedlerh · 05-03-2010, 12:42 PM

Canamman, Is your battery hold down original, NOS or a reproduction? It's looks a little different than mine.

77 Canamman · 05-03-2010, 12:56 PM

It is the original one, and it looks the same as the one in my '73 and '76, and my NOS spares.

77 Canamman · 05-03-2010, 02:30 PM

While doing some research on the net, I came across many photos of a NOS R89W battery with a date stamp of August 10th,1973. It did not come with the charcoal flame arrestor caps. I wonder when the changeover occurred?

fiedlerh · 05-04-2010, 12:47 AM

I saw that too. It was for sale locally. Sounds like labeling was done in anticipation of the new law.

I did a little internet digging on the law and came up with this from 1974 referring to federal law 16 CFR 1500.121:

http://www.cpsc.gov/LIBRARY/FOIA/advisory/93.pdf
The strange thing about that letter is that Mr. Roche's son is a good friend of mine and works as a lawyer, so I'll ask him.

It appears here http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_20...fr1500.121.pdf to maybe have started Sept. 27, 1973.

A little digging on the flame arrestor caps.

http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/...4.81-1417.html
Note: "The Fosters also introduced proof that all 1974 General Motors automobiles produced in 1973 were equipped with Delco batteries which had explosion-proof caps... "

So it doesn't appear it wasn't a law as the HPP article says, just an engineering improvement by Delco. Who knows. Around that time any number of agencies were making safety laws.

BTW here's a top post for sale
http://maine.craigslist.org/pts/1723244423.html

77 Canamman · 05-04-2010, 07:35 AM

So, correct me if I am wrong..the flame arrestor caps would be correct for 1974 model year cars and newer (cars produced from 9/73) ?

Many thanks for researching this topic, Horst.

fiedlerh · 05-04-2010, 11:44 AM

Based on that court testimony it appears the flame arrestor caps started for the 1974 model year. I need to find other ways to confirm that. I asked Rocky Rotella if he had any early Delco battery info and he did not.

I found this site: http://delcoremyhistory.com/ a few excerpts:
"1969-The Delco Freedom Battery was introduced which was a maintenance-free, lead calcium design.
1971- Pontiac was the first GM vehicle line to receive the Freedom Battery.
DR introduced the Unitized Ignition System.

1973 - The High Energy Ignition goes into production in Plant 20 as a 1974 model year product.

1975 - The Delco Freedom Battery becomes standard on all GM vehicles."

More info
http://delcoremyhistory.com/Products/battery.htm