[mgarblik]

What timing. The 2012 Delco Freedom battery in my 62 Catalina finally died this weekend. I have no idea why it lasted 10 years. As a NAPA master dealer, I get good pricing on their batteries. Black case Legend batteries, however are now being sourced from at least 2 suppliers. Johnson Controls, and East Penn. One has a smooth top and the other has the two removeable lids. I prefer the flat top for the looks but you can't choose. In this new world order of "supply chain issues", you have to take what they can get for you. As mentioned, they have a 2 year free replacement warranty only, no pro-rata structure anymore. That never amounted to much after the 2 years anyway.

I would buy another Freedom battery but they are very hard to source around here. New car dealers are not interested in selling a group 24 battery for a 60 year old car and look at you like your some kind of alien if you go to buy one there. Then charge you double the cost of a NAPA battery. IMO, the DELCO batteries are a quality product though.

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by mgarblik

I would buy another Freedom battery but they are very hard to source around here. New car dealers are not interested in selling a group 24 battery for a 60 year old car and look at you like your some kind of alien if you go to buy one there. Then charge you double the cost of a NAPA battery. IMO, the DELCO batteries are a quality product though.

Yep, that's been my problem for years. They don't generally stock a group 24 or 78 and they think your crazy for driving a 60 year old car and coming to a dealer looking for parts. Too high priced from the dealer anyway.
I always ran them for years though when I could buy them at the local Hamlet Auto Parts and it wasn't unusual that I would sometimes get 10 years out of one. Had that happen more than once. So no complaints, it's just that there aren't any mom and pop or chain auto stores around that even carry AC Delco batteries here.

I've had excellent luck for the last 15 years buying Interstate from Costco. They are black, nice flat tops, accept a battery topper, and they fit like they should. However I've never had one go 10 years like the Delco. A dozen cars here with them now and they all seem to die almost right on time. When they reach 5 years old I haven't had one make it past 6. In fact it's become almost like clockwork.