Battery Confusion

[Dan LeBlanc]

I'm about ready to order a reproduction battery for my 61 Fleetwood.

I always thought the 61/62 cars took a group 27F - 12x6.75x9

I'm also coming across a group 60K - 13” L x 6 ½ W x 9”H

So, needless to say, I'm a bit confused now. Those of you running the group 27, how well is it fitting the tray? Is there room to go to the 60K in the length for a better fit?

[Jeff Wilk]

The std 27 is too wide for my 1959 Fleetwood.  I just ordered the class 60 from Antique Restoration Battery.  FYI.....they are backordered for about 2 weeks.

[Dan LeBlanc]

I don't have the car home yet, otherwise I'd just measure. I'm just trying to get some authenticity items sorted and parts lined up sooner rather than later as she's going for her HPOF at Fall Hershey.

[quadfins]

Dan,

I concur with Steve. That is the type of battery that I have too, and the source. You saw it at Quincy. Expensive, but it has lasted many years, and given great service.

Jim

[Dan LeBlanc]

Thanks guys. 

Steven, I know exactly what you mean about the battery tender.  When I worked for Exide, we used to sell a product called Redi-Pulse.  It maintained the charge (the model I have supports up to 12 batteries) and kept them in a usable state for up to 5 years.  The pulsing action of the charge would loosen sulfates from the plates and convert them back into acid. 

I'll keep my battery on the Redi-Pulse seeing as how I already have it and I can maintain my RV battery at the same time.

In some cases, it will also restore a battery with sulfated plates.

[Dan LeBlanc]

Jim.  I do recall your battery and it looked like it belonged there.

You know the car it's going in so I'm sure you agree that this battery will be worth it.

I'll fill everyone else in on the acquisition here shortly.

[Jeff Wilk]

Anyone else heard of the memory issue with the Antique Auto Battery reproductions?  When i ordered mine last week (60 series)she stated that these glass-mat batteries should NEVER be put on a battery tender as the memory will be changed permanently. She stated that a 10amp charger must only be used and only if the battery falls below a 50% charge.

[Dan LeBlanc]

If it is indeed an AGM battery, it must be charged on an AGM charger. There is a valve inside be battery that regulates he flow of gases emitted when charging back into the electrolyte. If the battery is not charged at the controlled rate that an AGM charger can do, it will damage the valve and render the battery useless.

I thought I saw on a recent episode of My Classic Car that there is a battery tender now available for AGM batteries.

I just ordered mine through restorationbattery.com. They had a huge run on them before the GN and they had one left. If it was good it was shipping today if not I can expect to see it in 10 days.

[Jason Edge]

There was a similar post here a few weeks back.

The type 27 battery is a shorter and wider battery than the originals.  I bought my Type 60 battery from Restoration Battery back in June 2008 and it has been an excellent battery, with the dimensions within a fraction of an inch of the original specs.  I ran a type 27 in my 1964 CDV from 1996 to 2008 and will never go back as the curved top hold down bracket never fit right and of course there was a nice gap on the ends and you literally had to wedge it in due to width.

You can see pics of my Type 60 installed in this photo album: http://6364cadillac.ning.com/photo/albums/battery-and-battery-hold-down-pictures
(note there is a scan of the master parts book battery specs as the last photo in the album.)
 
and here is a link to the RB site listing the 1957 - 1964 Type 60 Battery:
http://www.restorationbattery.com/g60k.html

[Dan LeBlanc]

Thanks Jason.  I'm glad I ordered the Group 60 then.