New Delco R-59 Sealed Battery Survey

[Mr70]

How is it?
Can anyone who bought one recently give me their opinion on it.
Is it better then the weeping electrolyte battery for reliability & starting power?
Is it worth the cost of $208 compared to the $149 electrolyte battery?

[Mr. T]

I wish I knew Rick. It has been over 6 weeks since I ordered the R-59 Maintenance Free Batteries. I called the supplier a couple of days ago, and they were still building it. Maybe I should have built it myself. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[Mr70]

Thanks Tony.
I know the original Manufacturer,New Castle Battery,is gone.
But Antique Auto Battery says they are the manufacturer for it now,and have shipped some out in the past,as well as are taking orders now to fulfill another order.
I'm aiming for the select few who took delivery on those earlier ones,if you are out there... http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

[Bill Rose]

I bought the new sealed battery from Antique Auto Battery for my 68 Chevelle early this past winter and it's been fine. My car sits for weeks/months at a time and it has had plenty of starting power with no trickle charger keeping it charged. I think it's a huge improvement over the acid R-59 I've had in the past.

[Charley Lillard]

I bought one from somebody and it is fine.

[kwhizz]

I've had one on order since the middle of July.....still waiting.......

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Mr. T]

I bet yours is in the same batch as mine Ken.

[WILMASBOYL78]

I bought 3 of the maintenance free versions from New Castle in 04. They don't stay in my cars other than for shows!!! Had one in the 68 BB car this past winter and it leaked and did many 1000's of damage..$$$$..!!! When I notified them of the problem they blew me off!!! Thankfully Hagerty stepped up and paid for the repairs. My suggestion is to buy an AC Delco professional top post battery and put one of those plastic covers on it. If you have to show a car with the correct battery then only keep it in for the judging and then switch it! Funny thing is they had one hanging upside down on display at spring Carlisle in 04 playing a radio!! They claimed this new unit wouldn't leak....Yeh, and the check is in the mail! http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/scholar.gif


wilma

[camarojoe]

I got supposedly the very first sealed R-59 ever sold to the public. It's been in the car since I got it, no sign of leakage and looks as correct as the other repro i have that isn't sealed... (which is over 4 years old and still working fine I may add.) The only difference is you can't remove the caps...I disconnect one cable when the car sits, and just reconect it when I want to start the car. At one time I thought it went dead on me, but it ended up just being a little corrosion on the post and cable from sitting, and it wasn't making good contact when i pushed the spring-ring on by hand. Oh, and it does have an authentic looking "Delco Eye" in it too, unlike the fake looking one on the toppers. I'd recommend it.

[mrrec]

Rick:
I don't believe Antique Auto Battery "took over" anything from New Castle (yet). They were entirely different companies and it appears New Castle's assets are still for sale. Antique Auto is a little slippery, in my opinion, as I overheard them say "tell them heavy-duty when they ask for hi-crank" in response to my question at Carlisle a few years ago (but that could be just one rep). Furthermore, I have seen someone's (Antique Auto's?) "sealed" battery cut open and it was a small motorcycle sealed battery hidden in an R59 case!!

I am aware of only New Castle (now gone) and Antique Auto as the only manufactureres of resto batteries. Everyone else is a distributor or dealer. If the guys that ordered a battery through someone who sold New Castle (Turbo Start), I'd cancel and move on!!

I've had good luck with Restoration Battery, Cincinnatti, but not sure where he sources his.

See you at Vettefest??

Dave

[MYSTERYCHEVELLE]

Not to Post hijack here.. but does anybody have any knowledge about M. Free DELCO DC-12 tar Top batteries??

Are they making these yet? has anyone bought one?? the 66 Chevelles didn't use the R-59

Thanks

Mike Crown

[WILMASBOYL78]

Just got my Marine Corp Nova back today from PA. We used one of the sealed 59's for the last show in July. Took the battery out of the truck and brought it inside and what do I see but a crack in the plastic top!!!!! Maybe I just have a dark cloud following me. I don't know, but it sure seems strange....no apparent leakage yet. will try to take photo and post for you guys to see.

wilma http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

[Mr70]

Holy Crap Tom!
Where you anywhere near New Orleans two weeks ago too?

[WILMASBOYL78]

How did you know???

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[kwhizz]

I just received mine and I think it is going back.....the overmoulded plastic case does not come close to appearing as a stock battery would look......the plastic has shrunk significantly where the ribs inside the battery top are so it has a Cheap plastic look.......the caps are also very poorly made......it's very obvious that it is not a stock battery.....just my $.02

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Mr70]

Ken
Did you get it from Antique Auto Battery direct?
Can you send me pix of these flaws?
Rick

[kwhizz]

Yes and Yes................Later

Ken

[Johnny Horsepower]

I can't remember off the top of my head where i got mine (I will check my files) and maybe i am not judge level scrutinizing it, but the 2 i bought for my GTOs seem to look and work great. My 2 cudas each got a mopar sealed version when i had some light resto work done by Kohr's Kustom. Dennis Kohr seemed to research and like those sealed OE look batterys. So with 4 of those kind of batterys in cars i drive "respectfully aggressive" http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/naughty.gif i have had no leaks or problems. knock on wood

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]
......the plastic has shrunk significantly where the ribs inside the battery top are so it has a Cheap plastic look.......

[/ QUOTE ]

Ken,

Take a look at the attached photo. This is the original R79 battery from my Chevelle. Note the indentations on the top where the cell walls attach. Does your repro look anything like this? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Dennis

[Mr70]

"Can I have it?"


copyright..C.Lillard..all rights reserved

[Pacecarjeff]

I have had my R59 sealed battery since the first batch at New Castle.
No problems so far. (Pro-rated for $51 in May, 04)

Very disapointing to hear they are now gone. Always received
good service and fair prices from them.

They had pro-rated many batterys for me in the past.
Guess thats why their gone. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burnout.gif

[kwhizz]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
......the plastic has shrunk significantly where the ribs inside the battery top are so it has a Cheap plastic look.......

[/ QUOTE ]

Ken,

Take a look at the attached photo. This is the original R79 battery from my Chevelle. Note the indentations on the top where the cell walls attach. Does your repro look anything like this? http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

Dennis

[/ QUOTE ]

That's exactly the way it looks....... It is an exact reproduction then, right down to the shrink lines....Guess I'll put it in now........Sorry!!!!!!( still trying to get a handle on all this factory correct stuff)but the good part is my wife tells me that I'm just like a Monkey because I'm trainable.....LOL

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[kwhizz]

Actually I have a R89W that I ordered, my car has side terminals so I ordered as such......here are some pic's.....the delivered price was $280......$30 for shipping about 10 lbs???? Oh Well....It's hard getting used to this factory correct stuff......

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/kwhizz/d2ec5dd6.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a251/kwhizz/eb0f7590.jpg

Ken http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/flag.gif

[Mr70]

Thanks for the side terminal Pix. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggthumpup.gif

Here's Dennis's again.
http://www.yenko.net/attachments/158973-OER79.JPG

[ZL1mike]

I bought one of the earlier acid R59 May 03 and the new sealled R59 back in April 05 and that one is still in the box, I've only opened it to inspect it and charge it and I'm happy with both of them.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif