Reproduction Battery Warning
 

In May I ordered a new battery for my 69 Chevelle from Turbostart.com. It was a licensed GM reproduction part with the fiberglass mat cell technology made by New Castle Battery. I was charged $243 (including shipping) two days after my order was placed. When I never received the battery I contacted Turbo Start last week and was told New Castle was no longer in business and that I should try to get my money back from Visa! https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif I think this company was also selling reproduction Mopar batteries.
If anyone knows of a legitimate company making reproduction batteries with the gel cell technology please let me know because I would like to get rid of the acid spill potential.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

Don't know about the batteries but I'd like to see pictures of your car. Ours is also a 300 Deluxe L78.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

I just called New Castle on June 28th to inquire about the New Sealed R59 Delco Energizer they License.
They told me $208.00 + ship.
I was going to place an order of 4,in a group discount with some locals.
I will call them Tomorrow AM,and also try Antique Car Battery too.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

Hey Rick, who is the best battery company to get a repro of an original AC Delco for 1st generation Camaros? I would like the batteries to be correctly dated. I looked this morning, but couldn't find much.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

New Castle holds the GM License to Manufacturer most of the Original designed Delco series.All the parts suppliers order through them as well.Paddock,YearOne etc.
I don't know if they will correctly date them,as the two dry cell R-59's I have bought from them in the past were all real world dates.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

BATTERY WARNING!! I purchased 3 of the sealed Delco 59 style batteries last year for the fleet from New Castle. I first saw them displayed at Carlisle last year. One of these batteries developed a small crack/leak this March in my 68 car. The fumes from the leak did 1000's in damage! When I contacted them they offered to give me another battery https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/mad.gif Fortunately Hagerty paid the claim and the damage was repaired. New Castle was going to issue a call tag to pick up the defective battery and it is still sitting in the shop as I write this. As far as I am concerned these batteries are strictly a prop for shows. Best thing is to get the real acid model without the acid and just use it for looks. I buy the AC-Delco professional top post maintenance free units and just switch the other for shows. You can also just get a plastic battery topper and have the look without the risk. Maybe I was just unlucky but I won't risk it a second time.

wilam https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/scholar.gif

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

Tom and Rick, thanks for the info. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

[ QUOTE ]
BATTERY WARNING!! I purchased 3 of the sealed Delco 59 style batteries last year for the fleet from New Castle. I first saw them displayed at Carlisle last year. One of these batteries developed a small crack/leak this March in my 68 car. The fumes from the leak did 1000's in damage! When I contacted them they offered to give me another battery https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...emlins/mad.gif Fortunately Hagerty paid the claim and the damage was repaired. New Castle was going to issue a call tag to pick up the defective battery and it is still sitting in the shop as I write this. As far as I am concerned these batteries are strictly a prop for shows. Best thing is to get the real acid model without the acid and just use it for looks. I buy the AC-Delco professional top post maintenance free units and just switch the other for shows. You can also just get a plastic battery topper and have the look without the risk. Maybe I was just unlucky but I won't risk it a second time.

wilam https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/scholar.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

I have the Mopar group 27 and the R59 sealed batteries in my Hemi and my Z11 since last year. I haven't had a problem (knock on wood). The only glitch was that UPS damaged the first mopar battery they sent me. I arrived punctured and obviously damaged in shipping -you could see the hole in the box and the battery without even unpacking it. New Castle immediately issued a call tag and the new battery arrived when they came to pick up the old one. I hope they didnt go out of business as I'll need a battery for my T/A.

William - I would venture a guess that your battery was probably cracked when you received it and it just took a little time to seap through. They ship via UPS and they are pretty hard on anything small and heavy that can be thrown, tossed, dropped or kicked.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

I guess that is a possibility. If they use UPS and they have had damage claims such as yours, then perhaps they need to re-think how they package and ship. These collector cars are just too valuable to risk using parts that have the potential for disaster. Bottom line: be careful, check things over closely and don't leave the battery in the car!

wilma

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

I love the optimas!
I put them in everything I own.
I know they look new, but damn I cant bear to put lead acid batteries near any of my vehicles https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/no.gif

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

I grabbed an R-59 lookalike (doesn't have the Delco script on top?) from a pile of scrap batteries. Not really expecting to use it anytime soon, but it's nice knowing it's there for when the GTO is eventually done...

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

You're right.. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif
I just got off the phone with New Castle Battery,(TurboStart.com),they answered the phone,"Commercial Battery."
I asked what happened to New Castle Battery?..she replied they went out of Business at the End of June.
I asked if they now sell what New Castle used to & she said yes,but not any of the Antique Car batteries at all.

I then called Antique Auto Battery in Ohio 1-800-426-7580.
They are now the GM License holder to the Antique Delco Batteries.They said they get $230 for the New Sealed R-59 & it will be at least 2 weeks or more waiting list.
The R-59 Open Lead acid is $140 & readily available.
They can stamp any Date on them you wish.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

Thanks for the information, mr70. I just called Antique Battery and orderd one of their sealed batteries. They said several people have called that were charged by New Castle and never sent a battery. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/frown.gif

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

[ QUOTE ]
I then called Antique Auto Battery in Ohio 1-800-426-7580. They are now the GM License holder to the Antique Delco Batteries.They said they get $230 for the New Sealed R-59 & it will be at least 2 weeks or more waiting list.
The R-59 Open Lead acid is $140 & readily available.
They can stamp any Date on them you wish.

[/ QUOTE ]

I just got off the phone with Antique Auto Battery. They told me that they can stamp the datecode on the Open Lead and the Maintenance Free R-59 Delco Batteries. I just have to decide which battery I should go with. Pay $140.00 for the Open Lead, or $230.00 for the maintenance free. They mentioned that both of these R-59's look identical and correct on the outside.
Has anybody ordered the maintenance free battery, and received it yet? Thoughts?

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

Hey Tony: whichever one you decide on, can you do me a favor and put it on a scale before you install it...?

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

You Dragracer you..https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/burnout.gif

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

Just keepin' up with the Joneses, buddy... https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...iggthumpup.gif

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Tony: whichever one you decide on, can you do me a favor and put it on a scale before you install it...?

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure, no problem Rob. I have decided to go with the Maintenance Free R-59's, which will be ordered on Monday. It might take 2-3 weeks before I receive them.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

Rob,

Delco Energizer R-59 Battery weights.
Maintenance Free: 35 lbs
Open Lead: 40 lbs

I will double check the weight when I get them.

Re: Reproduction Battery Warning
 

https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...lins/beers.gif