Hey All
Wondering if anyone has converted their 4th gen Camaro from a side mount battery to a top post mount battery (cant find any search info). I have a '96 SS convertible and I'm probably in need of a new battery this coming season (winter here in Canada, car is in storage). I'm not sure about clearance for a top mount, thought Id start looking into it now. Also, any recommendations for a battery with good cranking power? (other threads on this topic are a little old, wanting current info).
Thanks in advance for any and all help/recommendations
Cheers

 

As long as you stay with the same group size there won't be a top post clearance problem, I've done it. Gonna need adaptors for taper post to side mount screw. Positives and negatives have to match at position and close to the edge.
https://www.summitracing.com/oh/parts/ado-4ba17

 

Thanks for the reply and link to parts needed FirstYrLS1Z. Always makes it easier when you can actually see the the parts. Any recommendations on batteries? There are some longer periods of time that the car will sit unused (especially in early spring & late fall) so would like a battery that holds a charge well & cranks over good.

 

Lots of recent battery discussion/recommendations in this thread:

https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...te-vs-etc.html

 

Don't know why you would convert to a top post but if that is what you want than adapters like noted in the reply earlier is a option...or new battery cables that are top post type. If your cables are original they likely need replacing

There are basically just a few battery manufacturers so battery's at most chain auto part stores are the same but just branded for the store. Johnson Controls is about the largest maker. Same battery at Walmart or Autozone

If you store the car for long periods AGM batteries are not good. They don't take a charge very well once they decline in charge

You can buy battery's that have both top & side terminals.

I chose to run side terminal with large battery cables. My 96 and 67 both use a group 78 side terminal. Walmart has it for $49 and the exact same battery at Autozone is over $100. Both made by Johnson Control

 

If the OPs' post request is for ease of charging with charging clamps, could also convert the existing screws with

https://www.summitracing.com/oh/parts/ado-4ba14

 

Thanks for the input ******. I was thinking of top mount for both the easier charging and also thought maybe it would give me more battery options. Looking for something with high CCA. You mentioned you switched to large battery cables, what was the purpose/advantage of doing that?
Also, anyone have experience with Costco Kirkland batteries?(cant beat Costco warranty/return policy).

 

I do have the screw in posts and have been using those for charging thanks.

 

I actually did read that thread RPM WS6, just trying to gather as much input and ideas/options as I can thanks.

 

I frankly find no difference on attaching my trickle charger to side post vs top. Its easier as the clips hold easily to the side post studs.

I prefer the cleaner look of a side post. On side post cable I never have the white corrosion I get on top post battery's

I went to 1/0 cables on my LT1 Impala (96) and my 67 Camaro. IMHO better than the thin stock cables but mostly after 20 years any stock battery cable is done

check out .www.innovativewiring.com Gary makes excellent cables and other stuff. I believe he has cables for F body also

Kirkand likely is from one of a few large battery companies. It may even be Johnson Controls. It will say on the sticker. At least the Walmart brand does

Typically there are a few "levels" of a battery size in terms of CCA's. The more CCA the higher the $. One of my 78 series is 800CCA (1000 @ 32 degrees) and the one in Camaro is 600 CCA (750 @ 32 degrees). Here in SoCal we don't really see weather lower than 32 degrees F. In snow/cold areas go for the higher CCA version

 

Several factors to consider here but, in general, I wouldn't agree unless the car is very high mileage (lots of heat, etc.) - more a matter of usage/heat cycling vs. age alone. Connection points will sometimes become corroded and need a good scrubbing, but the typical modern example from a cool climate that's not a daily driver and is stored for part of the year won't see enough wear on this cable for it to be toast in just 20 years. Even on older stuff....back in the '90s my typical drivers were cars from the '70s with original wiring including the cables, and I never had an issue. I look at the wiring in my '98 car, and granted it's very low mileage, but nothing I touch is even remotely brittle.

On the other hand, upgrading for a heavier load (audio stuff, etc.) is certainly sensible.

 

IDK the condition of OP's car....but stock battery cables were marginal at best

 

Most of my car's life was spent in SoCal (bought it off of my brother & brought it up to Central Canada in 2014). I believe it has about 148K miles on it now and pretty much original except for wheels. I use it weather permitting (convertible) from about early/mid May to late October/early November and get in a 3000-5000 mile road trip every summer since i bought it. There are periods of time where it will sit for a few weeks at a time when the weather doesn't cooperate lol. I definitely want a battery with the higher CCA for the colder weather purposes, but as far as changing to a top post battery it's not necessary if I have the same battery options in a side post one. Just want a good, reliable battery & am willing to pay a little more if need be so I'm basing my decision on those factors with any/all input from all of you knowledgeable people who have the same ride. About the battery cables, do you guys strongly recommend changing to a heavier gauge?

 

My $.02, as I mentioned before, yes. It is not critical but IMHO the 20+ year old ones are fatigued even under the best of weather and storage conditions. I live in SoCal and have family in Canada and originally from NY so I know what winter weather is. The + cable runs along the engine and sees a great deal of heat which "fatigues" the cable even with the heat insulation it comes with along that section.

I keep my car very clean, have had motor out a few times and store the car in the garage. I was surprised how fatigued the + cable was even under the insulation sleeve. The cable was no where near as flexible as it was new so I replaced them and chose the larger cables made by Innovative Wiring. Those or just "new" stock cables will keep a solid battery/starter feed IMHO

My 67 had generic "replacements" on it when I got it. They were OK, just stock size and that car is non AC and does not have a big a$$ stereo in it requiring bigger wiring/cables. I decided I wanted a new battery since the one in it was a 8 year old "Walmart" (Johnson Control) battery which still worked but it was close to its end life.

I also wanted 1/0 cable and just looked up cables the length I wanted for the side post swap and bought them on Amazon (AC Delco brand). IDK what car they were intended for, obviously not a 67 Camaro, but the + one had the heat sleeve over it for the area that runs along the block.

FWIW I deal with large electrical loads in my work as a touring Lighting Director. We tie into 400 & 600 amp services at every show and run miles of cable from dimmer to lamp and we see "cable fatigue" as part of wear & tear so I may be more conscious of heat and use effects than others

 

I think you would be fine with a premium level Group 75 (stock physical size) battery for your purposes. I've been using the highest level (Gold/Premium/Professional/etc. - different names for different brands, but you just want the one with the longest warranty) AC Delco Group 75 units in my current '98 car for 15+ years with great results. Much like your application, mine sits for months at a time during the winter, and sometimes for several weeks even in the summer as I don't use the car often. I do put a smart charger on it every 2-3 weeks to keep it fresh when connected, but it always holds enough charge for a strong start even after several weeks.

The larger Group 78 mentioned above by ****** does seem to be a better/stronger/longer lasting battery (I use this size in my '71), but it's bigger than the stock battery and I can't say for certain if it will fit properly in the allotted space on a 4th gen F-body (I haven't ever tried this myself).

No, in my opinion, I would not "strongly" recommend this for a stock electrical system (meaning no audio upgrades or other added equipment, etc.). Of course, it's not going to hurt anything to upgrade the cables, but I don't see this as absolutely necessary for a stock application. After 20+ years of owning/driving several different 4th gens, none of mine have ever "needed" an upgrade in this area to function properly (although, I've also never added any increased load via stereo upgrades, etc.) If you're putting greater stress on the charging system than just the stock components, then an upgrade is probably a good idea.

As for age related fatigue, this is going to depend on a variety of factors and there is no set expiration date for battery cables in an automotive application. On a higher mileage example from a hot climate, it's probably more of an issue than on lower mileage cars of the same age. At 22 years old, my '98 car is nowhere near the point of needing replacement cables - but it's only at 18k miles. So, again, several factors to consider.

 

Awesome input/suggestions as usual everyone. Always seem to get great info from the members on ls1tech.com, thank you all.
Whoever may have other ideas or suggestions please keep posting as any & all info is useful to both myself & anyone else who reads this thread.

 

OP

I may have gotten it wrong on a 4th gen battery size. My 96 B-body (Impala SS) uses a 78 series. My 67 Camaro also now has a 78 series side post which was the same size as the top post previously in the stock battery tray/hold down.

But if the 4th gen "stock" battery is a 75 series the measurements are smaller, in length only, than a 78 so if you car does not have the space or your tray and hold down won't accommodate it than obviously you will have to stay in the group size that fits

L-W-H
75 9-1/16 7-1/16 7-11/16
78 10-1/4 7-1/16 7-11/16

Agree to get the higher level of whatever brand you buy (these will have the longer warranty)

Battery cables, like any other wear item on a car, fatigue more on higher mileage, hotter engine temps than colder. Beyond examining the connection points of the cables the + cable that runs along engine is subject to the most heat so look at that area for fatigue (stiffness, worn insulation)

 

Thanks for the clarification on the batteriy sizes. I'll have to have a close look at those cables to see what shape they're in too.

 

An 86 size top post battery fits perfectly. The only downside is that they might be harder to find, but I did get one at Walmart a couple of years ago.

You'll just need to extend the cables by about 6-8 inches. You can get splicers online, don't know if parts places carry them.

I hate side post batteries, more prone to corrosion inside the terminals and bad contacts, in my opinion.

 

Thanks for the reply patSS/00. I appreciate having all the options available to me to help determine which way to go with my battery purchase.