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Topic: 79 Battery

in Forum: C3 Electrical

79 Battery

Posted: 8/30/14 4:33pm Message 1 of 5
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METAIRIE, LA - USA
Joined: 6/7/2007
Posts: 144
Vette(s): 1979 BLACK COUPE

Can I go with a more powerful battery in my 79.  Current battery is 800 CCA W/ 1000 CA.  I run the car every two weeks.  I have a amp on the radio.  If I run the radio for sure it kills the battery.  I keep a jumper with me always.  Alternator is OEM and has been replaced once.  Will do away w/ amp if needed.  Re-starts have always been an issue w/ my car.



|UPDATED|8/30/2014 4:33:51 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|



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Re: 79 Battery

Posted: 8/30/14 12:50pm Message 2 of 5
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Scottsdale, AZ - USA
Joined: 5/23/2007
Posts: 617
Vette(s): 1981 Corvette Two-Tone Claret color, 4 spd, C7 Vert
Measure for fitting a larger battery which will boost the CCA's etc.


      Only 34 years together

Re: 79 Battery

Posted: 8/30/14 6:41pm Message 3 of 5
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379
Vette(s): 1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.
79FOREVER said:

Can I go with a more powerful battery in my 79.  Current battery is 800 CCA W/ 1000 CA.  I run the car every two weeks.  I have a amp on the radio.  If I run the radio for sure it kills the battery.  I keep a jumper with me always.  Alternator is OEM and has been replaced once.  Will do away w/ amp if needed.  Re-starts have always been an issue w/ my car.






So you say you run the vehicle every 2 weeks. Are you playing the stereo a lot without the engine running? 
Or are you saying the stereo is killing the battery even after running the car? 
If thats the case you may want to consider beefing up your OEM 63 Amp alternator to at least a 100 Amps.

Remember these car didn't have high out put stereos back then. Now with all these new electronic add ons we all put on our cars, the OEM alternators can have a hard time keeping up with the demand. 

Years ago I had my OEM alternator rebuilt and beefed up from 63 Amps to 100-105 Amps. It handled the upgrades well. Now with the setup I have now I required a 140 Amp alternator to ensure no problems down the road. 




GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


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Re: 79 Battery

Posted: 8/31/14 7:42am Message 4 of 5
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Former Member
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METAIRIE, LA - USA
Joined: 6/7/2007
Posts: 144
Vette(s): 1979 BLACK COUPE
If I run the car for any lenght of time using the A/C or just the radio it will not re-start.  I most likely have the 63 amp alternator.  Going to have the battery checked soon and may try a higher CCA / CA battery first.  I can do away with the radio amp, should have never put the dam thing on the car in the first place.  If I have to can I send my alternator to someone to upgrade or do I have to buy a total new setup including brackets  The car will always restart with a jump or jumper box w/ a full charge.


Re: 79 Battery

Posted: 8/31/14 9:40am Message 5 of 5
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WEST SENECA, NY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 2379
Vette(s): 1981 Blue Ice Met. w/pearl ghost flames TKO500 5speed. LS1 Swap 3.45 Dana 44.
79FOREVER said: If I run the car for any lenght of time using the A/C or just the radio it will not re-start.  I most likely have the 63 amp alternator.  Going to have the battery checked soon and may try a higher CCA / CA battery first.  I can do away with the radio amp, should have never put the dam thing on the car in the first place.  If I have to can I send my alternator to someone to upgrade or do I have to buy a total new setup including brackets  The car will always restart with a jump or jumper box w/ a full charge.


So if you use neither the A/C or the radio the car will restart?

Yeah I would have the battery load tested to rule out the possibility of a bad cell. 

If the battery checks out ok, then I'm wondering if there isn't something causing a small draw on the battery while sitting.

A local auto electric shop that rebuilds starters and alternators should be able to beef up your stock alternator to 100 amps no problem. 

Or if you feel confident enough, you can get a kit like this one and do your own upgrade. Alternators aren't all that hard to take apart and put back together.





GEN III 5.7L "LS6" Engine swap
TKO500 5 spd.
3.54 Dana 44
'69 "N11" Sidepipes
Borgeson Steering Box
Born 8/1981
Sequence #3975




Click here to see more pics of my Vette on CarDomain.


Lifetime Member #26

in Forum: C3 Electrical


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