Author Topic: Gutting Original Y55  (Read 12057 times)

dannystarr

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #15 on: April 19, 2019, 09:23:09 PM »
Chick,
 Sitting at home with my back out with heating pad and 800 MG Ibu! Catching up on computer stuff.
 Here is that same battery at Amazon.. Looks like about 5 bucks more. But good to know thay carry it.
 https://www.amazon.com/MX20L-MOTORCYCLE-BATTERY-500-CCA/dp/B01E49MQZ4/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=ThrottleX+Batteries+-+MX20L&qid=1555708713&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

68camaroz28

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #16 on: April 19, 2019, 11:04:31 PM »
The battery has arrived and after a little clean up it fits easily within case. More info and picks to follow.
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
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Edgemontvillage

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #17 on: May 09, 2019, 03:18:47 PM »
The battery has arrived and after a little clean up it fits easily within case. More info and picks to follow.

Chick - looking forward to your next update!

68camaroz28

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #18 on: May 13, 2019, 12:01:10 AM »
The battery has arrived and after a little clean up it fits easily within case. More info and picks to follow.

Chick - looking forward to your next update!
Have it done and worked great but having issues with my flickr account so hang on but its coming.
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
68 Corv 427/400 Orig motor
07 Corv Z06
R 68Z build- http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584

68camaroz28

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #19 on: May 14, 2019, 03:48:18 AM »
Purchased a MX-20L with advertised 500+ CCA as its smaller width (overall size) seemed to be a good fit. Note in the picture that since the Y55 battery had reverse polarity the to be installed MX-20L negative and positive terminals line up perfectly.

Time was spent cleaning out the case at different spots enabling the donor battery to ease in place with a little wiggle room. Also had to remove some debris from the bottom of the Y55 post so fastening a cable would have a nice surface for contact. Since I wanted to drill a pilot hole for the metal screws to be used the depth became an issue but quickly remembered some of my Dewalt tooling which made the drill operation simple.


Purchased battery cables at Ace Hardware for a garden tractor and they are 16” long. The next smallest length was 12” and was concerned that might be too short to adequately work with. I now realize the 12” cables will work but the extra length assisted easy hook ups and with the MX-20L being narrow in width it allows lots of room for the cable length.


Here you can see the top of the donor batter inside the Y55 case.

Placed the battery tender on and it was good to shortly thereafter. Note: I did have to cut the plastic shaft off the Delco Eye plug as you might have already assumed.
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
68 Corv 427/400 Orig motor
07 Corv Z06
R 68Z build- http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584

69Z28-RS

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #20 on: May 14, 2019, 01:03:32 PM »
It looks good Chick!!   Will it start your car?

Are you doing anything to seal the smaller battery inside the larger case? or leaving them 'separable'??
09C 69Z28-RS, 72 B 720 cowl console rosewood tint
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68camaroz28

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #21 on: May 14, 2019, 03:36:24 PM »
It looks good Chick!!   Will it start your car?

Are you doing anything to seal the smaller battery inside the larger case? or leaving them 'separable'??
Good questions Gary! Did not start the car yet but know two people with similar battery and theirs works fine. The repro R59's and the original Y55 only had around 350 CCA give or take a little if I remember correctly.
On sealing, I'm planning on letting the battery loose per se but its not really as the length of cables between the donor battery and inside wall of the Y55 act as a restraint for donor battery movement. In fact there is hardly any movement. The other advantage of the Motorcycle battery is just that, its sealed, leak proof, and also advertised for vibration. Guess it makes sense for what its used for, motorcycles. If anything changes I will communicate.
Chick
68 Z/28 NOR 01B Orig motor/trans/rear
69 Z/28 NOR 07A Orig Block & GM Cross-ram/carbs
69 L34 Rest. Nova Father/Son Car
69 L78 Surv Nova Purch 4/69 31K miles
67 L89 Corv Tribute
68 Corv 427/400 Orig motor
07 Corv Z06
R 68Z build- http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=182584

lynnbilodeau

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #22 on: August 24, 2019, 02:29:19 PM »
I am getting ready to do something similar with my R89S battery.

Although pricey, I plan to use a Braille battery.  Not fumes at all.  More CCA available.

Started a thread here:  https://www.yenko.net/forum/showthread.php?t=151420

Got the acid drained and completely neutralized last night.  My garage is such a huge mess right now, so I need to clean it up a bit, but will document this procedure.

lynnbilodeau

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #23 on: November 10, 2019, 06:13:04 AM »
Went ahead and gutted it. Followed the procedure posted by Chick. Only thing I didn't do was protect the top as well as he did so I ended up with a few scratches. But then probably pretty normal for a batter that is probably 40 years old.

I drilled through the 3/8 threade holes for the side posts and just threaded them all the way through. I used 00 cables (probably overkill, but I will never have to worry about them not carrying the amperage. Used very short 3/8 standard thread bolts to attach the cables on the inside. Made sure they would not interfere with the outside bolts from the side post cables.

Used a Braille racing lightweight AGM and just mounted it upside down. It is way more powerful than the original battery. I have the exact same battery in my 69 Opel GT, and it doesn't lose a charge even when sitting for a month at a time without a tender. I had read that they do not stay charged well when not driven regularly, but that has not been my experience.

After shooting these pics, and before attaching a bottom plate made from polycarbonate, I stuffed some more hard closed cell flexible foam in all the nooks and crannies, just so it wouldn't rattle around.

I glued some paint sticks together to make sure the battery stayed in place, then attached the bottom plat with epoxy.

Pretty pleased with the results. And it sure is easier to put in and out because it is much lighter.


lynnbilodeau

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #24 on: November 10, 2019, 06:16:06 AM »
Here are the pics.

lynnbilodeau

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #25 on: November 10, 2019, 04:22:40 PM »
I had to cut my Delco Eye tube off.

I can't remember.  When the battery was fully charged did the eye show a green tint?

Because the bottome of the Braille battery (which is now on top, since I mounted upside down) is white, my Delco Eye shows white.  Would be really easy to pull it up and but a dab of green paint under it.

169INDY

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #26 on: November 10, 2019, 06:08:41 PM »
Electrolyte level indication. Delco Eye. Keep those plates submerged!
Back in the day, I could get distilled & de-ionized make up battery water to top my old school bats off.

Jim
Jim
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Mike S

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #27 on: November 10, 2019, 08:28:56 PM »
 The Delco eye is dark when with a charged battery. It will lighten when the acid level is low.
At least that is how it is with my NOS R59 I am using.

Mike
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dannystarr

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #28 on: November 11, 2019, 04:17:44 AM »
All looks good guys.
 I was taught that the Delco Eye had nothing to do with the battery being charged or not. And it's only purpose was to show fluid level. If the fluid is low, and it doesn't stay green... that doesn't mean the battery is not fully charged. It just means the level is low. Not saying this info is correct. But when you look at the directions, and the purpose of the eye in a battery, it specifically says what I stated above. Who knows???..  Danny

camaronut

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Re: Gutting Original Y55
« Reply #29 on: November 17, 2019, 01:03:25 AM »
Looks good....but I have a suggestion.....even though you have that wood keeping that battery up inside, I'd somehow shield / insulate those battery terminals.....REAL WELL!!!

I'd hate to see those terminals contact the battery tray if it inadvertently slid downward....wouldn't be pretty.

Not trying to be a smart-ass.....just saying.  Better to be safe than sorry....

 

anything