Replace C4 battery with Optima?

[Rain]

HAHA> I know its all relative.. So many of these guys are shade tree mechanics or full techs.. so whats easy to them is useless to us!

One thing on the battery removal. I would not just bend the body panel and tilt out the battery. Its much easier to remove the vented panel. Just be careful lining it back up. Make sure the driver's door doesnt scrape it.
The top and hidden bottom bolt allow ya some room to play with .

Would love a copy of your folder of repairs.
Building your own shop manual eh?

Ive got the Chiltons style manual but not the actual Chevy Shop Manuals. Ebay keeps selling em in varrious conditions for 90-100$ for our vettes.

Noticed the last 2 times I had extended work to do under the hood, that the hood work lights ran down my battery. Saw a post on the CAC where someone had put Radio Shack on/off switches on the light housings. Nice idea - might undertake that one next!

ciao
Rain

 

[Vettelt193]

...
Noticed the last 2 times I had extended work to do under the hood, that the hood work lights ran down my battery. Saw a post on the CAC where someone had put Radio Shack on/off switches on the light housings. Nice idea - might undertake that one next!.....

Rain, look in your Corvette's manual, it gives the location, underhood, for an inline fuse for the underhood lights. it is very easy to just take out the fuse so the lights don't come on... chevy designed it into the cars after the found people were unplugging the lights to turn them off, which usually meant the plugs got corroded over time.

This fuse is in the front bumper area, by the side turn signal, drivers side. It shouldn't be hard to just trace the hood light wires back to it.

 

[Rain]

Thanks!
Will check into that - mighty nice of em to put that in.

Rain

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

The only battery with side post available in Spain was the AC Delco. The one I bought came with a warranty longer than the Actuaries give me and cost a bit more than the insurance they want to sell me.:duh

 

[RedVetteMan]

I've had an Optima model 800U in my '84 for the 18 months I've had the car without a glitch. If the records are accurate, it's been in the car for at least 3 years. I seem to recall the previous owner had some problems with earlier versions of this battery, but I think it could be partially due to him not driving it enough (less than 1300 miles per year). I like the Optima...so far.

 

[jwn4854]

c4 batteries

hi
does anyone have a suggestion as how to remove the panel on my 90? looks like my battery is shot. i have printed out some tech info but it is not clear where all of the bolts are located. are there bolts under the car? can i work on it with it in the ground.
thanks
joe

 

[Rain]

Hey Joe

Scroll up - there is a list of the diff. tools needed and a link to another thread that walked me thru the process.

Essentially you have to remove the torx screws in the front wheel well, then a bolt on top of the side panel as well as the hidden one down where that vent panel meets the lower body panel.

Good luck
Rain

 

[wilezcoyote]

I had to use a Dremel tool (finally used it for something ) to modify the battery tray in order to get the red top optima to fit.

It's only been in a month. The car starts a lot more easily now.