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Side Terminal Delco Battery

pm26

By pm26
in 1999-2013 Silverado 1500 & Sierra 1500

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pm26 Senior Enthusiast

pm26

Posted
Posted

I just replaced my original Delco battery after 5 years. It was still good but I did not want to take any chances to get stranded if the battery fails unexpectedly. I got another Delco battery from a local Chevy dealer, same size, except the new one has slightly higher cold cranking amps (700 vs 600). The only odd issue was that when I was reattaching the battery cables, I had a feeling that the bolts did not thread as far into the terminals as on the other battery. The metal plates in the terminals are not recessed any more than on the old one, but the plastic around the terminals is a bit different. Maybe there is no issue, and the truck started right up, but I want to make sure that the battery cable terminals make a full contact with the battery terminal metal plates. Anybody ran into any similar issues with replacement batteries?

 

Maybe the bolt threads in the terminals of the new battery are recessed more?

 

This battery is one tight fit and anything even slightly bigger in size would most likely not fit in the tray.

Eddie 70 Senior Enthusiast

Eddie 70

Posted
Posted

Mine still has the stocker in it at this point. Its an 07 but I will pay attention to it when the time comes for a new one.

jblakeney Senior Enthusiast

jblakeney

Posted
Posted

Did you cross thread it? If not and the cable is tight don't worry about it. Should be no problem..... A group 78 battery fills the spot completely... If you had a group 75 to start with the 78 is a couple inches longer.......

 

Jbo

pm26 Senior Enthusiast

pm26

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Did you cross thread it? If not and the cable is tight don't worry about it. Should be no problem..... A group 78 battery fills the spot completely... If you had a group 75 to start with the 78 is a couple inches longer.......

 

Jbo

 

No, I did not cross thread anything, I always start tightening bolts by hand, then I use a small 8 mm wrench to tighten them securely. The new battery is supposedly a group 78, but it is the same size as the old one. I did loosen the negative terminal and rechecked everything - could be that the threads are just a bit more recessed on the new battery.

 

The price I paid was very competitive, a Walmart battery would have cost $ 77, this one cost me $ 82.

MaverickZ71 Senior Enthusiast

MaverickZ71

Posted
Posted
Did you cross thread it? If not and the cable is tight don't worry about it. Should be no problem..... A group 78 battery fills the spot completely... If you had a group 75 to start with the 78 is a couple inches longer.......

 

Jbo

 

No, I did not cross thread anything, I always start tightening bolts by hand, then I use a small 8 mm wrench to tighten them securely. The new battery is supposedly a group 78, but it is the same size as the old one. I did loosen the negative terminal and rechecked everything - could be that the threads are just a bit more recessed on the new battery.

 

The price I paid was very competitive, a Walmart battery would have cost $ 77, this one cost me $ 82.

 

 

Man, that is a great price. Around here, the only places that sell the AC Delco batteries anymore are the GM dealers, and last year I had to order a 7 yr. 'professional' battery from the Chevy dealer, and it cost $128, cash and carry. They must've made me pay by the pound. :nono:

pm26 Senior Enthusiast

pm26

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Did you cross thread it? If not and the cable is tight don't worry about it. Should be no problem..... A group 78 battery fills the spot completely... If you had a group 75 to start with the 78 is a couple inches longer.......

 

Jbo

 

No, I did not cross thread anything, I always start tightening bolts by hand, then I use a small 8 mm wrench to tighten them securely. The new battery is supposedly a group 78, but it is the same size as the old one. I did loosen the negative terminal and rechecked everything - could be that the threads are just a bit more recessed on the new battery.

 

The price I paid was very competitive, a Walmart battery would have cost $ 77, this one cost me $ 82.

 

 

Man, that is a great price. Around here, the only places that sell the AC Delco batteries anymore are the GM dealers, and last year I had to order a 7 yr. 'professional' battery from the Chevy dealer, and it cost $128, cash and carry. They must've made me pay by the pound. :nono:

 

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but GMT900 Delco batteries are much more expensive for some reason. Did you buy one for a GMT800? I bought mine from a Chevy dealer and I believe it is a 6 year series 78 battery. I do not know how much more the "professional" one would be.

ken1mod Senior Enthusiast

ken1mod

Posted
Posted

There is a torque spec for these terminals. If you can, torque them to this spec. If the torque holds, you are good to go. Also, the plastic might shrink a bit after a few days, check the tightness again.

 

Ken

Wires Enthusiast

Wires

Posted
Posted
Did you cross thread it? If not and the cable is tight don't worry about it. Should be no problem..... A group 78 battery fills the spot completely... If you had a group 75 to start with the 78 is a couple inches longer.......

 

Jbo

 

No, I did not cross thread anything, I always start tightening bolts by hand, then I use a small 8 mm wrench to tighten them securely. The new battery is supposedly a group 78, but it is the same size as the old one. I did loosen the negative terminal and rechecked everything - could be that the threads are just a bit more recessed on the new battery.

 

The price I paid was very competitive, a Walmart battery would have cost $ 77, this one cost me $ 82.

 

 

Man, that is a great price. Around here, the only places that sell the AC Delco batteries anymore are the GM dealers, and last year I had to order a 7 yr. 'professional' battery from the Chevy dealer, and it cost $128, cash and carry. They must've made me pay by the pound. :nono:

 

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but GMT900 Delco batteries are much more expensive for some reason. Did you buy one for a GMT800? I bought mine from a Chevy dealer and I believe it is a 6 year series 78 battery. I do not know how much more the "professional" one would be.

 

 

GMT900 batteries are reverse posted (like european vehicles) with top posts, and aren't nearly as common to find. Why top posts? I have no idea. Never had a side post get corroded....

MaverickZ71 Senior Enthusiast

MaverickZ71

Posted
Posted
Did you cross thread it? If not and the cable is tight don't worry about it. Should be no problem..... A group 78 battery fills the spot completely... If you had a group 75 to start with the 78 is a couple inches longer.......

 

Jbo

 

No, I did not cross thread anything, I always start tightening bolts by hand, then I use a small 8 mm wrench to tighten them securely. The new battery is supposedly a group 78, but it is the same size as the old one. I did loosen the negative terminal and rechecked everything - could be that the threads are just a bit more recessed on the new battery.

 

The price I paid was very competitive, a Walmart battery would have cost $ 77, this one cost me $ 82.

 

 

Man, that is a great price. Around here, the only places that sell the AC Delco batteries anymore are the GM dealers, and last year I had to order a 7 yr. 'professional' battery from the Chevy dealer, and it cost $128, cash and carry. They must've made me pay by the pound. :nono:

 

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but GMT900 Delco batteries are much more expensive for some reason. Did you buy one for a GMT800? I bought mine from a Chevy dealer and I believe it is a 6 year series 78 battery. I do not know how much more the "professional" one would be.

 

 

Actually the one I bought was for my '79 10th Anniversary Trans Am. I remember a 6 yr. battery with blue label being cheaper, but they said 7 yr. 'professional' series battery with gold label was the best. Hope so, because it cost a lot.

sonjaab Senior Enthusiast

sonjaab

Posted
Posted

The factory ends have a crush washer type bolt (for lack of

a proper term). Once you change the factory battery to a new

one the bolts are then too long so the terminal is loose.

 

There have been many posts where folks that have installed

replacement batteries that try to cure this issue by over tightening the cable bolt and cracking the internal terminal lead and then the battery leaks acid from the terminal.

 

I just sized up a fat star washer and placed it on the face of the battery cable and attached it to the battery. This took up the added space and secured the cable end to the battery tightly.

jblakeney Senior Enthusiast

jblakeney

Posted
Posted
Did you cross thread it? If not and the cable is tight don't worry about it. Should be no problem..... A group 78 battery fills the spot completely... If you had a group 75 to start with the 78 is a couple inches longer.......

 

Jbo

 

No, I did not cross thread anything, I always start tightening bolts by hand, then I use a small 8 mm wrench to tighten them securely. The new battery is supposedly a group 78, but it is the same size as the old one. I did loosen the negative terminal and rechecked everything - could be that the threads are just a bit more recessed on the new battery.

 

The price I paid was very competitive, a Walmart battery would have cost $ 77, this one cost me $ 82.

 

 

Man, that is a great price. Around here, the only places that sell the AC Delco batteries anymore are the GM dealers, and last year I had to order a 7 yr. 'professional' battery from the Chevy dealer, and it cost $128, cash and carry. They must've made me pay by the pound. :drool:

 

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but GMT900 Delco batteries are much more expensive for some reason. Did you buy one for a GMT800? I bought mine from a Chevy dealer and I believe it is a 6 year series 78 battery. I do not know how much more the "professional" one would be.

 

 

GMT900 batteries are reverse posted (like european vehicles) with top posts, and aren't nearly as common to find. Why top posts? I have no idea. Never had a side post get corroded....

 

 

They went to a battery that was mainly used prior to GM trucks for;

 

AGCO Tractor, Audi, BMW, Chrysler (Crossfire only, due to high influence from MB), Jaguar, John Deere Tractor, Lexus, Lotus, Maserati, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Porsche, Saab, Volkswagen, & Volvo.

 

Notice how many import vehicle companies use this battery....... It is a common battery in the import vehicle market. I do not know why many places did not have the battery to start with before GM started using it in the GMT900's.... I have had them on my shelf for at least the last 10 years.... When GM went to this battery I was stocking 3 of them on the shelf... Now I keep a measly 15 of them at all times..... Due to the popularity of the GMT-900 trucks and SUV's.

 

So notice how many European manufactures use this battery... IDK, GM US divisions decided to use the battery...... Seems to me the side post battery we have used since the what 70tys has served us quite well and with out trouble....

 

From time to time the bolt requires replacement but the battery cable lug is usually rust and corrosion free...

 

Jbo

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