<VV> Gel Cell/Dry Cell

Eric S. Eberhard flash at vicsmba.com
Wed Aug 17 18:55:42 EDT 2011


Oddly Dyna-Batt on Summit in a search is listed as a "dry cell" -- I 
buy dry cells often and know what they are -- they are lead acid 
w/out the acid added.  You have to buy the acid (I get it at NAPA) 
and add it, then wait a few hours, then it is good to go.  I use 
fork-lift batteries from Interstate that are the same size as the 
original stock battery.  For looks.

When I search for Gel Cell on Summit I get Optima Red Top -  one model

When I search for Optima on Summit I get all kinds of models of 
Optima -- none says Gel Cell

optimabatteries.com calls them AGM batteries (Red and Yellow) and 
says specifically that they are NOT Gell Cells.

So Summit is not quite gospel, but I bet the Dyna-Batt are dry cells 
or Summit no longer carries the ones your friend got.

The supposed advantage (one anyway) of the Optima that interests me 
is the design of the Spiralcell which is that they are 
immobilized.  In other words, the plates won't suddenly flake apart and short.

In the decades I have lived in AZ and owning 5-10 cars all the time, 
I have only ONCE in my life experienced the joy of wearing a battery 
out such that it slowly decreases it's power until it won't 
crank.  Same with tractors -- just once this happened.

Every other battery I have replaced has been due to shorting of the 
plates.  With 50 degree swings between day and night I suspect that 
does not help.  So one minute the battery is perfect, the next it 
won't start even off a jump unless you have HD cables.

They say the Optima solves that -- but a NAPA warranty on their 
battery, do the math, and it just does not pen out.  I suppose to 
prevent the hassle it might be worth it, but I only lose one every 
few years on the cars -- a little more often on tractors.  This never 
once happened to me when I lived on the CA coast.  So perhaps the 
weather should influence your decision :-)

Eric

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:01:18 -0400 (EDT)
From: Sethracer at aol.com
Subject: Re: <VV> Gel battery
To: yenko108 at hotmail.com, 62vair at gmail.com
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Message-ID: <1b851.cc18faa.3b7cb32e at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Optima Batteries are NOT gel cells. They are sealed lead acid batteries
with a special (they say) "spiral cell" technology.

The Gel battery used in Rick's race car is a Dyna-Batt Gel Cell produced by
  Davis Unified Ignition. They are available from Summit racing. I do not
know  what batteries Rick is using in his street cars.

- Seth Emerson




At 05:49 AM 8/17/2011, you wrote:
>Send VirtualVairs mailing list submissions to
>         virtualvairs at corvair.org
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
>         http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/listinfo/virtualvairs
>or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
>         virtualvairs-request at corvair.org
>
>You can reach the person managing the list at
>         virtualvairs-owner at corvair.org
>
>When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>than "Re: Contents of VirtualVairs digest..."
>
>
>Please also edit to include only the topic you're responding to when 
>replying to a Digest.
>This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
>copyrights are the property
>of the writer, please attribute properly.
>For help, mail to: vv-help at corvair.org
>Archives at http://www.vv.corvair.org/pipermail/virtualvairs/
>This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, http://www.corvair.org/
>Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
>
>Today's Topics:
>
>    1. Re: 78 Amp Alternator (Mark Durham)
>    2. Re: Gell battery (Bob Dunahugh)
>    3. Re: Gell battery (Geoffrey Stozek)
>    4. Re: Gel battery (Sethracer at aol.com)
>    5. Re: Corvair trim differences (Bill Hubbell)
>    6. Re: Corvair trim differences (William Hubbell)
>    7. Alternator conversions need a lock nut! (Ed Dowds)
>
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Message: 1
>Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 20:57:40 -0700
>From: Mark Durham <62vair at gmail.com>
>Subject: Re: <VV> 78 Amp Alternator
>To: Frank DuVal <corvairduval at cox.net>
>Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>Message-ID:
>         <CAEEoEu7EhVJKn5Kut2fKHPAt2ys25FWNU3y03oSMs0O34uEqMw at mail.gmail.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
>Frank, no confusion here. I fully understood what Smitty was saying,
>I've never experienced a part not working to its rated capacity, for
>example, and have been buying parts from my local parts stores since
>my first car in 1966. I remotely remember a generator that broke a end
>plate in 1969, but thats it for parts problems. However, there are
>unscrupulous overhaulers out there that may do what Smitty says. I
>doubt their parts show up where I tend to shop.  The older my car
>gets, the pickier I am about where I shop. Mark Durham
>
>
>
>On Tue, Aug 16, 2011 at 7:44 PM, Frank DuVal <corvairduval at cox.net> wrote:
> > Mark, I think you confused what Smitty was saying with what sounds
> > correct for someone in the aircraft engine field, where everything is
> > done right.
> >
> > Some rebuilders just take all the various cores (complete alternators
> > received from "core suppliers") that are a particular brand, disregard
> > the amp rating, disassemble them and place rotors in one bin, stators in
> > another, etc. They do NOT take the time to sort by actual use most of
> > the time. This is the point Smitty was making!
> >
> > Sort of like the "rebuilt" distributors and carburetors one buys at the
> > FLAPS. One size fits all to them!
> >
> > Now if we are talking Delco rebuilt equipment, they hopefully take the
> > time to match parts for a certain application.
> >
> > I have sold many parts and scrap metal to a core supplier in Richmond,
> > but not any Corvair parts....
> >
> > Frank DuVal
> >
> > On 8/16/2011 3:41 PM, Mark Durham wrote:
> >> Smitty, there is nothing wrong with that as long as each part is
> >> properly cleaned and restored before being put back together. ?Of
> >> course, you have to realize that there are different rotors, different
> >> housings, diode plates, brushes, and other such parts that give you
> >> the different amp ratings that must go into particular units to give
> >> you the 37, 63, 78, and so on alternators. The windings in the rotors
> >> make the difference.
> >>
> >> So, there would have to be more boxes than you think. It may be that
> >> that factory specialized in the most used alternator, versus another
> >> factory doing another type or amp models.
> >>
> >> Mark Durham
> >>
> >> On Tue, Aug 16, 2011 at 7:03 AM, Smitty<vairologist at cox.net> ?wrote:
> >>> Smitty Says; ?I have to smile every time I read about somebody 
> going to a FLAPS and getting a high output alternator or generator. 
> ?Several years ago our club took a tour through a plant that 
> rebuilt such items for resale through FLAPS. ?The manager was asked 
> about how special or high output items are handled. ?He said the 
> units are broken down for cleaning. ?The rotors/armatures go in 
> that big box there. ?The cases go in that big box there. ?After 
> reconditioning the parts are reassembled in the order they are 
> plucked out of the box. ?To him a rotor was a rotor and a case was a case.
> >>> This may not be true of all rebuilders, but I would bet it is 
> more common than most would think.
> >>>
> > ?_______________________________________________
> > This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
> copyrights are the property
> > of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> > This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
> http://www.corvair.org/
> > Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> > Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> > ?_______________________________________________
> >
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 2
>Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:06:56 -0500
>From: Bob Dunahugh <yenko108 at hotmail.com>
>Subject: Re: <VV> Gell battery
>To: <62vair at gmail.com>
>Cc: Virtaul Vairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>Message-ID: <SNT124-W41D21DC14ED2E5B6BC3B580280 at phx.gbl>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
>The gel battery is an Optima brand. There are things you should know 
>about them. They are great
>batteries.  My cell # is 319-521-4891 central    Bob
>
> > Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:24:59 -0700
> > Subject: Re: <VV> Gell battery
> > From: 62vair at gmail.com
> > To: yenko108 at hotmail.com
> > CC: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> >
> > Bob, brand and size? Mark Durham
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 9:56 PM, Bob Dunahugh <yenko108 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I have a gell battery in my FC, and 2 of my Yenko,s. The 67 has 
> a battery that is dated 1995. The 69 stinger's battery is 2001 I 
> think. They have never had maintainers on them. The 67 went 3 years 
> without being started. It started it after that length of time.   Bob Dunahugh
> > >  _______________________________________________
> > > This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
> copyrights are the property
> > > of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> > > This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
> http://www.corvair.org/
> > > Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> > > Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> > >  _______________________________________________
> > >
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 3
>Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:43:30 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Geoffrey Stozek <gjjs at att.net>
>Subject: Re: <VV> Gell battery
>To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>Message-ID:
>         <1313556210.65771.YahooMailRC at web180808.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> >From my personal experience, Optima batteries are garbage.?? I 
> liked the idea of
>no corrosion from acid drip the Optima offered so I paid?big bucks for one.?
>Within 2 years it would not hold a charge.? A replacement Optima even after
>credit for the prorated warranty was more expensive than a new top 
>of the line?
>lead acid battery without any credit for?proration or trade in.? 
>?I've had lead
>acid batteries last up to 16 years so I'll never look at another 
>Optima and will
>discourage anyone from waisting their money on one.?
>
>
>________________________________
>From: Bob Dunahugh <yenko108 at hotmail.com>
>To: 62vair at gmail.com
>Cc: Virtaul Vairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>Sent: Tue, August 16, 2011 11:06:56 PM
>Subject: Re: <VV> Gell battery
>
>
>The gel battery is an Optima brand. There are things you should know 
>about them.
>They are great
>batteries.? My cell # is 319-521-4891 central? ? Bob
>
> > Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:24:59 -0700
> > Subject: Re: <VV> Gell battery
> > From: 62vair at gmail.com
> > To: yenko108 at hotmail.com
> > CC: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> >
> > Bob, brand and size? Mark Durham
> >
> > On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 9:56 PM, Bob Dunahugh <yenko108 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > I have a gell battery in my FC, and 2 of my Yenko,s. The 67 has 
> a battery
> >that is dated 1995. The 69 stinger's battery is 2001 I think. They 
> have never
> >had maintainers on them. The 67 went 3 years without being 
> started. It started
> >it after that length of time.? Bob Dunahugh
> > >? _______________________________________________
> > > This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
> copyrights are
> >the property
> > > of the writer, please attribute properly. For help,
> >mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> > > This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America,
> >http://www.corvair.org/
> > > Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> > > Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> > >? _______________________________________________
> > >
>??? ??? ??? ? ??? ??? ?
>_______________________________________________
>This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
>copyrights are the
>property
>of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
>This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, http://www.corvair.org/
>Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
>Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
>_______________________________________________
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 4
>Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:01:18 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Sethracer at aol.com
>Subject: Re: <VV> Gel battery
>To: yenko108 at hotmail.com, 62vair at gmail.com
>Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org
>Message-ID: <1b851.cc18faa.3b7cb32e at aol.com>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
>
>Optima Batteries are NOT gel cells. They are sealed lead acid batteries
>with a special (they say) "spiral cell" technology.
>
>The Gel battery used in Rick's race car is a Dyna-Batt Gel Cell produced by
>  Davis Unified Ignition. They are available from Summit racing. I do not
>know  what batteries Rick is using in his street cars.
>
>- Seth Emerson
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 5
>Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:35:47 -0400
>From: Bill Hubbell <whubbell at verizon.net>
>Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair trim differences
>To: Tony Underwood <tony.underwood at cox.net>
>Cc: "virtualvairs at corvair.org" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>Message-ID: <62788916-C6D6-45B5-AB89-99F20833532D at verizon.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>Ray (or whomever else may be interested)
>
>This is exactly the sort of discussion the new SCG site is made for. 
>It would be wonderful if somebody would post (even better, with 
>photos) to the site. You don't have to have all your facts straight 
>to start a post - that gets sorted out with comments. The editors of 
>the site are there to help fix any problems.  By adding appropriate 
>tags and categories to the posts we make them easy to find later 
>when somebody else is looking for information.
>
>Please consider posting all your stock Corvair questions and answers 
>to the SCG site http://stock.Corvair.org. If you aren't already a 
>member of the site, please register.
>
>Contrary to what you might think by looking at the source of current 
>posts on the site, the SCG is not just a couple of people who "know 
>everything about stock Corvairs"; rather, it is a tool for everyone 
>of us who have any sort of interest in anything stock Corvair to use 
>to further that interest. The new website is the powerful 
>realization of that tool. However, like any other tool, it is 
>worthless without people to use it.
>
>Please use the tool
>
>Thanks
>
>Bill Hubbell
>SCG President
>
>On Aug 16, 2011, at 10:39 PM, Tony Underwood <tony.underwood at cox.net> wrote:
>
> > At 06:49 PM 8/16/2011, you wrote:
> >> Thanks for the great info =)
> >>
> >> I need some clarification on this last paragraph though, not quite
> >> sure what you meant.
> >>
> >> 2 door 700's had half trim until 62'?  Didn't the half trim start in 62?
> >
> >
> >
> > A bud of mine had an original '60 700 2-door coupe with the half-belt
> > trim, one owner car.   He refurbished the already excellent original,
> > sold it for about 4 times what he paid.   I wish I had taken photos;
> > it was a great looking car.   He'd picked it up not too long (a
> > couple of years or so) after I'd bought my '60 4-door from him...
> > which was in Fall of 1984.
> >
> >
> >
> > Now:
> >
> > It was early morning when I posted my comments about the belt trim...
> > coffee hadn't kicked in yet.   Seems there were 2-door 700s in '60
> > and '61 with full belt trim although I've also seen '60 and '61 700s
> > with half belt trim, which makes things even more confusing.
> >
> > Another Now:
> >
> > I will happily admit that perhaps some '60 and '61 700 2-doors
> > managed to find themselves wearing half-belt trim via hook or crook
> > but then again the one my bud mentioned above was indeed a one-owner
> > excellent all original.
> >
> > My station wagon comments were also flawed... when I re-read my post
> > I noticed that I'd said there was no '62 700 wagon which is
> > wrong...  hell, a buddy and local chapter member has one.    I had to
> > step around it to get into his garage yesterday evening, 12 hours
> > before I posted an e-mail to the list saying there weren't any.  Go
> > figger...  dementia must be setting in or something.
> >
> >
> > tony..
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
> copyrights are the property
> > of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> > This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
> http://www.corvair.org/
> > Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> > Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> > _______________________________________________
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 6
>Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 07:51:10 -0400
>From: William Hubbell <whubbell at verizon.net>
>Subject: Re: <VV> Corvair trim differences
>To: Bill Hubbell <whubbell at verizon.net>
>Cc: Tony Underwood <tony.underwood at cox.net>,
>         "virtualvairs at corvair.org" <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>Message-ID: <24542E71-5D7C-4C58-90CC-DBAF6C55DDE9 at verizon.net>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>
>Apologies!  I meant to address this to TONY (or whomever etc.). I 
>have no idea who RAY is or how he got into my post.
>
>I guess this is what happens when I post on an iPhone before my 
>first cup of coffee!!!
>
>Bill Hubbell
>
>On Aug 17, 2011, at 7:35 AM, Bill Hubbell <whubbell at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> > Ray (or whomever else may be interested)
> >
> > This is exactly the sort of discussion the new SCG site is made 
> for. It would be wonderful if somebody would post (even better, 
> with photos) to the site. You don't have to have all your facts 
> straight to start a post - that gets sorted out with comments. The 
> editors of the site are there to help fix any problems.  By adding 
> appropriate tags and categories to the posts we make them easy to 
> find later when somebody else is looking for information.
> >
> > Please consider posting all your stock Corvair questions and 
> answers to the SCG site http://stock.Corvair.org. If you aren't 
> already a member of the site, please register.
> >
> > Contrary to what you might think by looking at the source of 
> current posts on the site, the SCG is not just a couple of people 
> who "know everything about stock Corvairs"; rather, it is a tool 
> for everyone of us who have any sort of interest in anything stock 
> Corvair to use to further that interest. The new website is the 
> powerful realization of that tool. However, like any other tool, it 
> is worthless without people to use it.
> >
> > Please use the tool
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Bill Hubbell
> > SCG President
> >
> > On Aug 16, 2011, at 10:39 PM, Tony Underwood 
> <tony.underwood at cox.net> wrote:
> >
> >> At 06:49 PM 8/16/2011, you wrote:
> >>> Thanks for the great info =)
> >>>
> >>> I need some clarification on this last paragraph though, not quite
> >>> sure what you meant.
> >>>
> >>> 2 door 700's had half trim until 62'?  Didn't the half trim start in 62?
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> A bud of mine had an original '60 700 2-door coupe with the half-belt
> >> trim, one owner car.   He refurbished the already excellent original,
> >> sold it for about 4 times what he paid.   I wish I had taken photos;
> >> it was a great looking car.   He'd picked it up not too long (a
> >> couple of years or so) after I'd bought my '60 4-door from him...
> >> which was in Fall of 1984.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> Now:
> >>
> >> It was early morning when I posted my comments about the belt trim...
> >> coffee hadn't kicked in yet.   Seems there were 2-door 700s in '60
> >> and '61 with full belt trim although I've also seen '60 and '61 700s
> >> with half belt trim, which makes things even more confusing.
> >>
> >> Another Now:
> >>
> >> I will happily admit that perhaps some '60 and '61 700 2-doors
> >> managed to find themselves wearing half-belt trim via hook or crook
> >> but then again the one my bud mentioned above was indeed a one-owner
> >> excellent all original.
> >>
> >> My station wagon comments were also flawed... when I re-read my post
> >> I noticed that I'd said there was no '62 700 wagon which is
> >> wrong...  hell, a buddy and local chapter member has one.    I had to
> >> step around it to get into his garage yesterday evening, 12 hours
> >> before I posted an e-mail to the list saying there weren't any.  Go
> >> figger...  dementia must be setting in or something.
> >>
> >>
> >> tony..
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
> copyrights are the property
> >> of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> >> This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
> http://www.corvair.org/
> >> Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> >> Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> >> _______________________________________________
> > _______________________________________________
> > This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
> copyrights are the property
> > of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, 
> mailto:vv-help at corvair.org
> > This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, 
> http://www.corvair.org/
> > Post messages to: VirtualVairs at corvair.org
> > Change your options: 
> http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
> > _______________________________________________
>
>
>------------------------------
>
>Message: 7
>Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:48:41 -0400
>From: Ed Dowds <ed_dowds at hotmail.com>
>Subject: <VV> Alternator conversions need a lock nut!
>To: virtual vairs <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
>Message-ID: <SNT104-W43012DF9285C00F918722AFA280 at phx.gbl>
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
>
>There was one point that was missing from the thread on converting 
>to alternators or upgrading to an internally regulated alternator:
>The nut used to hold the Corvair specific alt fan is also Corvair specific.
>The nut is a lock nut!
>If you look at a Corvair alt nut it is slightly crushed on the 
>outside diameter above the wrench flats.
>All the other GM cars used a plain nut.
>The Corvair locknut is required because the reverse rotation of the 
>alt on a Corvair tries to unscrew the nut!
>
>Ed
>
>------------------------------
>
>_______________________________________________
>This message was sent by the VirtualVairs mailing list, all 
>copyrights are the property
>of the writer, please attribute properly. For help, mail to: 
>vv-help at corvair.org
>This list sponsored by the Corvair Society of America, http://www.corvair.org/
>VirtualVairs at corvair.org
>http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/listinfo/virtualvairs
>Change your options: http://www.vv.corvair.org/mailman/options/virtualvairs
>
>End of VirtualVairs Digest, Vol 79, Issue 50
>********************************************


Eric S. Eberhard
(928) 567-3727          Voice
(928) 567-6122          Fax
(928) 301-7537                           Cell

Vertical Integrated Computer Systems, LLC
Metropolis Support, LLC

For Metropolis support and VICS MBA Support!!!!    http://www.vicsmba.com

For pictures:  http://www.vicsmba.com/ourpics/index.html

(You can see why we love this state :-) )  



More information about the VirtualVairs mailing list