Nos y 59

[ban617]

I have never heard of reverse polarity on a 69 ? As in positive ground ?

[x33rs]

Reverse polarity is what the stores call them. It's simply just the + and - terminals switched from side to side.

Early 69 Z's such as mine have them reversed, so the negative is closest to the radiator which is the Y55 battery. From what I understand, maybe sometime in Jan or Feb GM switched to the positive closest to the radiator which is the Y59 battery.

So to answer Ban's question of Y59's being correct for 69 Camaro, a build date makes a difference. However I can't recall if this is a Z/28 thing or all Camaros in 69.

One interesting way to tell (if the car is largely original), the ground wire off the ground cable went to the core support on the Y55's, and on the Y59's I believe it went to the fender.

[William]

Originally Posted by ban617

I have never heard of reverse polarity on a 69 ? As in positive ground ?

No, the positions of the battery terminals are reversed. As you're facing the engine bay, 6 cylinders and SBs have the + terminal at the left. BBs have the + terminal at the right; the conventional GM position. The AIM shows all 8 cylinders with the conventional battery but vintage Z/28 magazine road test pics show the reverse positioning.

[x33rs]

Thanks William,

So it is a small block thing, I knew there was some stipulation in there somewhere, lol.

Interesting the AIM shows all 8 cylinders with the conventional battery. Even our local Napa has it right in their book and still lists my 69 Z as having the polarities reversed, they charge more for it too.

I also found no one makes a correct tar topper for this application either.