Technical ANY ONE EVER PAINT A BATTERY? - UPDATE

The reason I ask is I got a new Interstate battery from a friend who sold batteries at his garage but has semi retired and not open much anymore, a great deal but the green is ugly as a mud fence.

It has more cranking amps and is the same size, the only problem is the ugly bright green is loud and I am thinking about painting the top black, the top is some type of plastic. HRP

 

go for it....but don't expect warranty coverage.

 

Wash it with soap and water.
A scuff pad with a little comet. Scrub it well.
Wash again. Let it dry.
Use a plastic adhesion promoter, follow the directions.
Paint as usual.

do not use a solvent cleaner like wax and grease remover.

 

Danny, should be Easy to find! If it was me, I would use the (insert brand) plastic spray paint.

 

How about using one of these?

https://www.ecklers.com/chevy-batte...SegV49nArfq0EPV2O9tZzGCn3kJDgStwaAmAMEALw_wcB

 

Here's another style. Not sure it is size you need.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1721757090...7cZdUEhZ3aQY5wA0_t7bAKmiD9VapKkIaAkobEALw_wcB
I saw one at cruise night recently and it looked authentic.

 

I’ve had great luck with Interstate Batteries. They seem powerful, last well and I even brought one back from the dead that my neighbor gave me, it’s still going. The bright green can be a fashion faux pas. I don’t see the harm in scuffing the surface and shooting some paint on it as long as it isn’t conductive.
I’ve seen them totally painted body color along with everything else in the engine compartment, I couldn’t believe it, looks like hell.

 

Yeah, all I want to paint is the green plastic top, I will tape off the rest of the battery and the information on top before spraying. HRP

 

I would peel the sticker and place it in your paperwork and paint the whole top.

 

Yessir I have, also I pull all the stickers off while I'm there. You can stick them on waxed paper and throw them in a drawer if you need to keep them for warranty info.

 

I tried slipping a single edge razor blade under the top sticker and it's stuck, it tried to come off in strips, I'll try a hair drier and see if that helps release the stickers. HRP

 

I remember a feature on '37 slantback in an old Rodder's Journal that had the whole battery painted the same color as the firewall. It looked good, so go for it.

 

If all you want is the info on the battery, take a pic and save it. Easy peasy!

 

If it's only the top showing, I'd just buy a thin piece of black poly and drill holes for the terminals to poke through. Then cut it to fit the battery and slip it over the posts. It will fix the green issue, and not affect the warranty.

 

Anybody ever build a battery cover like used on the Harley Sportster? Seems to me it would be fairly easy to do, do a heavy powdercoat to prevent corrosion and no hassles with painting the battery with possible uneven results or worries about missing warranty stickers. Reusable when you replace the battery. Easier to paint or coat a color if that's what you want.

Their design covers three sides and the top. The side cover extends above the top of the battery far enough to allow clearance for the posts and caps if you have them. The top cover rests on/over the top edges of the side cover with a stiff foam cushion on the underside to hold the battery down. Use a retaining strap across the top cover to retain everything and you're done. Basically a tight-fitting partial battery box but you can keep your existing battery tray. A slight mod to the design would allow use of one of those 'vintage' top covers if desired.

Easy way to disguise a odd-shaped battery like an Optima also.

 

My concern would be when the battery sorta out gasses and leaves a bit of film on top, would that affect the paint? I guess not since seems it’s been done before by the above replies, but just something I’d be thinking about.

 

yes I have painted a battery. Not one of my own. I worked for a place that refurbished batteries way back when poor folks couldn't afford a 32 dollar brandy new battery. We used a paint that was like really thin rubber, I don't remember what it was called. You can probably googley battery paint and find it.

 

Wrap it in black shelf liner and put decals on it and a fake battery topper.

 

https://www.classicchevy.com/chevy-tar-topper-battery-cover-acdelco-40-171286-1.html

 

Apply NOCO Restore Black Battery Paint to a Car Battery

 

@DDDenny , When I moved the battery to the trunk of the 442 I bolted down an empty batt case and a fake topper (complete with posts and cables that dont go anywhere) to the original batt mount. I have a couple quarts of oil in there, a funnel and a rag.

 

sell it and buy a black battery

 

I would think it would. All batteries outgas, even the so-called 'sealed' ones if only around the posts.

Years ago a guy showed me a trick to keep the terminals uncorroded. Not the most elegant solution but it does work very well. First you have to make sure that any existing corrosion is gone. Both the posts and the terminals have to be shiny-metal clean (don't forget the terminal bolts and the holes they go through, I substitute new SS bolts/nuts). Any you miss now will allow it to come back. Once you get it all clean, paint the bottom 1/8" of the post and the joint between the post and the case with Permatex hi-tack aviation sealer (the red stuff that comes in a brush-in-lid can). Also paint the bottom side of the terminal. And slather it on; you want a thick coating. Assemble the terminal to the post, then coat all bare metal surfaces with more of the sealer. Let that set up and thicken, then do at least another coat over everything, making sure there's no bare surfaces. Once the painted joint is a uniform dark maroon color you're done. Give it some time and it will dry to a slightly sticky, pliable coating.

Left undisturbed, that joint will stay uncorroded for the life of the battery. If you need to remove the terminal or damage the coating with jumper cables etc make sure you touch it up ASAP.

 

I've found that using a side post battery is the easiest way to prevent corrosion.

 

Good info. I have seen that red stuff on terminals before.
My dad would put antisieze on the terminals, also swipe it on the top of them after bolted in. Seemed to work.

 

These are the only things I've seen prevent corrosion on battery terminals. Yeah, those are grease zerks.

 

Wait a minute! This is from the guy with a Green station wagon!!!!

 

Yes sir, but there is a big difference in GREEN and knock your eyes out fugly GREEN. HRP

 

I have never painted one on purpose. I have gotten overspray on a couple, and have never had any trouble with it sticking forever, even with no prep.

 

Ha, that purple thing with a drawstring is not a rag!