yeah, side post are more of a pain to jump start, so I keep my electrical systems in good condition, so I don't have to jump start them.
I've got an 88 GM product with side posts, yes, they do seem to work loose. I've had three different batteries in the car since I've owned it, and all three did the same thing. I would change it over to a top post, but the hood is so low it would take a really short battery or the post would short out on the hood. So I just snug up the bolts every once in a while. Seldom drive the damn thing anyway.
I found that the local farm supply where I buy my batteries did not have but a couple battery sizes available with side post AGM battery. So, I switched my rod to top post style battery.
I've had a problem with the stock side post bolt on the battery cables being too short from the factory and vibrating loose on both terminals, replaced with slightly longer ones and problem solved.
The car usually tells me. My 34 delivery, and 31 sedan like the side post. They are mounted under the body to save space. My 68 Vette, 67 pontiac, 56 Nomad, are all factory T.P. Also my 29 coupe's is in the trunk, and likes the top post best.
Well they are marketed that way, they are "sealed" more or less as far as the consumer, and designed to be maintenance free. The lead plate alloys are different than conventional lead-acid batteries, and the electrolyte amount and chemistry is different, all with an eye towards less outgassing and the need for watering.
When I worked as a tech back in the 70s, I attended a seminar on the new electronic ignition that were coming out from gm. The instructor was a gm engineer that worked on the hei system. He said that the side post batteries were developed to avoid interference issues between the hei module and top post battery's.
that doesn't make any sense...the HEI was introduced in most GM cars in 1975, while the side post battery was in 1971. And it still doesn't make sense.
Had last 2 batteries Group 78 comes in both side & top post. Very convenient. But no side post for me, way too GM like...lol
Are you sure he wasn’t an imposter? That doesn’t add up at all.... Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Putting a little grease on the terminals and using some of these post covers can help resist corrosion. That said, I prefer side posts cause I hate wrestling with getting the top post clamps to spread or the corroded bolts unscrewed. The corrosion often ruins the cable as well as the clamp so you end up needing to replace the cable as well.........and the replacement cables are seldom as good as the OE were. Yep, I agree it is harder to get a jumper cable or a battery charger to hook to a side cable, but overall I think the side cable has fewer problems in the long term. https://www.amazon.com/Grandiy-Insu...t=&hvlocphy=9014219&hvtargid=pla-892173987038
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