Battery and E-Brake questions

[ljs330i]

Hi. I'm the new guy with the 81' Zag.

1) The battery will not hold a charge so I'm going to replace it. What brand / size should I get?

2) For some reason the brakes on the car seems to be engaged just a little bit. The E-Brake handle itself feels dead. I got under the car and the E-Brake pulley seems to be just lying there (not tight). Any suggestions. Now the rotors are very oxidized would this make a difference? I noticed it when I tried to push start the car and could feel that the brakes were tight.

Larry
Florida USA

[DJ]

Hi, Larry

Welcome to Lancisti!

I have a 79 Zagato and the battery that fits mine best is size 47-D. In fact, I am going out to buy a new one right now. You want to make sure you get one with the recessed terminals. Otherwise, they could contact the bottom of the hood.

As for the brakes, I'll let someone with more hands-on experience with the Beta than I have answer that one.

Where are you located in Florida?

[ljs330i]

I'm in Ocala, FL. An hour or so north of Orlando

[Will]

BEWARE of the normal auto-parts store bvattery that cross-references, as DJ said IT WILL short out and instantly turn the battery terminals into molten puddles of slag- BTDT!!!!

I'm ptretty sure I know what your parking brake problem is, too. The pulley has a bail, into which is a rod which connects to the parking brake near the sector gear. This rod seems not to be plated with sufficient anti-corrosove, and rusts away, then at some point it gets tensile failure. What you'll need to do is take a 3/16" threaded rod, graft it to the existing good part of the rod by lap welding it, then pass it through the pulley bail, put a nut onto it and tack-weld the nut into place. This will hold you for a while. You'll need to do this in situ so you can set the parking brake tension. I may have a new OEM cable set around for your car if you need one, I'd sell it to you for a little less than the equivalent from IAP. I doubt you'll find a replacement for the parking brake lever rod- I couldn't find one and I looked pretty hard. One from another car is likely to have the same problem, although some decent examples must exist in the world.

-Will

[betadude]

The battery you are looking for is a "group 47"
I think Interstate Batteries are the best and you can get one at any local garage in your area.

[cthargiss]

The correct battery is a 'group 42'. The group47 will not work, ask me how I know.
Craig

[ljs330i]

I am going to buy the battery this weekend. Group 42 or 47.

LJS339i

[jp]

Do we know if it is a 42 or 47? I also have to buy one this weekend for an 82 Zag

JP

[cthargiss]

My Factory manual calls for a group-42 , 55 amp-hour. I use an Exide 42-65 550 CCA.
Craig