Ignition System - Chevrolet Corvette 1953 Operation Manual

BATIERY
A 6 volt, 15 plate, 100
ampere-hour storage bat-
tery is located under the
hood on the right side of
the frame. To assure long
carefree battery service, the
level of the sol utioa in each
cell should be checked at
least once in
twO
weeks .
Rcmove filler caps from all
three cells and add dis-
tilled water to bring solu-
74'
above the plates in each cell, then reinstall and
filler caps. In freezing weather the vehicle must
driven after adding water to mix it properly with the
jdectr<llyt:e and prevent freezing. It is also important to
the battery in a fully charged condition in cold
.... ather as a discharged battery will freeze at a little
the freezing point of water (320 F.).
state of charge in the battery should be checked regu-
Your Chevrolet dealer will gladly perform this serv-
However, if it is inconvenient to take your Corvette to
pel.aller,
the Slate of charge in the battery can be checked
using
a battery hydrometer (fig. 73) . A fully charged
should have a specifil! gravity of 1.275 to 1.300,
while a fully discharged battery will have a spccific gravity
of approximately 1.150.
CAUTION: Batteries give off h.igh.ly combustible
hydrogen gas when charging and for
some tlnle after. Never allow an electric
spo_
r k or name near the battery, particu-
Jarly the vent caps. nefore working
around battery, ground
thecal' to reduce
Lhe possibility of static spark. Avoid
gelting battery acid on car finish, clotb ...
ing or other fabrics.
The battery cable terminals must be kept clean and tight.
Loose or corroded terminals cause hard starting and dis-
Charged batteries. When corrosion appears on the terminals,
they should be cleaned in a solution of baking soda and
water
or
ammonia and water. After cleaning, the
top
of
the battery should be Bushed off with clear water. To
reduce
the
tendency
of the
terminals
to
corrode,
coat them
with petrolatum .
IGNITION SYSTEM
The ignition system consists of the ignition s\vitch to open
and close the circuit, the coil
to
induce high voltage, the
distributor to
make
and break the low tension circuit and
distribute the high tension current
to
the correct
spark
plugs, the spark plugs to provide the spark io lhe combus-
tioo chamber aDd the necessary wiring. The battery is the
51