does anybody know how to remove the battery from a 1985 corvette?Do you need to remove the side body panel or the steel bar above it?

You have to remove the side body panel.

There are a couple of bolts at the top of the side panel and there is one bolt on the bottom of the panel. The bottom bolt is in the crease between the rocker panel and side panel. DO NOT completely remove this bolt. Just loosen it up so you can slide the panel off. Make sure you get the panel realigned properly. If you don't and you open and close the door you will know about it.