Thinking of converting my 40 convert/flatmotor over to 12volt.. opinions?? what are the major advantages and disadvantages?
It will start every time...with no starting fluid. Or keep it 6 volts and CLEAN your terminals/grounds and use HUGE cables. Tim MBL
better starting, Brighter lights, Stronger chaging available, easier to use modern accessories (like electric wipers, radios etc)
batteries are easier to get, brighter lights, stronger spark (if you get a 12V coil instead of reducing it) starts faster, can run more acsessories, you can jumpstart other cars, and they can jump start you without burning your gauges out, i personally think its kinda silly NOT to convert to twelve volt. its cheap and easy and its not un-traditional as some higher end 50's cars were twelve volt from the factory
Because getting creamed by some a-hole on his cell because he can't see your dim 6V tail lights sucks.
Negative ground, (FOMOCO, CHRYSLER, SOME INDEPENDENTS) used 6V positive ground systems. Easily updated to air conditioning, don't recall many cars with 6V air.
If I were converting to 12volt I'd rewire the whole car,get away from old rotten cloth covered wire.Everything will work better and you can add stuff with out problems.
HMMMM....Boy I must have done something wrong then. I kept my 40 all 6 volt, Never did notice my lights being any dimmer than a 12 volt, same for my tail lights, they were always bright and the stop lights were too. As far as starting goes, I had also wired in a separate solenoid under the car. I wired the negative hot line right to the starter in conjunction with the 6 volt. I then ran a separate starter button up to the dash on the passenger side, underneath the dash. You couldn't see it or mistake and try and start it with the 6 volt AND the 12 volt. I ran all the wires back underneath the car to the trunk. There I had mounted a 12 volt battery and put it into a marine battery box. (Kept it all nice and neat back there) So, if for some reason it would not start on the 6 volt. I would stay off the 6 volt starter button, and hit the 12 volt starter button. Spinning the 6 volt ford starter with the 12 volt battery whizzed banged every time. With the 12 volt battery in the trunk, it is a self contained system, (no recharging) But you would probably only need to charge the 12 volt once or twice a year, because you really won't be using it that much anyway. I did not have to change out any of the gauges, light bulbs, starter, coil, heater motor or add some after market radio, (that I don't listen to anyway) or re-wire the whole car. As far as plumbing in 12 volt accessories???? So, what do you want then a 12 volt heater blower, a 12 volt horn, a 18 disk CD changer? For what it's worth, the 52 Olds I have now is all 6 volt, the lights are nice and bright, as are the turn signals, the interior lights, tail lights, brake lights, and the heater blower works just fine. I had my starter R and R'd. You'd think it was 12 volts the way it starts. Yep most of the automakers changed over to 12 volts in 53, but they also ran for 50 years before that just fine on 6 volts. My .02 worth. HellRaiser
My 6V simply drags too much in the winter. 12V. Electric wipers (yes, you can get 'em in 6V too, but why?) Brighter lights (I don't care what you say, 12V halogens are brighter than 6V) Grounds aren't as critical Cheaper lights (have you priced 6V headlights lately?!?!) Easier to find lights (have you been able to find 6V lights anywhere other than NAPA?) If you need a jump, no worrying about hurting 6V components with 12V Lots of advantages. Yes, properly maintained 6V systems work well. 12V is easier.
Some may not have a problem with 60 year old dry rotted cloth wrapped wiring, however I do. I'm not big on fire hazards. I do like the Dukes of Hazard though. I said bye-bye to that stuff when I rewired my 46 and it just seemed to make sense to convert to 12volt at the same time. I found the bonus of not having bullshit 6v crap stored all over the place "just in case" rather nice also.
The car in my Avitar ('55 DeSoto) is 6V (+) positive ground. The engine is a '57, 345 DeSoto Adventurer, 2X4 Hemi...which was originally 12V (-) negative ground. I wanted to keep the car as originally Stock as possible (39,000 original miles), and just "slip in" the '57 engine...as if what Chrysler would have done if they had made a DeSoto Adventurer in '55. The starter and generator, as well as the entire electrical system is 6V (+) positive ground. EVERYone told me that the 6V starter wouldn't even turn the big Hemi over, let alone run good with a 6V system. The starter spins the engine over like gangbusters, and all the lights are as bright as any 12V system...I even have a 6V (+) ground Pertronix unit in the distributor. You don't need a 12V ststem if your 6V system is working properly. If your wiring is all rotty, Rhode Island Wiring makes EXACT replacement harnesses with state-of-the-art wire and original terminal ends. They cover the wires in the exact colored original wiring cloth colors, and it is the best I've ever used. The harness's are EXACTLY like original. Unless you need to put 12V accessories in, I'd stick with the 6V system. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. My 2 cents...FWIW...
So I've decided to convert to 12 volt. Found a local business with good knowledge and reputation so, converting the generator and starter both to 12 volt. I want to somewhat keep the integrity of the original restoration of the car. Now I've decided to also lower the car a bit going to monoleafs both front and rear.
Wait untill you convertit, that weight of the 12 battery may do it!! lol You will really enjoy the upgrade!
Convert to 12 volt when you are unable to properly fix your 6 volt. Or if you simple must be able to play your new Britney Spears CD you just got for Christmas. Idiots on cell phones will run into the back of you even if you have industrial flashing lights on your car.
You will love it. Even though as pointed out you may "be like everyone else" or not have the streamline electrical system as that 40 above with 2 different batteries and overlapping circuits and wires going everywhere.
Didn't Ford trucks keep 6-volt gauges until the 70s, running some sort of reducer? Do those reducers work for running 6-volt accessories (like the radio)? ~Jason
I am really dumb on this subject. So what is involved in converting to 12 volt ? Do you have to change all bulbs , will the stock gauges work , starter , generator , etc. I am considering this on my 53 ford Customline.
Bulbs all need replaced. Starters generally will work. Gauges will need a reducer. It's easier to properly fix your 6 volt.
Being a series wound dc motor, your old starter won't care a bit, will work just fine, spin your motor faster for more prompt starts.
One should note. Generally (in a general sort of way), if your starter is turning slow with a 6 volt, it isn't the system causing the problem. A 12 volt conversion will simply temporarily mask the problem. More likely, you have a bad cable or a starter in need of being rebuilt.
Don't want to rob the thread but what is involved in switching a 12volt system to 6 volt. The 31 highboy i bought was wired as 12v. I wanted to put it back to 6v since all the other vehicles i own are 6v?
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