This might pertain to those older folks. In 1953, would a 52 Buick custom had retain its factory 6V configuration or was it the norm to convert to 12V? As it is now. im piecing together parts for my car and want to represent a custom driven around the streets of Los Angeles in 1953. This is just information that im gathering. Wich in return will help me decide in wich direction to go.
IIRC, Buick, Cadillac, and Olds switched over to 12v for the 1953 model year. It is possible that 'conversions' were running the streets not long after, but would imagine that most cars from prior model years would have kept their 6v systems for quite a while.
I'm not that old but I would guess it would still be 6v. Most manufacturers switched to 12v between '53 and '55? I can't see why anyone would have upgraded a '52 custom to 12v in '53. It was still a new car.
The 52 Buick is 6V from factory. Buick switched to 12V in 1953 for there new V8. I figured the logical thing was to keep it 6V since im sure there was nothing wrong with it then. I was just curious as too what might have been back then. Im building my car to 1953 specs, no later. Except for the parts that ill be making like finned valvecovers and such. But that means body parts as well.
If you're trying to make it 'period perfect', leave it 6 volt. But I'd do a conversion these days if for no other reason than the poor availability of 6 volt parts, lamps, etc and the better reliability that 12 volts offers.
I can't remember exactly but didn't they have a long skinny battery mounted in the fender? If so, it might have been a reason not to convert since a 12 VDC battery that fit would be hard. Just a randon thought from an old mind.....
My 52 Ford came from the factory with a 6v charging system, but a battery that had a reley on it that made it 6v charge 12 volt start. I saw several hot rods that used the 6/12 battery setup. Fords and Olds with 6v were easy to flood when hot due to slow crank.
How exactly is that possible???. I want to do that now.. 6v to charge and 12 to start.. sounds like the perfect setup. Will it make a difference if a run aftermarket ignition like a mallory and magspark transformer?
One reason I would prefer the factory 6V, its what i started collecting and currently have.the other beeing that I dont want to alter it in anyway.
Why am I asking? Because I want to know if it was something that was changed or not. I wasnt around back then. you should read everything.
I did read it all, then you said you didn't want to change it., hence my question....why ask? Surely you wouldn't think everyone would have changed a 1 year old car to 12V, which at best would leave it open to going whichever way you want.
I'd use '53 air in the tires too, lol. I have a nos 6 volt relay that is so good looking I wish I could use it. I switched from 6-12 many years ago. Convenience for a daily driver/only vehicle '49 Chevy 1/2 ton in my case.
Since the cell connectors are sealed in most modern auto and tractor batteries, probably the easiest way is with two 6-volt batteries and two-6 volt starter solenoids. One is the 'start solenoid' that is only on when the ignition key is in the start position --- its mains connect the two batteries in series for 12 volts. The other is the 'run solenoid' that is only on when the ignition key returns to the run or accessory position --- its mains connect the two batteries in parallel for 6 volts. You obviously have to make sure that your ignition switch is of the type whose accessory position is not hot when in the key is in the start position, otherwise the batteries would short themselves out. Jack E/NJ
Just think, in 53 12 volt parts were not common yet. Who would want to "upgrade" their car with a system that just hit the scene and wasn't really proven reliable yet?
6/12 batteries had 2 sections with 3 cells each, there was what looked like a Ford starter solenoid on the top of the battery that had the two halves hooked up parallel, the start switch activated the solenoid which connected the two halves in series during the starting process. I believe you can still get these batteries.
Converting to 12V was something nobody did unless they had to. For example, doing an engine swap with a 12V engine in a 6V car. In that case you would probably keep the 12V generator and starter, buy a 12v battery and a hat full of 12V bulbs, and a resistor for the radio. But converting a 6v car for the hell of it? No, not at all. That did not become a thing until the sixties at the earliest and still is usually a bad idea.
The 6/12 dual voltage battery had a solenoid mounted on top, and was charged as two separate 6v batteries. All electrical remains 6v, the solenoid closes when starting, supplying 12v. to starter only. 12v systems were more common than you'd think - Dodge used 12v in the 1920s, GMC trucks offered 12v as an option since the '30s. Back then, most hard start problems were "fixed" by cobbling in an 8 volt battery. Most often seen in '49-'52 Cad & Olds, melted radio transformers, bulb eating, generator/reg. failure on 8 volts made the 12v conversion popular as soon as all the parts became cheap.
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