as far as ignition goes. if your running points. will you get a hoter spark from 12v??? and are going to stay with points if you convert.
Henry Ford and the rest didn't change to 12v systems because their wives thought it'd go better with the drapes. And they all ran points back in '54/'55. And they've all been 12v since then. And there's a reason the military and race cars run 24v systems. -Brad
i think it's a personal preference, i have 1 customer that still has 6v and the car is fine (running, starting) but i don't like the dim lights. the hotter spark is set-up by the coil rating....but if you car doen't need a hotter spark then it wont use it. the only draw back i see with 6v (other then the brightness of lights and high amp load) is they don't like to sit as long as a 12v system can (months). if you use it alot then it won't matter, but if you have a shitty battery and it takes a few extra cranks then the battery is done. i think the reason they switched was just more accessory room, kinda like new cars going to 42v. i'm basing this on a stock system, not hopped-up motors or accessory freaks.
12= 2X6, therefore it's twice as good, really, it is worth changing. other problems with the conversion can be overcome.
12=2x6 not really twice as good.The cells in 6 volt batterys are twice as big as 12 volts.Granted 6 volts turn slower but ive found will turn over a lot longer.Most 12 volt coils use a resistor to cut voltage down.The only real disavantge with 6 volts are bulbs are harder to find,new radios need 12 volts,lights are dimer.An old Buick mechanic told me when Buick changed over to 12 volts he would throw a set of points in his box every service call he went on.
I've done auto wiring for about 35 years--and I've done lots of 6 to 12 volt conversions. Remember voltage is "pressure"--more voltage "pushes" the amps stronger and faster---as for ignition: a resistor is used on the primary side to help keep the points from arcing---using 12 volts for the secondary side gives a stronger, longer,more usable spark duration---thats why the military uses 24 volt systems---their's even talk of 120 volt-a.c. current for ignition use. By the way---I've got 3 hot rods---all with points ignition---i use Toyota ballast resistors in all of them because they drop the primary voltage/amperage to about 5.5 volts---really saving the points but allowing high output of the coil---my 37 coupe has a chevy motor---got almost 100,000 miles on it---still got the original points in it---i check em for dwell and wear every year---no pitting and almost no dwell change. And my cars start faster and better than any of my friends---kinda pisses em off!
From what I've read, the main reason (maybe the only reason) manufacturers switched from 6v to 12v was MONEY !! Wire sizes used on 12v systems only need to be 1/2 the the size of 6v - instant material cost reduction of 50% when the change was made.
While money was one of the concerns leading to the change to 12V systems, compression was another. Engines were getting higher compression almost every new model year throughout the '50s. Think about it--would you really want to rely on a 6V battery to turn over your '59 Olds 394 with 10.5:1 squeeze every morning?
also, an old car with a 12v will have more left over juice for cold starts, and if you break down and need a jump you don't need worry about blowing everything to shit (gauges, lights etc.)
No he's got a little gold potty. Hell yes 12 v is better for a lot of reasons most of them obvious. But 6 will do if that's what ya got.
The higher the voltage the less amps you pull for the same type of component. It free's up amps so you don't load down the system, brighter lights and radio and heater all at the same time.
i heard of useing a tractor battery, but you need to either use a 8 volt generator or step up the charging at the regulator of the existing 6v.
I'm in Ventura Co.----don't do much customer electrical anymore---got my own cars to keep up. I got a friend of mine lives up by you in Clovis---HOT UP THERE!
If you lived through the 6 volt years you would know what is better and it aint the 6. Every time I borrowed My uncle's year old caddy I would have to have my dad and uncle come and get me because the dam thing woulden't start. Pogo
good info. thanks wille. i'm thinking about the switch on my banger. nothing but lights and ignition. i do have a 6v alt. i need a new batt. and fuel pump. soooooooooooo what to do??????? i also have a 12v alt. hummmmmmmmmmm i'm torn.
Thats where I live....I put Fresno in my profile 'cause nobody knows where Clovis is. BTW it was 94 here today.
My dad used to use 24 volts (two batteries in series) to crank our irrigation engines (Chrysler hemis, 413s, Minneapolis Moline 800 cid) that had 12v starters. Enginese started so quick the starters never got hot! 12v allows all the "accessories" -- heater blower, power window, etc -- to be smaller as well as having more "reserve" power for when it's cold.
The Jalopy Journal
