car: 1951 Buick special 2 door Where the heck should I start? I know I need to some how hook up a alternator into my my car. that means making some type of custom bracket and pulley for it. I don't think I am going to be using the stock radio any more i am sick of AM radio. But what I need from you all is kinda a starter kit in the form of information. Like what should I get? A wiring kit is a given, but what kind and how many hookups should I get to future proof myself? Do I need any 12 to 6 volt converters? Is there a way to change my generator to a 12volt alternator and so on. So whats a good list of items I need and what I need to do? Thanks.
I found this link on another thread here originally posted by sinner13. Can't take credit http://www.oldengine.org/unfaq/six12.htm
this is perfect. thanks. I have been putting off converting my car now for years lol its about time i do it. Has any one on here converted a Buick yet?
battery, coil, starter solenoid if Ford, alternator, bulbs, voltage drop (off the key switch) for anything you want to keep that's 6V (heater,gauges). And switch to Neg. ground (if applicable)before hooking up alternator
My Buick (1951 2 door special) is converted, but it's because I did the whole swap (307 sbc). I'm still running the original wiring harness though. All that was needed for my conversion was the alternator, coil, scrap the voltage regulator, etc. My buddy who also has a 51 Special did the 12 volt conversion on his running the straight 8. I think it mostly consisted of a new coil, condenser, alternator etc. I think he kept the original starter and fuse block. Oh yeah, also make sure to swap out all 6v light bulbs...or just convert to 12 and watch em blow out.
I have the same car as you. Your the man i need to talk to. I still have my straight 8 in my car. What did you do for your gauges? Or did you just use new gauges? If you used new ones what gauges do i need? And any where on your car did you need to use any step down converters? also what did you do about the light switch and the turn signal?
The gauges on my '51 Olds worked fine on 12 volt, they sense current and not voltage, that's why they work on 6 or 12 volts. Heater blower can have a ballast resistor (think MoPar ignition resistor) inline with the main power, OR just don't use high fan speed. Dash lights are sometimes best left 6 volt, and the dimmer turned down. Some dash lights didn't provide enough illumination as it was, this helps. Generator and ALternator brackets can be similar, fabrication in most of the cars I did was minimal, usually a new adjuster bracket was all. Use an internally regulated large GM alternator, very little out there that is more reliable. Wiring harness is not necessary, 12 volt requires thinner wire than 6, so you're good. Starter works very well on 12 volts, might straighten out the Bendix spring if you've got one, but it'll make the car start a LOT faster. Esp. helpful on early Olds V8s. Coil could use the ballast resistor and be fine. That's all that come to mind right now, Cosmo
never mind lol I wasn't reading correctly. No voltage regulator with a internally regulated alternator
Hey Asher, pretty much what cosmo said. As far as gauges go, I left mine in there, but I decided to run aftermarket VDO gauges underneath the dash instead of having to get NOS ones or the ones I had rebuilt (cause the only one that worked and still does is my voltmeter. Although not super traditional, they do come with chrome brackets, are unobtrusive, and you can get ones that are pretty neutral to fit your car. For the dash lights, taillights, headlights, etc, I switched all bulbs to 12 volt except for the hard to reach ones like the map lights in the radio. As far as I know, the only thing you really need to step down are the defroster fan, heater, and radio (if you plan on using them). For the turn signals, you probably have to get a 12v plug for that, and that's about it! Good luck with the conversion! If you have any more 1951 Buick related questions, feel free to ask. I've had mine for about 6 years, so I've come across most problems you can encounter with that car (from the original strought 8 to an entire sbc conversion). Cheers!
I need to bring this back up because I am having some issues that I hope some one on here can help me with. I am having a hell of a time trying to get the alternator on to my straight 8 engine. I cant find any brackets any where that will just bolt on to the engine. I am sure something will have to be fabricated. I need help with this. Has any one every fabricated a straight 8 alternator bracket before? Can some one locally around my area do this for me? I am willing to pay. I don't have a welder so i cant make one. I want to make sure everything lines up with no issues. This one thing is holding my car back from getting back on the road. Thanks in advance for any info
To convert to an alt. you already have most of the brackets you will need. The ones from the gen. can be easily modified or at least be patterns for fore and aft location. The original tension arm should almost drop into place. It can be bent slightly if needed. With the stock gen. on its original mounting bracket; - mounted on your engine - make a few measurements, then hit the salvage yards. (take the gen. and its mounting bracket for comparison) With a little digging, you should be able to find an alt. mounting setup that with a few NEW mounting holes should work. (check 6 cyl. engines)
A post-1956 GM generator and regulator will likely fit your pulley and bracket and holes in firewall...or, alt bracket can easily be made from gen bracket with at most slotting a hole or two, replacing hardware...or gen bracket can simply be cut down to flat strap and bolted to an alt bracket from junjyard. Just be careful to align pulleys into correct plane carefully.
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