My 1953 Desoto is coming along nicely. I would like to keep it 6volt. Everything works, including the radio. I am curious what the guys running 6volt in cars that see lots of miles are carrying. I will be driving the car to the Lone Star Round Up, about 1500miles one way. I like to drive long trips, so I am good with unplanned fixes on old cars. What should I rebuild, replace, carry as spare?
I'd suggest a generator, voltage regulator, spare bulbs. I've owned several 6 volt cars, and the only problem I ever had was with my current '47 Ford, where the generator pulley fell off the armature shaft (but that wasn't because it was 6 volt). I was at the Early Ford V-8 Club meeting last Saturday, and a number of "old timers" drive their 6 volt Fords all over the place. They were talking about how reliable the 6 volt systems are IF your wiring is good, your connections are clean and tight, etc. I had a '54 DeSoto a few years ago (sold it to a friend who won't sell it back to me) and never had a problem with the 6 volt system.
I keep a spare coil and a couple of 1154 brake/tail light bulbs in my '40 Ford. Also some extra grounds, since you can never have too many in a 6v system
I'd have points, condensor, rotor, and cap and a voltage regulator and bulbs. And a spare set of belts. That'll fit in your glove box and not be much money. A known good generator as mentioned by arkie wouldn't be a bad idea either. Ever try to find one on short notice? That and a good set of tools should probably get you through most anything. Don't forget a good spare tire and jack. Should go without saying, but you'd be surprised how many guys I know don't carry one.
I am very comfortable with my wiring ability, I go overkill on grounding all my systems. If I was to go 12volt it would be with a 12volt generator, so at that point I would just be getting a bunch of new bulbs and a 12 volt coil. Anyone have a good contact for generator/starter rebuilding on 6volt stuff? I have sent a bunch of my weird 12volt stuff to Ace alternator in Yucca Valley Ca(old rockcrawling contact) I have a 6volt -ground to 12volt+ ground converter for the cigarette lighter. Hard to charge a cell phone without it. It was the only thing I could find that had to be 12volt. Brake light bulbs, maybe a headlight, voltage regulator. Hell a 6volt battery charger and a extension cord would get me cross country, with a good battery, and a friendly smile.
I carry a jack and jack stand, spare,and enough tools,belts,hoses,filters,fluid,epoxy to fix any thing that you could on the side of the road. The ability to fix it has been earned over the years. I had to replace a rear wheel bearing on the way to the 09 hamb drags, a little help from the hamb got me a ride to the parts store for a bearing(Thanks to ROADKILL) the only thing I ran out of was cold beer.
I should also state, this is a very modified flat six, with four wheel disc brakes, dual circuit master cylinder,bias plys, and lots of pretty bits. I have every intention of driving the wheels off the car. I am not trying to cut corners, just very specific about what I am changing.
All of the above and a good set of jumper cables. With my trucks it seems the 6 volt battery will drain pretty quick if the trucks don't start after a couple of minutes of cranking. My F-2 with the flat six doesn't like to start if it drops below 40° so I have to crank on it longer. If the battery does die I jump it with one of my daily drivers that have 12 volt systems. It works great, it really spins the old truck over pretty quick. You just have to make sure the cars aren't touching, my truck is still positive ground, and I always ground the last cable somewhere away from the battery. Also, make sure nothing is one that runs on 6 volts. Disconnect the cables as soon as the car starts.
I got a good laugh out of this thread when I started thinking about it. When I was into bikes everyone used to kid me about how much spare emrg stuff I had stashed away on a Triumph.... I had just taken out all the stuff like that I carry in my roadster. Here is the inventory. Spare 6V fuel pump, coil, fuel filter, thermostat & gasket, stopleak, gasket sealer, Mallory dist cap, rotor , condenser & points. Spark plug. Plug wire, Fuses, wire ,wire ends, Qt of oil . 1/2 gal water. QC gears w pint of lube, 16" tube. patch kit, tire irons, tire inflater that screws in the spark plug hole, Screw jack, lug wrench, axle key, Compact hub puller, Damn good tool kit, tape, stainless safety wire. Small rubberized canvas tarp w couple of bungee cords. Stocking cap, sweatshirt, leather driving gloves, sunglasses, rain goggles, suntan lotion, 2 bottles of water, NW map, 6v bulbs, generator belt ,Army flashlight w spare batterys, Nylon tow strap. No spare gas, but the tank has a 2 gal reserve valve accessible from the drivers seat. I figure major elect failure I'll buy a 6 volt golf car battery , There are golfers every where. Bear in mind this car has no trunk floor.... I don't know if this makes me out as paronoid or just pretty well prepared.
My 52 is still 6 volt and I intend to keep it that way. I've put around 50,000 miles on the car. I have an old metal basket in my trunk and the main things I keep with me are a spare set of points, condenser, coil, belt and a fuel pump, distributor, cap and button. There's some carb parts in there too and a couple extra fuel filters. I always have my tool box and wire also.
All of the above but definitely a AAA card. Most of the old service station guys really dig the old cars even if they can't work on them but they are invaluable sources of tools, lifts, contacts, etc.
Not that I am that old, but 18 years ago I was riding around on an old Triumph, far away from where I grew up, with an accent unlike anyone I ran into. I always got where I was going, sometimes a little late and smelling of 90wt. I enjoy the trip, not much for the destination... There is nothing better than the people you meet on the road.
Re : An 8 volt battery. If you can't get it right on a 6 volt system with a good 6 volt battery, don't think an 8 volt is any kind of a cure for a lack of mechanical ability. If you really can't get it right with 6 volts, go 12 rather than use an 8 volt battery. They're hard on all the rest of the components (you're going to go through light bulbs on the circuits with good grounds like a hot knife through butter, not to mention what will happen with any kind of stock accessory; radio, heater blower, etc.) I have a bone stock '51 Ford with the original 6 volt system and have absolutely no problems with it. It has never crossed my mind to carry any spare parts. When I was a kid, my dad was a traveling salesman who bought a new Oldsmobile every two years because he put 50,000 miles a year on them. The first two I remember were a '49 and a '51, both 6 volts, and I don't remember having any trouble starting them over a Minnesota winter. When I went to college I had a '50 Buick, '52 Ford, and a '55 Dodge; all 6 volts; all eight cylinders. When I could afford good batteries, I never had any problem with them either. If you want to run 6 volts, you should have no problems if the wiring, GROUNDS, and components are in good shape, like has been stated here many, many times before. I'm in Minnesota; you guys in warm climates shouldn't have any problems as all. An 8 volt battery is an unsatisfactory solution for a lazy person.
Rent a truck and trailer??? Any rollback can load a car into a 24' strait truck, and that is only if you cant find some 2x12's. It is always cheaper, unless you are close to home, you should have friends that would come get you then.I know how to get home no matter what. I like the "I can fix it" solutions best.
LOL. yeah, I remember I blew the dash lights completely out the window once with that high powered fancy 8 volt battery.
condensor, points and bulbs, those are really the only things that consistently need replacing. the rest will probably last another 50 years.
My 52 ford customlines still a 6 volt, i put a 6v alternator, pertronix and a tune up. I've put thousands of trouble free miles goin to shows all over the midwest. I really don't carry anything electrical related cept maybe a few bulbs. They say on the pertronix box to carry your points with you incase of a problem for an "easy side of the road swap". Anyone whos ever installed one knows that's a bunch of bs....so if you run pertronix carry an extra one(cheap insurance). I've had mine in for two years with there flame thrower coil and not one problem, knock on wood!
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