Okay, so some of you laughed at me when I said I was going to put a 6 volt SBC in my 50 Ford. Yall said, "********! Will never happen because they weren't made that way!" Actually they were. Late in 54 when the new 55 chevy's were coming onto the market, the all new 265 SBC had a 6 volt starter in the Corvette's and the Bel Air's that had a V8. Now finding one is damn near impossible. In fact, its just like finding a sober Irishman on Saint Patrick's Day. Most people just got rid of the starters and converted these early 265's to 12 volt setups. The good news is that throughout 55 and 56, Chevy made these same starters with a 12 volt solenoid, and these are actually a little easier to come by. If you can find one, then all that has to be done is swapping the solenoid, and then its a 6 volt starter. So why go to all that trouble? Well if you have an old car that ran on six volts, you want to run a SBC because its so damn cheap, and you don't want to convert the vehicle to twelve volts now you don't have to. Here is a picture of the one that is going into my 50 Ford Custom.
Oh yes. I didn't think that it was possible myself until I started doing the research through old parts catalogs and the Wilson Auto Electric website.
My guesses are----Reusing the six volt coil. The distributor doesn't care what the voltage is if it is a point type. Then, some kind of adapter to hit the Ford ****** and to also use a 216 6v starter. Then, put a 6v generator on it. Motor mounts are either store bought or another piece of metal that needs adjustment in some way. How close?
What about power to the points? , dont they have to run 12 volts? , never heard of a 6 volt v-8 distributor before , I guess they had them in late '54 , but , try finding one now.....
You can use the points style from 55 to 56 with a 6 volt coil and a 6 volt condenser from a 235 Chevy. Works just the same.
Soooo, it will be interesting to see if it works. I can't see how it can, unless you boost it with 12v
I am actually going to cheat here. I'm using a Wilson 91-01-3648 and changing the nose cones. The Wilson is all six volt.
Salvage style with a 3 bolt bell mount type sbc starter--Guess the motor body and armature will interchange between 6v and 12v for whatever voltage starter you need? No, I haven't ever done this and do not have any printed or internet reference material. Guessing from observations from being as young as 8. 44 now.
I'll get it posted. Its going to take sometime, but I'll have it posted. And all of you doubting Thomas's can kiss my ***.
Good at***ude---I can see why you're getting so much support on here. There were ads in mid '50s Hot Rod magazines for 6 volt starters to accomplish what you're talking about; no doubt, they were ***embled from existing parts, like maybe a 6 volt starter from an early '50s Cadillac or Oldsmobile V8 with a Chevy nose. However, I'd like to see some proof that any 265 came from the factory with a 6 volt starter.
Hey, not that anything can be done and made to work, but can you explain why this would be cheaper and easier then just changing a few bulbs and inline resistors for gauges and have 12 volts, especially since the 6 volt wiring is heavier then 12 volt and if in good shape just fine for the conversion. Also this way if you want to add anything power or a radio, etc it's all 12 volts. I can see keeping everything factory and 6 volts if your restoring a car but your putting a sbc chevy in a ford and thats OK but you want to keep it factory 6 volts just doesn't make any sense to me, just my 6-12 cents worth.
None of the parts in a 6 cyl Chevy 6 volt starter will fit a 6 cyl 12v chevy starter, that's why I'm doubting it'll work. Maybe you know something we don't? Or maybe you've never tried it yet?
Do what you want, but the idea that Chevy EVER made a 6 volt 265 is just plain wrong. ALL 265s got the 12 volt system. Some very early '55 6cyls got 6 volt, but that was largely in trucks and Corvettes. Could it be done? I don't doubt it...but even so, its a solution to a non-existant problem.
Ater you go through a few burnt up starters with the weak *** 6-volt battery cranking that smallblock you might just realize that changing over to 12 volt would have been alot easier.
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. Henry David Thoreau
If you are set in keeping a 6 volt system, then you can put two 6V batteries in series and use the 1st battery for the 6 volt stuff and the 12v for the starter only (Charging system will need to be 12V too). Or you could do what seems to be the going thing now days, convert to 12v.
The Jalopy Journal
