What do you know about 8 Volt batteries?

I have a 37 LaSalle that's hard to start, and was suggested an 8 Volt battery. My question has more than one part, so PLEASE read it all. Thank you

1-Does an 8 Volt battery exist?

2-Where would I find one?

3-since a 12 Volt system goes to 14+ Volts, can I ***ume the 6 Volt generator goes high enough to charge the 8 Volt Battery?

4-If the generator DOES go far enough now to handle an 8 Volt battery, can I also ***ume the 8 Volt battery won't be a threat to the 6 Volt bulbs/instruments?

 

The more accessories you have, the more trouble 8 volts causes. The gen has to put out 9+ volts to charge, which eats radio parts & bulbs. A good, heavy 6 volt battery, a Delco regulator set to 7.8 - 8V & fresh generator will start anything that doesn't have mechanical problems. Finding a battery equal in quality to the tar tops is the hardest part.

 

I bought an old '55 1st series Chevy p/u and it had an 8 volt battery in it. I think it was from a tractor?? On a cold day, a little starting fluid and that 8 volt would start her every time!!

 

Probly won't have a radio. So, by eating bulbs, what do you mean? Will they pop often, or just reduce life expectancy some? Going from 7.8/8 to 9 doesn't seem like a big leap. Thanks

 

Best way I've found is to get a battery rebuilder to build up one for you.
Normally its fairly cheap and they seem to have a lot of spin power plus being able to handle some pretty hefty loads.
cooger
p.s.-everything 6v will work, for a while. Bright lights, and if you don't keep on the starter it'll last about as long as a 6v.

 

i had one i a 8n tractor. Lots of places sell them, battery dealers tractor supply. The only problem i had was my tractor didnt spin fast enough to charge it all the time, you know when i was just cruisen. good startin tho

 

we tried them on tractors 50 year ago, bigest problem was charging them,6 vt stuff just is not made to put out close to 10 volts

best bet is going to 12 volt

we did use 12 volt generqators and 6 volt regulators, but was undependable at best

 

Band aid!! Repair what needs attention. Proper sized cables, good clean tight grounds, ground strap between the body and frame or engine. I am runing 6V with no issues.

Don't know if you have an key or ****on starter or a stomp to start to engage the starter. Make sure those cables are 0 or 00 gauge. Make sure the ground strap goes to a good clean ground. If there is a lot of resistance in the starting circuit, it will take jusice from the ign circuit. So make sure all the contacts and terminals are good. Also if your starter armeture bushings are ovaled a bit, the armeture can drag on the field windings when they are energized, this will **** up more current and slow the starter down. Remember these car are not far from their hand cranked older brothers. It doesn't take a lot of spin to get an engine to start. So on that note make sure your timing is set where it should be to much in***ial advance will lead to hard starting, make sure your points and plugs and wires are in good shape and properly gaped.

Then you don't need to screw around withthe regulator, and start butning lightbulbs out and other stuff relaited to a "fix" instead of a proper repair.

6v systems provided good service for many automotive manufacturers for many years before the they suc***ed to accessory industry pressure for 12 V neg systems. Plus they learned they could save money and weight with thinner, cheaper and lighter wires.

 

I've never heard of an 8 volt battery. I guess you learn something new everyday.

 

You can but them at most tractor supply stores. The generator charges them just fine, regardless of the accessaries you run. I put them in all my 6 volt cars,with no problems. I have one in my 1929 Graham Paige now.

 

I ran one for 2 months. They charge fine and start better. That is all. Farm supply store, not the cheapest, but cheaper than swapping to 12v if you're not ready to.

 

You can get 8 Volt deep cycle batteries, too- think golf cart.

 

I put one in my 55 Chrysler. Sorry I did. They cost about $125 at NAPA and when I installed an electronics ign., the positive ground unit costs twice as much. Light bulbs are a problem, better have a good supplyI had to go to 12v taillights.<o></o>
Biggest problem now is that I want to install a FM radio... they only come in 12 volts negative ground.<o></o>
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I should have used a 56 Chrysler generator and changed the polarity.

 

I have done several of the 8 volt conversions, need to adjust the voltage regulator, to put out 9.5 - 10.5 volts, radios don't last long but the headlights were bright as ****, and seemed to hold up okay

 

Stick with 6 and make sure everything is working properly or step up to 12 volt. Important to know that 6 volt systems run bigger gauge wire then 12 volt. Battery cables usually get swapped thru the years and the smaller cables end up on there.

One of the biggest things to remmember is if you are out on a tour or on a way to a show and something goes out it is really easy to get 12 volt parts, where 6 volt or 8 volt wouldnt be so easy.

 

Back in the early 60s I had a 53 Chevy HDT and it started hard. The local mechanic installed an 8 volt battery and it seemed to help the starting and it had no noticable problems. If I remember right he may have done something to the voltage regulator?

 

Can't be said any better than that. 8V is a Mickey Mouse fix.

 

I drive my 6V chevy as my daily driver. The starter cranks the car over with barely a flick of the key. The headlights are bright, and I can not think of any reason to convert it.

HEAVY cables, and clean connections, as well as a properly tuned regulator are the key. My car is more than reliable than my employees late model driver.

An 8V battery is like putting a louder stereo in your car because your brakes squeal. FIX THE PROBLEM! Do not put a band aid on it.

 

So, what you're saying is.....all the manufacturers converting from 6 to 12V in the 50's was Mickey Mouse also? Hey, just asking.

 

i run 8 volt all all my 6v cars. never any problems. i also sold them for years to people with 6v systems. i started using my for the extra bang in the winter.never thought of them as bandaids i look at as nos for the starting system.

 

It probably had more to do with the money that they could save on copper with the smaller wire.

I agree. An 8 volt battery was a lazy mans quick and dirty fix. I've had a few 6V stockers and I was always able to get them to start easily even in the winter time.

No offense but if I saw your car with an 8V battery, I'd ***ume that you were too lazy to fix it right.

The biggest problems with 6V systems is old dirty connections. A few weeks ago there was a post on the Ford barn about how the fellow was so happy with how his old Ford was starting after he took the time to clean each and every connection including the grounds.

 

Did you re-adjust the voltage regulator? If yes, to what voltage?

 

We can argue this to death. But, pretty much every 6 Volt system sounds almost like a dead 12 Volt battery cranking over. I'm so used to 12 Volt systems that I cringe when I occasionally have to crank a 6 Volt in my shop. Some look at an 8 Volt as a bandaid, I look at it like an improvement....like a hotter camshaft, or hydraulic brakes instead of mechanical brakes, and so on. That being said, I'm enjoying some good response from this thread for the most part. BTW, how many "bandaids" on your hot rod? You know, like a different intake from stock, or improved exhaust system, better instruments..................

Oh, and too lazy to fix? So, if I have tri-power on my car, will you ***ume I was too lazy to fix the original single 2 barrel?

 

Yuk, yuk, yuk!

 

I'm running an 8 volt as well......never looked at it like a bandaid at all. Works great, starts great......the only issue I've experienced is charging it with a battery charger - I found that you'll need an older 6 volt charger, as any new "smart" charger I've tried doesn't recognize the voltage. Otherwise, no issues.....and I didn't find it expensive at all....no more than a 6 or 12 volt.

Good luck.

 

8 Volt is not a band aid, it's a good way to get some bigger juice to a lagging system. I don't disagree where the grounds are concerned. But that's the same no matter what voltage you run. A 6 volt system will start a car but it sure starts faster with 8. Corrosion is the killer. The radio will die, but the bulbs will be brighter and are marked right on them 6-8V typically. You do need to adjust the regulator to put out 9+ volts to keep it charged. Try Tractor Supply for an 8-Volt, or a John Deer Dealership. Both may be hard to find in SC. Wal-mart will also sometimes have them.


Good Luck Groucho,


Tim

 

i have a 8 volt if you want to try it ...i put it in my 6v system but had a reg that was not adjustable so i went back to 6 ...the 8 has been sitting about a year but your more than welcome to try it................ if it works we will trade something or you can kick some green.....worth a try 818 219 7960

 

Great information guys. Flynstone, when's good to get together for lunch/mufflers?

 

So if somebody came out with a 16 V battery would you switch??? why not jump to 24 like military or aircraft.

 

It has been recommended to charge an 8 volt with a 12 volt, 2 amp charger. I can attest it does work.