I am working on swapping out my gyro-matic trans mission to a T5. I plan on using a Wilcap adapter so I can utilize the bellhousing from the T5 as well as making the whole clutch ***embly /flywheel/shaft/throwout bearing issue easier. One thing that is required is a 12volt starter. As my 1950 dodge is a 6 volt positive ground, and the 12v starter is a negative ground, i am in need of some clarification. There is a battery option that is both 6 and 12 volts. http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/accessories.html My question is: Will I be able to utilize the 12 volt starter with a positive ground system? Some say it would run backwards, some say it wont; and some say the newer ones will but the older ones wont. I am not seeing much direct answers to this on the forums. Plus I am curious if anyone has experience with this battery and set up.
Inasmuch as a 12 volt neg. ground alternator will be required to recharge the battery, most of the 6/12 battle is moot. Change over to 12 volt system, negative ground. Light bulbs and sealed beams will be changed to 12 volt, and a volt-a-drop can be used for the radio and gauges; heater fan motor can be changed to a 12 volt generic, and your ammeter will have to be wired opposite. Guys that wire in that 6-12 business seem to have an 'agenda'.
This particular battery charges on the 6 volt system. (see link in OP). I really don't want to convert if I don't have to. I am really looking for an answer to the 12v starter question... and hearing from anyone with experience doing this.
Don't know if this would be relevant or not, but.....I wonder if someone who really knows their stuff with series/parallel solenoids might be able to help you ? One place to find a tech like that would be at an "Auto Crane" dealer-----they sell& service the cable-operated hoists commonly used on field-service trucks at heavy-equip. dealers such as Caterpillar, John Deere, etc..........just a thought
We used to have 24 volt start/12 volt system on some old trucks; it worked off a series/parallel solenoid system and if I remember right there was also an aftermarket accessory kit to retrofit 12 volt start to a 6 volt system. Both of these system used two (or more) batteries. One drawback I see to the kit you referenced is that it uses that special battery; might be hard to come up with a replacement at the odd times batteries usually pick to fail. I think the best option (and maybe cheaper) would be to switch to 12 volts.
The 12 volt starter will work on positive ground. I don't usually recommend converting to 12 volts but since you have gone this far you might as well install an alternator and 12 volt coil. Also 12 volt light bulbs. For 6 volts accessories like radio and heater motor, take a center tap off the battery or get a Runtz or Zener diode. The only thing that might be polarity sensitive would be the radio and I believe that can be fixed with a different ********. And, as already mentioned, switch the connections on the ammeter.
Hmm.... Sounds like my best option is going to be to just do the 12v conversion. I was trying to avoid it, but the more I look at the issues, the more it makes sense to do it. Especially since there are a few advantages( modern sound, electronic ignition, and not having to work around the starter issue to name a few), is starting to make more sense. Thanks Rusty for the answer on the positive ground question. Much appreciated.
Best option is indeed a full conversion to 12 volts. The original 6 volt starter will work like a champ on 12 volts but change it's solenoid to a 12 volt unit. The issue with changing to a negative ground is a non issue except with the radio. I have no info regarding changing the polarity of/for the radio. I've changed all my old positive ground, 6 volt cars over to 12 volts and always used the 6 volt starter after swapping the solenoid to a 12 volt one. LIke was said earlier, change the coil, bulbs, generator and regulator to 12 volts and swap the wires on the back of the ammeter when changing polarity and it'll all work fine. If the old wiring is shabby, re-wire the car. BTW, last summer I swapped a 50 [brown] 50 coronet over to 12 volts using and 10SI GM internally regulated alternator. I reworked the old generator bracket to mount the GM alternator where the old generator was originally mounted.
We had used that 6/12 battery in the past and never had much luck with them,put 2 or 3 in and they just didn't last,finally just converted over to 12 volt. Now what you might be able to do is see if your 12 V starter can be redone as 6 V,check with a good electric shop, if the price isn't out of line and it works have another converted for a spare.
They used to make a 6/12 volt battery that had I believe a series/parallel switch that was like 2 6 volt batteries in one when you cranked it it was 12v and in normal mode it was 6 volt so it charge. Diesel truck used this to give starters 24 volts starting and 12volts for normal running
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