I'm working on a friend's '48 Chevy woodie and we want to change it over to 12 volt, negative ground. Would someone be kind enough to fill me in on what year starters will fit in this configuration? Thanks in advance, Gary O
None. 6 and 12 volt units have different tooth counts on flywheel ring gear and starter drive gear. However, the 6 volt starter will work fine on 12 volts for a very long time....***uming it is in good condition to begin with. Ray
Yup, some things you don't need to replace when doing a 6-12 conversion. Hell, except for lights and radio, almost all 6v can be utilized on 12v, with some alteration. Starter and solenoid, no change necessary. Starters are not polarity - sensitive, they always turn the one way. Heater blower - add in a ballast resistor to the feed wire (these only work properly on high draw equipment, blowers are good uses). May turn opposite way, then you'll have to replace. Not hard, I adapted, with little issue, a Hyundai blower motor to my Ford (warrantee s****, i.e.: free). Dash lights - turn the rheostat way down. Now you'll have brighter lights, if you need (turn up too much, and you'll be replacing them ) Wipers - your's doesn't matter, only a few 6 volt wiper motors. Resistor (as above). Wiring - all 6v is heavier duty than any 12v, as long as it's in good nick, don't worry. Switches - as above. Gauges - ammeters will work fine. Certain temp and fuel gauges are not voltage sensitive, no worries. Most early temp and oil gauges are mechanical anyway, no worries. Alternator - don't be tempted to use the one wire, when it goes bad, you'll never find a replacement nearby (I know, people have come in asking for them). Use the GM three wire, it's easy to wire in, and super - unbelieveably easy to find replacements. If you have a GEN light, wire the Generator end of that light to the ALT - it's the resistor it needs AND the warning. Easy - peasy. Cosmo
If you want a non-floor foot starter one with a solenoid use the 49-54 version, it is still 6 volts but as stated above they do not mind 12v.
Wow, that's why I love this board. Thank you all and Cosmo, that's a lot of valuable info... did not know that starters were not polarity sensitive. 63 yrs old and I learn something every day!!! Thanks you again, everyone! Gary O
You could take it to an auto electric shop or rebuilder and have 12V field coils installed, or you could wait till the old ones burn out. A 6V starter can last quite a while if you don't grind and grind on it but will overheat if you work it too hard.
Like Rusty said unless you grind the starter a lot it will take 12 volts, when it takes a dump have 12 volt coils installed
You'll be alright with the original 6 volt starter as long as it's a "foot operated" pedal. I ran 12 volts on my old foot-stomp 6 volt starter in my 48 and later my 41 Pontiacs .............no problem
6V starter on my 55 Monterey worked GREAT on 12V hadta keep the kids from playin w the windows tho -- them things coulda been guillitiones!
My 46 chevy truck that we use as a billboard still has the 6 volt starter. It gets started a min of 2 times a day to move it around and it has had 12 volts for 5 years.
Not to hijack but it seems that we used to make 6 volt starters for our high compression SBC's by replacing the field windings in the V8 starters with 6 volt parts from the older 6 cylinder cars. I can't remember if we changed the armature or not. Does anyone else remember this? Or is this something I may have dreamed (you know it was the late '60s and early '70s) I had a friend that used 2 batteries in series in his Gas type car. that thing would really spin that 327!
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