12v or 6v

So I just picked up a 55 f100 and I know it should be a 6v system but after doing some looking I noticed it has a 12v coil and 12v starter solenoid... I am trying to get the truck started and I broke the solenoid so need to buy a replacement but not sure if i should get a 6v or 12v? If it is a 6v system yet as it should be would the 12v parts on the truck even work, or do you think it is more likely that someone made it a 12v system? Before I broke the solenoid I did have a 6 v battery in it and it would turn over but not every time I hit e starter button...

 

start from scratch and examine your entire wiring harness. It will likely lead to a conclusion.

but it all depends on how you wish it to be in the end...do you need 12v for a radio, are the light bulbs 6 or 12v?

6v will do the job if all the wires are good and the ground cables are large enough.

 

have you looked at the battery, that would be a dead giveaway

 

If it isn't already, just change everything to 12 volts. It solves a whole bunch of problems. It isn't 1950 anymore.
Tom

 

With a 12V coil and a 12V solenoid, I'd suspect that it was converted to 12V in its long history by a previous owner.. Is there a ballast resistor in the coil wire? Are the headlights 12V? Is it negative ground or positive ground? These answers should tell you if it has been converted from when it left the factory.

If it was, you want to get the same 12V solenoid and take advantage of the changes that have already been made.

 

It has been converted to 12 volts. The 12 volt coil would not have lasted long in a 6 volt system. That might be why the solenoid failed when you connected it to a 6 volt battery.

As someone said, you can go either way, but what kind of generator do you have? It is really the charging system that dictates system voltage. If you have a 12 volt alternator, then you probably won't want to replace that with a stock 6 volt generator and regulator. If you have a stock 6 volt charging system, you may or may not want to upgrade all that to 12 volts.

6 volts will work OK with a stock engine (I have several 6 volt vehicles) but you will need 12 volts to operate a modern sound system if that is important to you.

Either way, remember the stock 6 volt system had positive ground, while the converted 12 volt system was probably set up for negative ground. It is again the charging system, along with some gauges, that "cares" about the polarity; the starting and ignition systems will work with either.

 

Go to 12 volts. If you have trouble on the road, you can always find 12v bulbs, a universal 12v coil or Ford solenoid in any parts store, they might be able to get the 6v stuff in a couple of days. 6v starter will last a long time on 12v if you don't grind on it.