Technical It's 2017,does anyone still use a 6 volt system?

Yes it is 2017 and I recently bought an 85 year old rolling and running Ford frame that will be getting a Brookville body. The engine is the only thing wired at this point and it's 6 volt. To my mind it only makes sense to put this car together with 12 volts.
I'd like to keep the generator, so I can run a fan off it. What's involved in converting it to 12 volt. Or, can any of you convince me to keep it 6 volt?
-Dave

 

Ok, If anyone has an 85 years old car or truck aside from the starter spinning faster on 12 vs 6 what is the reason for the 12 volt upgrade, huge savings on thinner wire is a given? Bob

 

A lot of people do things because "that's what you do" when building a hot rod. Things like splitting the bones, even if you don't need to for engine clearance. Growing up in the 60's & 70's I remember one of the things most self respecting rodders did was convert to 12 volts. Only restores stuck with 6 volts, or so was the thinking in my neighborhood.
Besides I believe it will be easier to track down all the 12 volt components today, instead of trying to find 6 volt gauges, bulbs, etcetera.
I do plan on keeping a generator, but if I were to switch to an alternator I'd go looking for an early sixties mopar alternator. Cutting edge of 1960 technology. Besides most of us here are really restoration rodders! No offence intended.
-Dave

 

A lot of opposing view points here but everyone has been civil, makes for a much better conversation. HRP

 

Generator can be converted using a '56 Ford passenger case with fields. Simple bolt-on conversion.
As I recall, the case was the same length as the 6 volt, and the 6V armature is quite suitable for either 6 or 12 volts.

 

Thanks Mike, I'll be looking into this conversion. I've been listening to the flathead exhaust threads that are current on the board right now. My rolling frame has an engine out of a restored 1950 Merc that was being street rodded with a coyote, or something like that.
Can't wait to get it all home and start putting it together.
-Dave

 

My '53 Plymouth is still 6V positive ground. If it ain't broke why fix it?

 

My 50 F1 is still 6 volt still runs great.

 

Bigger, high compression engines and new fangled accessories and extra cost options (power windows, power seats, convertible tops, AC, etc, drawing lots of juice was the reason, I've read. Sounds reasonable.

Solid state transistors were replacing hollow state electronics, making negative ground preferable over positive ground. Maybe.

 

That's how I do it, good advice.....