6 to 12 volt conversion
#16
A long time friend of mine owns a starter/gen shop. He told me he can rework the 6v gen to 12v. That solves the bracket and belt situations. That also keeps it looking original. He also told me to make sure I change the starter relay or other wise some times it will not release when a 6v one is hit with 12v. The starter can handle the 12v as long as you do not grind on it too long at one time. The dash can be left alone if a resistor is used to take it back down to 6v. Same as the distrib. The voltage reg will have to changed to 12v. New 12v guages and speedo that looks just like original can be bought for $400 with the speedo reading the drive shaft. I have converted several but the truck I have now is too nice to not leave it totally original although I thought of going 12v and hiding the battery and leaving the 6v under the hood for looks.
#18
Nah, It's been 6 volt for the past five years that I've owned it and prior to that as well, and I've have had nothing but trouble with it. Three batteries, three starters, new 1/0 battery cables, Pertronix ignition, and if it doesn't start right way and I have to grind on the starter for any length of time it drains the battery and then I have to charge the battery before I can try again. I'm just tired of the frustration. Although it's never happened yet, if I'm out somewhere and I drain the battery I can't get a jump from anyone cause I have a 6 volt system and not 12 volts. At that point I'm screwed and have to call triple A to have it towed home. So the 6 volt system needs to go.
#19
I have jumped off of 12v before. If your battery is low, it will absorb the extra voltage just as long as there is some one to remove the jumper as soon as it fires. I also use an 8v battery and to do that correctly the voltage regulater has to be stepped up to put out 9.2v. I can understand wanting to go 12v which I have done many times. Only this time I have such a nice original truck I plan to stick with the 6v. Now I am in search of 16 inch rims as some one replaced them with 15's but that is down the road aways.
#20
Nah, It's been 6 volt for the past five years that I've owned it and prior to that as well, and I've have had nothing but trouble with it. Three batteries, three starters, new 1/0 battery cables, Pertronix ignition, and if it doesn't start right way and I have to grind on the starter for any length of time it drains the battery and then I have to charge the battery before I can try again. I'm just tired of the frustration. Although it's never happened yet, if I'm out somewhere and I drain the battery I can't get a jump from anyone cause I have a 6 volt system and not 12 volts. At that point I'm screwed and have to call triple A to have it towed home. So the 6 volt system needs to go.
#21
On the other hand, well over 50 yrs ago, my father (on a 50 F6) i remember being a
56 Ford 12vt gen & reg he put in there, same 6vt starter, nobody new about that
little regulator for the gauges, so it doesnt have one. Now this is 2011 and nothing has
burnt up yet. Although the temp gauge never worked correctly even when it was 6 vt.
I got around that years ago by a SW mech. gauge and I changed the face plate so
nobody will never know. I also recently added a one wire 80 amp alt. no special
brackets same org. clamp band just drilled a hole for the mount pin and changed
the pulley (this is a 239 V8). It has been said for years, it wont hurt the 6V starter
cause it starts faster. Just touch start button its running!!!
56 Ford 12vt gen & reg he put in there, same 6vt starter, nobody new about that
little regulator for the gauges, so it doesnt have one. Now this is 2011 and nothing has
burnt up yet. Although the temp gauge never worked correctly even when it was 6 vt.
I got around that years ago by a SW mech. gauge and I changed the face plate so
nobody will never know. I also recently added a one wire 80 amp alt. no special
brackets same org. clamp band just drilled a hole for the mount pin and changed
the pulley (this is a 239 V8). It has been said for years, it wont hurt the 6V starter
cause it starts faster. Just touch start button its running!!!
#22
I'm kind of confused here on a couple of issues as I get conflicting information from different people. First is the circuit breakers behind the gauges and the need to change them from 6V to 12V, and second the starter relay, does it have to be changed along with the starter button to a two wire instead of just a one wire? A friend of mine has a 52 F-1 like mine and he converted it to 12V and left the 6V starter relay and button in it and he says it works, but others claim that it won't work, so henceforth my confusion. So can anyone give me a definitive answer?
#23
I don't know if this will help with the confusion, but think of the six volt cuircuit as heavy duty and the 12 volt circuit as medium duty. All six volt wire will carry the 12 volt load, but 12 volt wire will not carry the six volt loads. Six volts uses twice as many amps, hence you need beefier wire. Jag
#24
Alternator help needed
I also recently added a one wire 80 amp alt. no special brackets same org. clamp band just drilled a hole for the mount pin and changed the pulley (this is a 239 V8). It has been said for years, it wont hurt the 6V starter cause it starts faster. Just touch start button its running!!!
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