First Ford 12V System??
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
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First Ford 12V System??
Hi All - A number of years ago my dad took a 272 out of a 55 F-600 and put it in the 54 M-350 that I now have. At the same time he changed over to 12V. I am 99% sure that the 55 was a 12V system and is where he obtained the components for the 12V change over. Some how I always thought 55 was the year Ford changed to 12V but from what I am reading here it was 56 - correct??
Was 12V an option prior to 56? Looking through my 48 - 56 Ford Truck Parts Book it seems that 12V was available quite some time prior to 56 but haven't had time to really study this. Does any one know if this is correct or not? Thank you for any input.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Burbank, WA
For US production, 1956 was the year for changeover from 6 to 12 volts. I wouldn't think Ford of Canada would do anything that radical as to switch before Ford USA, but I don't know for sure. I've never heard of 12 volts being an option on any passenger car or light truck from Ford prior to 1956.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
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Thanks Guys for the reply. This has been bugging me for quite awhile thats why I was looking in the parts book last night. Found quite a few references to 12V prior to 56 but I have a hard time reading smaller print under artificial light. Will have to wait till day off (Sunday) so I can study it in day light and then post what I'm reading, maybe I'm not reading it right. By the way my parts books are from the U.S., no reference to Mercs what so ever, wish they were Canadian. Like I said before - almost positive the 55 he wrecked was on 12V. I know he wouldn't buy something he could get free.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
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For US production, 1956 was the year for changeover from 6 to 12 volts. I wouldn't think Ford of Canada would do anything that radical as to switch before Ford USA, but I don't know for sure. I've never heard of 12 volts being an option on any passenger car or light truck from Ford prior to 1956.
Hi Wayne - We always seem to come up with mystery's don't we.Will be doing a post on last mystery soon. Note - Hopefully I can get some info off to you on Monday.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Burbank, WA
Well, I always did like a good mystery. Alfred Hitchcock movies are among my favorites. 
So, you made me look. I got out my catalog and sure enough, there's plenty of references of 12 volt parts back as early as 1952. Generators, regulators, starters, lamps of all sorts. I guess it's still not too late in the day to learn something new. Obviously there was a 12V option.
So, you made me look. I got out my catalog and sure enough, there's plenty of references of 12 volt parts back as early as 1952. Generators, regulators, starters, lamps of all sorts. I guess it's still not too late in the day to learn something new. Obviously there was a 12V option.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Oxford, Indiana
What about the Big Job trucks? I wonder if they ran a 12V system to handle all the extra trailer lights, etc.?
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Ford Parts Specialist
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Thru 1955: 6V positive ground / 1956 and later: 12V negative ground.
I looked in the battery section (basic part numbers 19653/4) in the 1948/56 truck catalog. 12V batteries listed for 1956, not for previous years.
How are y'all gonna run all those pre 1956 12V starters, generators and etc if Ford didn't offer a 12V battery until 1956?
I looked in the battery section (basic part numbers 19653/4) in the 1948/56 truck catalog. 12V batteries listed for 1956, not for previous years.
How are y'all gonna run all those pre 1956 12V starters, generators and etc if Ford didn't offer a 12V battery until 1956?
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Burbank, WA
In my original 1948-55 Ford Truck Chassis Parts catalog, it lists on page 495, 52-55 C,D,J,JH,Y,T,TH,TL,W,WH 6&8 All 12 volt battery 10.25"x8.34"x7.82", part # B3T-10655-A.
12 volt regulator, 52-55 (same apps) All, 60 amp, use with 12 volt 4 brush type generator, 19B-10505-A. That generator is #FAE-10002-A
I gotta admit, this was all a surprise to me.
Hope this helps.
12 volt regulator, 52-55 (same apps) All, 60 amp, use with 12 volt 4 brush type generator, 19B-10505-A. That generator is #FAE-10002-A
I gotta admit, this was all a surprise to me.
Hope this helps.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Burbank, WA
When I first looked at the catalog, I was looking at light bulbs and they had applications listed for F5 and 6 trucks, so I thought it had something to do with larger trucks only. But as I dug deeper, the application list on the major electrical components covered all trucks from F-1/100 all the way up, from model year 1952. There must have been some kind of option available or the listings wouldn't have been in the book. My catalog is dated November 1954. The truck chassis parts catalog doesn't cover industrial engines and equipment, so I don't know what they would be. All I can say, and all I am saying, is the info I have shows replacement parts being available for 12V systems on trucks from 1952. And I find that very interesting. ;-)
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: South west Idaho
When I first looked at the catalog, I was looking at light bulbs and they had applications listed for F5 and 6 trucks, so I thought it had something to do with larger trucks only. But as I dug deeper, the application list on the major electrical components covered all trucks from F-1/100 all the way up, from model year 1952. There must have been some kind of option available or the listings wouldn't have been in the book. My catalog is dated November 1954. The truck chassis parts catalog doesn't cover industrial engines and equipment, so I don't know what they would be. All I can say, and all I am saying, is the info I have shows replacement parts being available for 12V systems on trucks from 1952. And I find that very interesting. ;-)
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,201
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From: Burbank, WA
