i have a 1950 ford f2 and i want to see if it will turnover . i want to hook up a battery but i dont want to have to buy a 6 volt battery . because if it turns i will just switch it to a 12 volt . so is it ok to turn it over with a 12 volt battery?

 

Take the coil wire off, leave the lights off, wipers off, fan blower off, disconnect the regulator wires and tape them and take the generator wires off and tape them up. You can then try it. It won't hurt the starter to have 12v on it. If I left anything off the list above, then add to it(like if it has a radio, make sure it's turned off.

 

could i hook it up directly to the starter?

 

You can hook up straight to starter . I have done it a few times . The starter will be fine ! I converted my 50 and 53 in the 90's . I did not touch the starters . Still working fine .

 

that sounds like work...just grab a big wrench and see if it'll spin.

 

Things like the voltage regulator have big current carrying contacts and heavy current carrying wire turns. The higher voltage will push more current thru these. I would disconnect or replace the voltage regulator along with the generator. Convert it to alternator with internal regulator. Ur wiring in the dash is heavy and Ur heater motor can alsosuffer. Heck all the motors will eventually suffer including the starter motor. It will degrade its life somewhat. If U don't mind replacing the starter every couple years? 12volts for U. Usually the cables and grounds eat u with 6 volt systems, that's the reason many used a Positive ground style called reversed polarity volt for easier starting then the reversing of the polarity will mess up Ur charging until U get the polarity issue straitened out with the generator to voltage regulator.