Hello guys I have a 47 ford truck with a flathead v8,6volt system ,and it turns over slow ,can anyone tell me if it would be safe to put a 8volt battery in it in stead of a 6 volt battery.I have a heater lights ,and wiper ,they all work .I know im in the wrong group ,but the 1947 site isnt to busy.Thanks for the help! Bill

 

Hi Bill,
I didn't realize they were still making and selling those things. I haven't seen an 8 volt battery for about forty years. Maybe you are trying to keep your truck all original and are not willing to do this but you can convert to a 12 volt system and keep your 6 volt starter. Contrary to popular belief, it won't hurt the starter to do this. That is because the windings and brushes in a 6 volt starter are rated for twice as much current as their 12 volt counterparts. If you do this you will have to change all the lights and inst. lights to 12 volt bulbs. If it has a radio that has to be modified as well as your charging system and the fuel gauge system. The heater motor will have to be changed or you can use a resistor placed in the air duct to keep it cool just like they do the speed regulating resistors in modern cars with 12 volt systems. There is one other alternative but I don't know of any sources for the systems. Years ago they used to market a little system that used two six volt batteries that were employed in a combination 6 and 12 volt configuration by using a combination of several Ford type solenoid relays. It used the two 6 volt batteries in series to spin the 6 volt starter and switched the batteries back to a parallel 6 volt system for normal running. A friend of mine in the service, had an old 52 Chrysler with a big old hemi in it. This system worked great on that car. But, that was forty years ago and I doubt any one sells those systems now. I believe that J C Whitney sold that system back then.

 

Bill, back in the early '50s we did that regularly in the cars with the big V-8s and 6 V systems. Bulb life will be shortened and your lights will be very bright. As mentioned before, the starter will handle it with no problem. I don't remember having to change anything to go to the 8 V battery except the battery. That has been a long time ago. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in. I'm intrested in using an 8 V battery in my '50 also, and yes the batteries are still available. You may have to special order them but you can still get them.

Gil

 

napa sells 8 volt batteries and they are mainly used in tractors,my 53' NAA "golden jubilee has one.

 

You might consider a 6v gear-reduction starter if the starter is the only problem. They draw a ton less current and are just plain a better idea. They throw out to the flywheel from the front of the flywheel, not the back, so they don't ever hang up.

It may also help on your stock starter to have the armature turned .050" smaller. The armatures tend to scrape on the field windings, which really slows them down. Bad (sloppy) bushings on the armature will make this worse. Before you abandon 6v, try some of the old tricks!

 

I would just go 12Volt and be done with it unless you
are going to sell it as a original
Take care

 

Yes a 8 volt batery works great I've done it and every old farm truck round here does it simple and reliable.

 

Thanks guys for your help,im gonna go get me a 8volt battery today,and if I still have the problem ,im starting with the starter next!!! Bill

 

The 8 volt battery = first used (on cars) circa 1949 on Cadillac & Olds OHV V8 engines.

The alternative back then to 8 volt batteries was the 6/12 battery. Start on 12 volts, run on 6. These batteries came with a starter solenoid mounted on the battery itself.

Both these batteries were needed because the 6 volt batteries of the era wouldn't produce enough cranking amps to turn over the hot OHV V8 engines.

Hot OHV V8 = turn the key, push the starter button = click-click-click. Been there, done that!

The only downside to an 8 volt battery is, the bulbs won't last as long.

Measure your battery tray before buying one = not all 8 volt batteries are the same size.

 

[quote=NumberDummy;6061540]The 8 volt battery = first used (on cars) circa 1949 on Cadillac & Olds OHV V8 engines.

quote]
don't forget the straight 8s in Buicks etc

 

[quote=rbaker6336;6061754]The OHV Straight 8's used in the Buicks (from circa 1933 thru 1954) didn't seem to have the same problem the OHV V8's did.

I've owned quite a few early 1950's GM products, never had a problem starting a Buick when it was warm.

GM went to 12 volt batteries in 1952 on Cads & Olds, Buicks in 1953 (new 322 cid OHV nail head V8-Specials got it in 1954).

Chrysler, Studebaker and Ford didn't switch to 12 volt till 1956. Packard in 1955.

Q: Where's the starter switch on a 1950's Buick?

A: The same place it's found on a 1950's Packard.

And where is that?

 

under gas pedal,studebaker under clutch pedal

 

You're probably going to have to overhaul your starter anyway, better spend the money there than on an 8v battery and have to contend with light bulbs and radio tubes burning out.

If the truck started right with a 6v system when it was built, it can be made to work on 6v now.

I had a '47 Cadillac with an 8v battery, didn't work any better and the starter had to be rebuilt.

 

Hey guys ,I put that 8volt battery in my truck,and I couldnt believe how fast it turned over ,and started right up,now I have a new problem,is there a easy way to tell if the float in the carb is sticking,it was running great the most of the day ,but later it was like getting way to much gas,and I could smell it also,but not leaking,oh the carb is a chandler groves,any ideas?? thanks again guys Bill

 

Give that man a Kewpie Doll!

Nash had the starter button under the clutch pedal, too.

1951/55 Rambler Country Club: On models with Hydra-Matic, the car is started by pulling the gearshift lever towards the driver.