Ok, we are making progress with our '53 F100, and I want to convert it to 12v from 6v, but I want to retain the standard guages.....how do I go about making everything work ok? I think 12v would fry the standard 6v guages, right? So how do I get them to work on 12v?
Cheers,
Shane

 

Well, you will need to retain your 6 volt gauges AND sending units and use a voltage reducer on the gauge package. There are single units that reduce all three gauges (fuel, temp and oil - Amps is useable as is) or individual reducers (one per gauge). it's a very simple procedure to convert them.

Here are a couple previous threads about how to do it, and if you send me an e-mail at babbiebuddie@***.net , I'll send you the rewire diagrams I have in MS Power Point, and the step by step rewire guide.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...12-volt-2.html

If you don't want to use the individual "runtz" reducers shown in the thread, you can get a reducer for all the gauges together at NAPA.

 

Julie, speaking of 6 volt to 12 volt stuff (sorry not trying to steal your thread) when I redid the wiring in my truck I had hooked up the blower motor straight to the new 12 volt wiring. When Kevin was over last weekend he said something about reducing it back to 6 volts so I dont burn anything up. I had turned it on a time or 2 and everything was fine while it was hooked up to the 12 volt wiring. I used the ballast resistor to reduce it down to the 6 volts but now my blower motor doesn't really blow any air out now. Am I doing something wrong, will the ballast resistor work for this?

 

I installed a 12volt unit from a 78 Econoline van in my panel; worked fine, had multiple speeds too. Forgot exactly how I did it, but it wasn't difficult....did in 12 years ago, can't recall the details.

Paul

 

Exactly!

I would swap out the motor to 12 volt Tard. Running a 6 volt motor on 12 volts will burn it out, and a ballast resistor will get dangerously hot after a few minutes.

The original motors were really slow to start with, and the swap is pretty easy. So, I'd swap it out!

If you get a used motor out of a yard, be sure to take the switch that goes with it too!