6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

I have 1933 Ford 5 window coupe that i have brought back from near death,and it needs a complete rewire,should i keep it 6 volt or change to 12 volt?.what would i need to change to make it 12 volt?.I would like to keep the car looking as close to original as posible but have realiability,any input would be appriciated,thanks Martin

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Depends on what your going for, original? ... 6 volts systems work fine as long as they are maintained. I've got one of each and both work fine. The 12 volt is better if you plan on using a modern radio and cell charger but there are ways around that. The 12 volt will need resistors on all gauges and heater and 12 volt bulbs also you'll need 12 volt coil ....I know I'm forgetting stuff here but its late. I would stick with six volts if it were me. Just rewire it with the original style harness, there are several people who make them and that way if you change your mind the wire will be sufficient for either one.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

If re-wiring by all means use 6 volt wire. (larger gage)
This gives you the option of going to 12 volts at a later time.
Although I have converted mine to 12 volt because of the goodies I have (power windows, elec.wipers,etc.), there is no need to convert.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

In its self, 6 volts only needs good wire integrity to work normal.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

You better off to run 12 volts.
Parts,coil,battery,alt,blubs,radio.
Trailer gueens keep 6 volts.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

On a 12V "pro", certified auto electric has a 1 wire Ford alt/brackett available for the Flathead. I have one on the 59AB in my 39. Scott

I have seen alot of "nos" gen. brushes on the ebay, that might work as a 6V "pro"

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

I have them both ways. If you drive it alot go to 12 volts. Better lights, and you can get light bulbs and igntion parts on the road easyer. You also can run a electic pump, GPS, HEI igntion, and more. Down side- you will find out how good your starter drive spring is. This flathead is 12volts, early 60's generator with the falthead end plates. Good luck.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Maybe your "Trailer Queen" is 6 volt
My "Driver" is 6volt
Thats an ignorant statement for sure !!!!
cheers
Tony

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Mine are all 6 volts and work with no problems. I did make some 6 volt alternators for some of the drivers. The alternators charges at idle and low speeds which supplies 7 plus volts at all times keeping the battery fully charged and brighter lights. The generators 6 or 12 volts disconnect from the battery at slow speeds and idle and your running off the battery alone. G.M.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Having halogen headlights makes it worth changing from 6 to 12V for me.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

I've got one of each. Both systems work fine. The 6 volt system is more sensitve to the integrity of connections and grounds. GM's suggestion to use an alternator is good if you plan to do a lot of low speed operating. Both of mine are generator equiped and I do notice the drop in voltage at slow speeds.

Having halogen headlights is definately a plus. If you are running 6 volt sealbeams hunt for Wagner H6006 lamps. These are 6 volt halogens. These are as bright as the 12 volt.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

As a young feller all we had was 6V. When they finally switched to 12V our electrical systems actually worked without any hassle. Why anyone would go to all the work to rebuild and rewire a car and stick with 6V positive ground is a mystery to me. If you are going to drive it go 12V. If you are going to show I guess 6V is the way to go.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

I can't think of any cons to switching to 12V other than doing the work to do it. However a 6v system works ok.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

6 volt is OK if you know how to set your car up ,tuning etc ,all the Model A guys run it ,the down side is a lack of spares on the side of the road ,a battery being one ,a Altama would be a good option,I ran a small 6 volt vw battery it was still starting the car after 9 years ,12 volt is OK , if you have a bad fuel pump and experience hard starting ,mayby for a car thats driven a lot at night ,and you want to run accessory's more frequent burning of points .I recently fixed a car that the 12 volt had pushed the ring gear of so it was rubbing ,about to put a hole on the inside of the pan .

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

An easy solution for the starter drive is to use an old starter drive spring and attach it to the starter where the battery cable goes on and use a nut and bolt to hook the starter cable to the spring, it drops the voltage to about 8 volts on the 6 volt starter.
It makes for easier starting and takes it easy on the stock starter drive.
You can also use the forklift type starter drive which is stronger also. But I like
the starter spring resitor method best.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Quartz Halogen bulbs work on 6V generator systems also --I have had them in my A for 10+ years, the same battery for 14 years, never any charging except by driving, no changing of anything except bulbs.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Thanks for all the info Guys,I will be using this car as a daily driver,if i change to 12 volt will i need to change the starter motor,generator,plus other parts?.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Could someone tell us more about 6V alternators? Who sells them, etc? Thanks

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

The starter motor can stay the same. As others said it might be hard on the ring gear but I've been running my 6 volt starter 12 volts for a couple years with no problems.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

I've driven my '49 F1 with its original 6V wiring for 40 years and it's fine. I don't like the look of the 12V batteries ...

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

If you have a nice orginal car 6 volts is fine.If you have a good 6 volt battery you could drive all day no charging and get home.With FORDs that coil is a knowed problem ,carry a spare if you can change it yourself.I run a 49 olds for years on 6 volts and batterys don,t last long.They were alway a hard car to start when hot.
Stop have a fwe beers and let it cool down.
I run my 39 Ford 12 volts,alt,mini starter,about the size of a lawn tractor,now have a GPS,elecrtric fuel pump.I wired it this way and would not go back to 6 volts.
Today with cell phones join AAA and get 200 miles free towing.
Braking down on interstate no fun.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

6V is the way to go. First of all, rewire is very simple with a new light harness and dash harness that all the vendors carry. Everything FITS and fits right as it was designed to. 6V will start a stock engine just fine. A 6v Alt is the way to go if your are running halogen headlights. Antique Auto Electric in OH, Larry Becker 419-668-5986 makes excellent units with a real guarantee.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

If you have Skip rebuild your 32 to 48 coil and have 2/0 battery cables with clean tight battery and ground connections and a clean ignition switch your starting problem are gone even when hot. You also need a fully charged battery and charging system. G.M.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

How about batteries? Go down to Walmart and buy a 6v that fits? Ha ha ha!

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

I need reliability as i want to drive the shit out of this car,and would like to do alot of interstate driving,if i break down the chances of getting 6 volt parts here in Australia would be next to none,I havnt decided which way to go yet as there is a 50/50 arguement on here for and against,did i mention that i have no wiring on this car at all so will need a complete rewire,thanks for your advise guys.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Since you're starting from scratch, the 6v-vs-12v question is valid and you certainly have received a good amount of information in this thread. In my opinion, there are two related questions to ask that have a strong bearing on the issue. 1) Generator or Alternator and 2) Positive or Negative ground. I completely re-wired my '46 and maded my own wiring harness in the process. For drivability and reliability, I chose wire capable of carrying the higher 6v amperage, neg. ground and an alternator. That was four years ago and I haven't been sorry yet. FWIW

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

5th Avenue in Kansas will fix you up Funky Ford. Google it.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Going to 12 volt negative ground is a good idea. The started will work, get a 1 wire alternator re worked to charge off idle. Either change the gauges or get dropping resistors. Change the coil and bulbs and be sure you have plenty of grounds. As mentioned earlier 6 volt wiring is heaver gauge because 6 volt runs more current. The heavier wiring is a good idea. I have seen 12volt battery cables get hot and smoke on a 6 volt system. But the main reason to change is because most shops don't know how to deal with 6 volt positive ground systems.So just remove all the wiring and start from scratch with 12 volt negative ground..;)

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

i have a 1950 ford 239 engine what all do need to change to a 12 volt as got elc fuel pump on it. thank you gary

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

have starter chane to 12 volt

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Dodge, I saw your spring-resister set up, it works real well... I have a plan to replace the cable from the starter solenoid to starter with a piece of steel strap measured to the length of your spring,
To accomplish the same thing...
When I'm forced to, I guess...
Lots of things like that,
Karl

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Funky Ford....... I installed a GM one wire 6v alt a couple years ago on my '40. I'm not home right now, but will try to remember to look at model number and send to you. I don't have a regulator anymore and it cleaned up all the wiring. Having 6 volts is not a problem. Runs great. I drive it and not show it.

Mike

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

I put on a new wiring harness in 1999 but stayed with 6 volt - added a one-wire alternator later (Certified Auto Electric - Bedford, Ohio). As long as you have clean and tight connections, 6 volt works fine. I have a 12 volt neg grd radio (in glove compartment) that uses a voltage inverter - converts 6 volt pos grd to 12 volt neg grd - don't ask me how!!! My vehicle is a 1952 F1.

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

Mike,

You will probably just find the number for the original GM alternator that was later modified to 6 volts. Why not post the number for all instead of just sending it to him?

Charlie Stephens

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

As far as batteries - stay 6 volt and get an Optima!!

Re: 6 volt change to 12 volt (pros and cons)
 

I use an Interstate heavy duty battery that is same size as original and stayed with 6 volt. New headlight harness and alternator from Certified without a problem.Starts good and bright headlights.