The Ford Barn - View Single Post - 12volt conversion question ballast resistor

Purdy Swoft · 12-02-2013, 11:58 AM

Here we go again!!!The best and easiest way to go with the coil is to use a coil that is rated at 3.0 OHM. With a 3.0 ohm coil you won't need a resistor because the resistor is built in. Coils are no longer refered to by voltage but by OHM . If you go 12 volt negative ground you will need to reverse the wires behind the ammeter and at the coil, connect the battery negative ground and thats it for the wiring. The halogen bulbs that fit original sockets are mostly 35 watt. If the reflectors are correct they will be bright and should focus. I bought a set of reflectors that didn't have the correct shape and could not be focused so I don't recommend that setup. If you want the brightest focused headlamps use the quartz halogen kit from Brattons. This kit is complete with reflectors and are 60/55 watt and are as bright as modern car headlamps. The part number for this 12 volt kit is 17850 the price is $97.00 and is on page 79 of the currant Brattons catalog. You will need the 60 amp alternator for this setup The starter will work fine on 12 volts with no mods. If the ring gear on the flywheel or the starter drive is worn out it will sooner or later give problems no matter what the voltage. I do recommend and use the new barrel starter drive because it has no bolts that will drop off in the flywheel housing like the old bendix drive. As for points and condenser, they don't know the difference in voltage and will work with six or twelve volt. I recommend the original style points and condenser. I had nothing but problems with the MAKE SHIFT V8 points setup. So much trouble that If I had to use the V8 points setup I would quit the hobby. Some are willing to spend over twice as much for a better brand of V8 points. The way that I see it is there is no advantage with the V8 set up and they are a real pain in the @$$ to adjust.

The same headlamp setup is available in six volt and there is a six voit 60 alternator. With 12 volts you have power to spare. A slightly weak 6 volt battery usually won't have the power to spin the starter and fire the points at the same time. Its your car and your money. This is what has worked for me.

12-02-2013, 11:58 AM	#13
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: 12volt conversion question ballast resistor Here we go again!!!The best and easiest way to go with the coil is to use a coil that is rated at 3.0 OHM. With a 3.0 ohm coil you won't need a resistor because the resistor is built in. Coils are no longer refered to by voltage but by OHM . If you go 12 volt negative ground you will need to reverse the wires behind the ammeter and at the coil, connect the battery negative ground and thats it for the wiring. The halogen bulbs that fit original sockets are mostly 35 watt. If the reflectors are correct they will be bright and should focus. I bought a set of reflectors that didn't have the correct shape and could not be focused so I don't recommend that setup. If you want the brightest focused headlamps use the quartz halogen kit from Brattons. This kit is complete with reflectors and are 60/55 watt and are as bright as modern car headlamps. The part number for this 12 volt kit is 17850 the price is $97.00 and is on page 79 of the currant Brattons catalog. You will need the 60 amp alternator for this setup The starter will work fine on 12 volts with no mods. If the ring gear on the flywheel or the starter drive is worn out it will sooner or later give problems no matter what the voltage. I do recommend and use the new barrel starter drive because it has no bolts that will drop off in the flywheel housing like the old bendix drive. As for points and condenser, they don't know the difference in voltage and will work with six or twelve volt. I recommend the original style points and condenser. I had nothing but problems with the MAKE SHIFT V8 points setup. So much trouble that If I had to use the V8 points setup I would quit the hobby. Some are willing to spend over twice as much for a better brand of V8 points. The way that I see it is there is no advantage with the V8 set up and they are a real pain in the @$$ to adjust. The same headlamp setup is available in six volt and there is a six voit 60 alternator. With 12 volts you have power to spare. A slightly weak 6 volt battery usually won't have the power to spin the starter and fire the points at the same time. Its your car and your money. This is what has worked for me.