The Ford Barn

JAKEFORD · 09-11-2015, 06:42 PM

The old charging systems need some rpm to charge the battery. At idle it was usually discharging.

koates · 09-12-2015, 12:09 AM

The main drawback with an 8 volt battery fitted in a 6 volt car or truck was the shorter life of light bulbs. The stop light globes usually go first because they are on and off all the time. Having said that there are good reasons for 8 volt as well. Back in the 1960s when many 1930s and 1940s engines had been reconditioned and were a bit tight especially when hot and would not crank very fast, then the 8 volt battery solved the problem. Other times when other equipment such as tractors and farm equipment sat out in the winter and were slow cranking then 8 volts fixed it. Ive fitted quite a few 8 volt batteries in my time and they are good. Very little extra current was drawn by the ignition coil and there was never a problem with early ford V8s and their resistors in that regard. BUT a 6 volt system is very good as long as everything is correct as it was built when new. An 8 volt system actually runs on approx. 10 volts and therefore the voltage regulator would require adjusting to suit. Horses for courses as they say. Regards, Kevin.

G.M. · 09-12-2015, 08:47 AM

6 volts with LARGE cables, good, clean battery connections and clean grounds.
Plus the engines tuned properly. These cars do not require spinning of the engine to start. They should start on the first or second revolution. One of the biggest problems
is 12 volt cables are being sold for these 6 volt cars. Check the size of the copper not
the OD of the covering. G.M.

Johnnydidd · 09-12-2015, 09:22 AM

I have a 6 v in my 53 mercury with automatic starts ok turns slow but starts. If I rewire it I will change it to 12 v. My 53 Victoria is 12 v all is good. I remember the old tractors had magnets so 8 v didn't bother anything

billwill · 09-12-2015, 09:25 AM

napa has 8 VOLT batteries good luck

G.M. · 09-12-2015, 01:21 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnydidd

I have a 6 v in my 53 mercury with automatic starts ok turns slow but starts. If I rewire it I will change it to 12 v. My 53 Victoria is 12 v all is good. I remember the old tractors had magnets so 8 v didn't bother anything

If it turns slow the problem is the size of the battery cables, starter,
solenoid or dirty connections including grounds. These are all easy
fixes and easy to identify. G.M.

ArcLighter · 03-14-2016, 03:36 PM

'53 Ford V-8, turned good when cold, hard to turn over & start when hot. Took starter off -> aircraft starter repair shop. Shop will rebuild to aircraft standards; mech guarantees that starter was bad. Vicky had BIG battery & "0" gauge cables, good grounds. Rebuild shop was aware of some using 8V. battery; strongly advised against it. Starting okay when cold, not okay when hot is common problem with planes; starter rebuild always works.

flatheadfan · 03-14-2016, 03:45 PM

I have often heard that an 8 volt battery is super hard on 6 volt bulbs. Also, how is the battery charging handled? Will a 6 volt generator charge an 8 volt battery?

Tom

ArcLighter · 03-14-2016, 03:53 PM

Everyone I know has advised against using an 8V. battery in a 6V. vehicle; same as trying to put a square peg into a round hole.

NSDWS · 03-14-2016, 04:43 PM

I don't know if its good or bad but I have an 8v Optma in my 39. I did not put it there was put in by former owner along with a lot of other new stuff. What I find strange is that the top of the battery has 4 lugs. 2 + and 2-. Whats up with that? The car starts the second I hit the button hot or cold. Will I keep it I see no reason not to.

petehoovie · 03-14-2016, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NSDWS

I don't know if its good or bad but I have an 8v Optma in my 39. I did not put it there was put in by former owner along with a lot of other new stuff. What I find strange is that the top of the battery has 4 lugs. 2 + and 2-. Whats up with that? The car starts the second I hit the button hot or cold. Will I keep it I see no reason not to.

NSDWS,

Can you provide us with the model number/part number of the Optima battery you have?

rotorwrench · 03-14-2016, 05:36 PM

It was probably for a golf car. They hook them in series to get the higher voltages needed to run the go motor.

NSDWS · 03-14-2016, 06:27 PM

I'll see what I can do tomorrow It has a wrap around it with a cover on it

09-11-2015, 06:42 PM	#21
JAKEFORD Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eastern Pennsylvania Posts: 154	Re: 8 Volt Batteries The old charging systems need some rpm to charge the battery. At idle it was usually discharging.

09-12-2015, 12:09 AM	#22
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,079	Re: 8 Volt Batteries The main drawback with an 8 volt battery fitted in a 6 volt car or truck was the shorter life of light bulbs. The stop light globes usually go first because they are on and off all the time. Having said that there are good reasons for 8 volt as well. Back in the 1960s when many 1930s and 1940s engines had been reconditioned and were a bit tight especially when hot and would not crank very fast, then the 8 volt battery solved the problem. Other times when other equipment such as tractors and farm equipment sat out in the winter and were slow cranking then 8 volts fixed it. Ive fitted quite a few 8 volt batteries in my time and they are good. Very little extra current was drawn by the ignition coil and there was never a problem with early ford V8s and their resistors in that regard. BUT a 6 volt system is very good as long as everything is correct as it was built when new. An 8 volt system actually runs on approx. 10 volts and therefore the voltage regulator would require adjusting to suit. Horses for courses as they say. Regards, Kevin.

09-12-2015, 08:47 AM	#23
G.M. Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florida and Penna. Posts: 4,471	Re: 8 Volt Batteries 6 volts with LARGE cables, good, clean battery connections and clean grounds. Plus the engines tuned properly. These cars do not require spinning of the engine to start. They should start on the first or second revolution. One of the biggest problems is 12 volt cables are being sold for these 6 volt cars. Check the size of the copper not the OD of the covering. G.M. __________________ www.fordcollector.com

09-12-2015, 09:22 AM	#24
Johnnydidd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Overland Park, Ks Posts: 559	Re: 8 Volt Batteries I have a 6 v in my 53 mercury with automatic starts ok turns slow but starts. If I rewire it I will change it to 12 v. My 53 Victoria is 12 v all is good. I remember the old tractors had magnets so 8 v didn't bother anything

09-12-2015, 09:25 AM	#25
billwill Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: capemaynewjersey Posts: 653	Re: 8 Volt Batteries napa has 8 VOLT batteries good luck

03-14-2016, 03:36 PM	#27
ArcLighter Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Memphis Posts: 36	Re: 8 Volt Batteries '53 Ford V-8, turned good when cold, hard to turn over & start when hot. Took starter off -> aircraft starter repair shop. Shop will rebuild to aircraft standards; mech guarantees that starter was bad. Vicky had BIG battery & "0" gauge cables, good grounds. Rebuild shop was aware of some using 8V. battery; strongly advised against it. Starting okay when cold, not okay when hot is common problem with planes; starter rebuild always works.

03-14-2016, 03:45 PM	#28
flatheadfan Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: West Michigan Posts: 1,218	Re: 8 Volt Batteries I have often heard that an 8 volt battery is super hard on 6 volt bulbs. Also, how is the battery charging handled? Will a 6 volt generator charge an 8 volt battery? Tom

03-14-2016, 03:53 PM	#29
ArcLighter Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Memphis Posts: 36	Re: 8 Volt Batteries Everyone I know has advised against using an 8V. battery in a 6V. vehicle; same as trying to put a square peg into a round hole.

03-14-2016, 04:43 PM	#30
NSDWS Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 33	Re: 8 Volt Batteries I don't know if its good or bad but I have an 8v Optma in my 39. I did not put it there was put in by former owner along with a lot of other new stuff. What I find strange is that the top of the battery has 4 lugs. 2 + and 2-. Whats up with that? The car starts the second I hit the button hot or cold. Will I keep it I see no reason not to. __________________ Doug

03-14-2016, 05:36 PM	#32
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,431	Re: 8 Volt Batteries It was probably for a golf car. They hook them in series to get the higher voltages needed to run the go motor.

03-14-2016, 06:27 PM	#33
NSDWS Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Huntersville, NC Posts: 33	Re: 8 Volt Batteries I'll see what I can do tomorrow It has a wrap around it with a cover on it __________________ Doug