The Ford Barn

48Flyer · 05-23-2012, 09:58 AM

So the guy who owned my mercury before me, cut all of the wires and removed the dash!
i want to rewire the entire vehicle to 12 volts
What do I need to do as far as the ignition system? points, condensor, coil?
i plan on running a gm alternator mounted in the original generator spot
This is my first conversion so any help would be great.
Thanks

flathead 53 · 05-23-2012, 11:40 AM

personal opinion, nothing wrong with keeping six volt system just need good grounds and a good battery,kept six volt on my 53 everything works fine.

wga · 05-23-2012, 11:40 AM

Please do a search of this subject on this forum and you will find a plethora of info.

48Flyer · 05-23-2012, 11:47 AM

I dont have a problem with the 6 volt sytem either, but the last guy CUT all of the wires.
I would never rewire a complete car back to 6 volt once it has been removed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flathead 53

personal opinion, nothing wrong with keeping six volt system just need good grounds and a good battery,kept six volt on my 53 everything works fine.

Charlie Stephens · 05-23-2012, 11:49 AM

Unless you are building a street rod with custom gauges I would just order the reproduction 6 volt wiring and use it. The 6 volt wire is larger diameter than the 12 volt. I would have the original generator rebuilt for 12 volts and run it. You will need to replace the coil with one for 12 volts (or have yours rebuilt by skip) and should have the starter changed to 12 volts. I think the points and condenser should work but would gladly accept corrections to this last comment.

Charlie Stephens

Bruce Lancaster · 05-23-2012, 11:55 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Points and condenser will be find. Ford 12V gen case can be swapped onto old front, 12 regulator goes into original holes and wires same way. If alternator, main wire goes to where BAT terminal on regulator hooked in. Buy a coil and matching resistor from good brand like Echlin or standard, order both for same application like common '56-61 Ford or such.

joe plumber · 05-23-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wga

Please do a search of this subject on this forum and you will find a plethora of info.

So true ,one of the best things I ever did was change over to 12 volts .JMO

rotorwrench · 05-23-2012, 01:18 PM

Check thid outfit out. They have a good booklet on the subject and they can answer a lot of your questions. http://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/index.html

You can wire it with the old style cloth wire or wire it with later type vinyl insulated wire. Painless makes generic harnesses but I've never used one. The bad thing about making your own is you have to make your own diagram and use colors to suit. It's easy to get solid color wires but the tracer multi colored are a little more difficult to find. It will certainly be a lot of work no mater which way you go.

A lot of the alternator brackets made for the Ford or GM types have to be adapted to work right. I've seen it done successfully many times but I don't think any supplier has a bolt on kit that need no mods to work correctly and align the belt right.

34PKUP · 05-23-2012, 03:19 PM

Here's a schematic that may help.

perrysmith · 05-23-2012, 07:51 PM

Also, some recommend changing all your lightbulbs. I am not sure if the change will cause them to burn out, but many say so.

paul2748 · 05-23-2012, 08:48 PM

I changed my 54 to 12V negative grounds. Your light switch, ignition switch will take 12V easily if in good condition. All other switches such as the heater blower switch will need a voltage drop. All light bulbs will have to be changed.

No change in the distrubutor, stock points s/b ok, not sure about the condensor.

If you don't care about originality, then go with an aftermarket harness. Lots of them on the market, Ron Francis, American Autowire are among the best.

If you want originality, then use a replacement harness and use it with 12 volts.

05-23-2012, 09:58 AM	#1
48Flyer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: North of Minneapolis, MN Posts: 160	6 to 12 volt conversion So the guy who owned my mercury before me, cut all of the wires and removed the dash! i want to rewire the entire vehicle to 12 volts What do I need to do as far as the ignition system? points, condensor, coil? i plan on running a gm alternator mounted in the original generator spot This is my first conversion so any help would be great. Thanks

05-23-2012, 11:40 AM	#2
flathead 53 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: central nj Posts: 717	Re: 6 to 12 volt conversion personal opinion, nothing wrong with keeping six volt system just need good grounds and a good battery,kept six volt on my 53 everything works fine.

05-23-2012, 11:40 AM	#3
wga Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorba Linda, CA Posts: 897	Re: 6 to 12 volt conversion Please do a search of this subject on this forum and you will find a plethora of info. __________________ Henry Ford designed the flathead without the aid of a computer.

05-23-2012, 11:49 AM	#5
Charlie Stephens Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,031	Re: 6 to 12 volt conversion Unless you are building a street rod with custom gauges I would just order the reproduction 6 volt wiring and use it. The 6 volt wire is larger diameter than the 12 volt. I would have the original generator rebuilt for 12 volts and run it. You will need to replace the coil with one for 12 volts (or have yours rebuilt by skip) and should have the starter changed to 12 volts. I think the points and condenser should work but would gladly accept corrections to this last comment. Charlie Stephens

05-23-2012, 11:55 AM	#6
Bruce Lancaster Member Emeritus Join Date: May 2010 Location: Madison, NJ Posts: 5,230	Re: 6 to 12 volt conversion Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Points and condenser will be find. Ford 12V gen case can be swapped onto old front, 12 regulator goes into original holes and wires same way. If alternator, main wire goes to where BAT terminal on regulator hooked in. Buy a coil and matching resistor from good brand like Echlin or standard, order both for same application like common '56-61 Ford or such.

05-23-2012, 01:18 PM	#8
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: 6 to 12 volt conversion Check thid outfit out. They have a good booklet on the subject and they can answer a lot of your questions. http://www.fifthaveinternetgarage.com/index.html You can wire it with the old style cloth wire or wire it with later type vinyl insulated wire. Painless makes generic harnesses but I've never used one. The bad thing about making your own is you have to make your own diagram and use colors to suit. It's easy to get solid color wires but the tracer multi colored are a little more difficult to find. It will certainly be a lot of work no mater which way you go. A lot of the alternator brackets made for the Ford or GM types have to be adapted to work right. I've seen it done successfully many times but I don't think any supplier has a bolt on kit that need no mods to work correctly and align the belt right.

05-23-2012, 03:19 PM	#9
34PKUP Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 794	Re: 6 to 12 volt conversion Here's a schematic that may help.

05-23-2012, 07:51 PM	#10
perrysmith Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 285	Re: 6 to 12 volt conversion Also, some recommend changing all your lightbulbs. I am not sure if the change will cause them to burn out, but many say so.

05-23-2012, 08:48 PM	#11
paul2748 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Midland Park, NJ Posts: 3,982	Re: 6 to 12 volt conversion I changed my 54 to 12V negative grounds. Your light switch, ignition switch will take 12V easily if in good condition. All other switches such as the heater blower switch will need a voltage drop. All light bulbs will have to be changed. No change in the distrubutor, stock points s/b ok, not sure about the condensor. If you don't care about originality, then go with an aftermarket harness. Lots of them on the market, Ron Francis, American Autowire are among the best. If you want originality, then use a replacement harness and use it with 12 volts.