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Old 12-11-2011, 06:08 PM   #1
Floridian Flathead
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Default Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

hello:
I have a 37 Ford Sedan and am considering installing a 6 volt alternator so that I can comfortably install some additional electrical loads such as a radio and better lights. I would rather not go to 12 volts. If anyone out there has gone this route with a car up to 1938 and could give me some advise as to what would work well, I would appreciate it.

Thank you,
Rich
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Old 12-11-2011, 06:31 PM   #2
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

I have a 42 and got mine from Certfied Auto Electric in Ohio. They are OK as far as I am concerned. Mine has been working great for 6 years.www.certifiedautoelectric.com
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Old 12-11-2011, 07:23 PM   #3
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

Ed Whitney in Buena Park, CA, can convert your generator to an alternator while maintaining its original appearance. (714) 773-1611.
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Old 12-12-2011, 06:16 AM   #4
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

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I have a 42 and got mine from Certfied Auto Electric in Ohio. They are OK as far as I am concerned. Mine has been working great for 6 years.www.certifiedautoelectric.com
I'm trying to decided whether to stay with 6 volts or get one of their 12 volt units with 63 amps. Do you get enough current at idle to keep the 6V lights bright at night? Their 6V unit is rated at 32A.
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Old 12-12-2011, 11:14 AM   #5
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

I am also running a certified auto electric 6v 50a and works great 4 yrs now
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Old 12-12-2011, 03:02 PM   #6
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

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Also have a 6 volt pos. grd. single wire alternator from Certified - over 6 yrs. now - nary a single problem. Have it in a '52 F1.
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Old 12-12-2011, 07:11 PM   #7
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

I use the original 6V generator in my A, with a 15 amp charge rate, I use the direct fit halogen bulbs from classic and vintage bulbs, the first thing I noticed was that the bulbs didn't go dim at idle like the 50 cp regular bulbs did, and that they used less electric than the 50 cp bulbs ---I cut my charge rate back

when you go to san alternator you will need a smaller pulley to get the speed of the alt up so it will charge at idle, then you spin the fan much faster, that takes more hp, and a much tighter belt, that makes for more waterpump wear, and belt wear ---if you find a 39 2 brush gen with the fan bolt holes in the pulley, and the external regulator you have a 35 amp system that can run 50 watt halogen bulbs, I have 35 watt bulbs in my A, lights signs and reflectors up .3 mile away---makes night driving a joy,much better lights than most 5 year old modern cars with the cloudy plastic lights
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Old 12-13-2011, 04:01 PM   #8
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

i installed a flathead in my modela coupe its 6 volt with a 6o amp alt. i got it at Snyders antique auto parts works great no problems. you can run quartz, halagen, what ever you want.
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Old 12-13-2011, 05:22 PM   #9
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

If using the 6v Alternator does it bolt up to the stock Gen bracket or do you have to have to also purchase a different style bracket for it. I would be more interested in having my original Generator converted to a 6v alternator. That way it still looks original.
Does anyone know what this fellow Ed Whitney charges to do this ?
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Old 12-13-2011, 05:30 PM   #10
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

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Does anyone know what this fellow Ed Whitney charges to do this ?
Last I knew, around $400.
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Old 12-15-2011, 08:21 PM   #11
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

Thanks to all who responded to this question.

Rich
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Old 12-15-2011, 08:29 PM   #12
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

$190.00 for alt. and i think i paid 60 for the bracket at speedway motors the bracket goes on like the original.
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Old 12-15-2011, 09:25 PM   #13
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

Here's a 40 amp 6 volt postive ground alternator with mounting bracket for $215.00:
http://macsautoparts.com/early-v8-al...0R3CHL1113136/

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Old 12-16-2011, 08:00 AM   #14
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

I ordered mine from certified aouto for $130, with the bracket.
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Old 12-16-2011, 08:31 AM   #15
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

Here's a few pictures of the 6 volt POS ground alternators I made for some of my cars. I made 7 of them with 2 extra back plates to carry on trips incase of a problem but have had no problems in 2 years. I used Nippendenso alternator parts with rectifiers and voltage regulator mounted on the rear cap that plugs into the alternator wires. These use the standard Ford pulley and idle at 6.65 volts at a slow idle and come up to 7.5 with just a few RPMs increase. I can adjust the output through a hole in the rear cover. Puts out 30 amps which is plenty for an old Ford. I built a test machine to test them so I know how good they work. These are for my own use only and I'm not interested in selling them. G.M.
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Old 12-19-2011, 12:03 PM   #16
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

Here's what I got from certified auto. Remember the brackets are different from 40-41 to 42-48. Certified was great to do business with.
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Old 12-19-2011, 01:19 PM   #17
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

Heres one I did last year ,A lot of time invested ,it does up to 50 Amps .
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Old 01-10-2012, 09:46 PM   #18
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

Boy that is a beautiful alternator! Is there any chance that you could post a diagram of the conversion process and a parts list? If not, would you SELL the info?

Thanks, DP











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Old 01-10-2012, 09:50 PM   #19
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Default Re: Conversion to 6 volt, positive ground Alternator

Quote:
Originally Posted by G.M. View Post
Here's a few pictures of the 6 volt POS ground alternators I made for some of my cars. I made 7 of them with 2 extra back plates to carry on trips incase of a problem but have had no problems in 2 years. I used Nippendenso alternator parts with rectifiers and voltage regulator mounted on the rear cap that plugs into the alternator wires. These use the standard Ford pulley and idle at 6.65 volts at a slow idle and come up to 7.5 with just a few RPMs increase. I can adjust the output through a hole in the rear cover. Puts out 30 amps which is plenty for an old Ford. I built a test machine to test them so I know how good they work. These are for my own use only and I'm not interested in selling them. G.M.
Any chance you could elaborate on how you did it, and perhaps provide a diagram?
Thanks, dp
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