The Ford Barn

Jembow · 01-08-2022, 10:28 AM

My battery just died. Is now the time to think of 12v? Bearing in mind this is a 23,000 mile original paint & interior car and bone stock otherwise.

19Fordy · 01-08-2022, 11:03 AM

It depends on if you want to keep your car "original" as Ford made it. If it's running fine on 6V keep it as it is. Converting to 12V will entail more than just changing the battery, as you know.

deuce_roadster · 01-08-2022, 11:24 AM

When everything is the way it is supposed to be, 6 volts is just as good as 12. IMO, it would be a shame to change in your particular car. Of the 5 cars I have that run flatheads, only 1, the avatar roadster, uses 12v.

Bill OH · 01-08-2022, 11:52 AM

Replace with an Optima 6v - good battery. I have had mine since 7/10. No problems and it has a lot punch.

Anteek29 · 01-08-2022, 12:13 PM

6V OPTIMA Time!

Jembow · 01-08-2022, 12:38 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Thanks for the opinions, my gut feeling is to stay 6v. I have an Optima on my Model A and that's the route I will go.

slowforty · 01-08-2022, 02:06 PM

6 volt Optima are available on Amazon. Get a good discount if you sign up for the credit card

Floyd · 01-08-2022, 02:16 PM

The car was designed for 6 V, it was built for 6 V, it operated for 60 + years just fine with 6 V.
If the car could actually vote and have a say in this discussion, I think it would prefer to stay the way it is. Everything is fine, new 6V (Optima) solves everything.
Changing everything would be your idea, not the car. Also no logic in doing that.
Looking at this another way, what would you think about having your grand kids deciding to uproot you and change everything in your life just because they wanted to.
I don't think that would go over so good.
Go out and ask the car what it wants.
Simple.

aussie merc · 01-08-2022, 04:39 PM

these days there is no reason to change unlike years ago when 6v was rare Now there is just so much available it doesn't make sense

Tudie 36 · 01-08-2022, 06:16 PM

Like all these answers

sugarmaker · 01-08-2022, 06:32 PM

Bone stock and original with good systems and just a bad battery. Yea I vote for getting the improved battery system, which I assume the battery mentioned is improved over a std 6 volt. Also If the wiring and all the systems worked prior to battery going south I sure would not plan to change. Changing to 12 volt requires a lot of things to be changed as mentioned.
Just two more pennies!
Sounds like a awesome car you have we need more pictures too!
Regards,
Chris

Nailhead Jeff · 01-08-2022, 09:17 PM

Get a good 6-volt battery. They mage a 550 CCA AGM 6 volt that looks pretty original

Lawson Cox · 01-08-2022, 09:20 PM

Stay stock 6V. Go for an Optima red top.

mhsprecher · 01-09-2022, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slowforty

6 volt Optima are available on Amazon. Get a good discount if you sign up for the credit card

I looked on Amazon. $561. I don't think so. Advance Auto has them for $224 plus core charge. This is for Group 1. Don't Fords use Group 2?

Mart · 01-09-2022, 02:34 PM

Jembow is in England.

ktgarcia · 01-10-2022, 02:10 PM

I considered converting my 1939 truck to 12 volt and finally decided that it worked back in 1939 so why change. Thus, I kept everything as stock as I possibly could. No regrets on doing that. When rebuilding the electrical wires, I soldered all connections. I kept the rebuilt generator and rebuilt coil and I haven't had any problems with starting. It does take more cranking after sitting through the winter, but once started, starts right up with 6 volt. Just my two cents.

I also wanted to share with fellow FordBarner's. I finally found a picture of my truck sitting in front of my parents house back in 1966?? Was truly a love to restore as it was the truck I learned to drive in. Hard to believe it has been 55+ years. A lot of the damage on the truck was the result of my brother. I remember my father putting snow in the bed in the winter to assist traction.
I also remember sitting on the fenders around the headlights.

Hope these pictures come through. Kind of a rookie in uploading pictures.

20201004_182708 (2).jpg

ktgarcia · 01-10-2022, 02:16 PM

My followup picture.

ktgarcia · 01-10-2022, 02:18 PM

Apologies, I need to figure out why my picture of the truck today won't upload.

ktgarcia · 01-10-2022, 02:30 PM

Maybe this will come through.

V8COOPMAN · 01-10-2022, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktgarcia

Maybe this will come through.

So, that's the SAME truck? If so, you done really GOOD! DD

01-08-2022, 10:28 AM	#1
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	12volt or not? My battery just died. Is now the time to think of 12v? Bearing in mind this is a 23,000 mile original paint & interior car and bone stock otherwise.

01-08-2022, 11:03 AM	#2
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,933	Re: 12volt or not? It depends on if you want to keep your car "original" as Ford made it. If it's running fine on 6V keep it as it is. Converting to 12V will entail more than just changing the battery, as you know.

01-08-2022, 11:24 AM	#3
deuce_roadster Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Shelton, WA Posts: 3,800	Re: 12volt or not? When everything is the way it is supposed to be, 6 volts is just as good as 12. IMO, it would be a shame to change in your particular car. Of the 5 cars I have that run flatheads, only 1, the avatar roadster, uses 12v.

01-08-2022, 11:52 AM	#4
Bill OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 425	Re: 12volt or not? Replace with an Optima 6v - good battery. I have had mine since 7/10. No problems and it has a lot punch.

01-08-2022, 12:13 PM	#5
Anteek29 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Santa Maria, CA Posts: 985	Re: 12volt or not? 6V OPTIMA Time! __________________ Alan 1929 Special Coupe 1941 Pick-Up 1955 Victoria

01-08-2022, 12:38 PM	#6
Jembow Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Spalding, United Kingdom Posts: 306	Re: 12volt or not? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Thanks for the opinions, my gut feeling is to stay 6v. I have an Optima on my Model A and that's the route I will go.

01-08-2022, 02:06 PM	#7
slowforty Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Tinley Park Ill Posts: 1,060	Re: 12volt or not? 6 volt Optima are available on Amazon. Get a good discount if you sign up for the credit card

01-08-2022, 02:16 PM	#8
Floyd Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 468	Re: 12volt or not? The car was designed for 6 V, it was built for 6 V, it operated for 60 + years just fine with 6 V. If the car could actually vote and have a say in this discussion, I think it would prefer to stay the way it is. Everything is fine, new 6V (Optima) solves everything. Changing everything would be your idea, not the car. Also no logic in doing that. Looking at this another way, what would you think about having your grand kids deciding to uproot you and change everything in your life just because they wanted to. I don't think that would go over so good. Go out and ask the car what it wants. Simple.

01-08-2022, 04:39 PM	#9
aussie merc Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: sydney australia Posts: 1,033	Re: 12volt or not? these days there is no reason to change unlike years ago when 6v was rare Now there is just so much available it doesn't make sense

01-08-2022, 06:16 PM	#10
Tudie 36 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Rockford, Tennessee Posts: 108	Re: 12volt or not? Like all these answers

01-08-2022, 06:32 PM	#11
sugarmaker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Albion PA Posts: 1,677	Re: 12volt or not? Bone stock and original with good systems and just a bad battery. Yea I vote for getting the improved battery system, which I assume the battery mentioned is improved over a std 6 volt. Also If the wiring and all the systems worked prior to battery going south I sure would not plan to change. Changing to 12 volt requires a lot of things to be changed as mentioned. Just two more pennies! Sounds like a awesome car you have we need more pictures too! Regards, Chris __________________ 1932 AAB Truck 1953 Ford Jubilee 2015 Ford F250 SuperCrew Lots of Allis tractors Some Cub Cadets

01-08-2022, 09:17 PM	#12
Nailhead Jeff Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 10	Re: 12volt or not? Get a good 6-volt battery. They mage a 550 CCA AGM 6 volt that looks pretty original

01-08-2022, 09:20 PM	#13
Lawson Cox Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Above the gnat line in Georgia Posts: 7,009	Re: 12volt or not? Stay stock 6V. Go for an Optima red top. __________________ Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer to the end, the faster it goes. It is better to be seen, than viewed. "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm".

01-09-2022, 02:34 PM	#15
Mart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Solihull, England. Posts: 8,747	Re: 12volt or not? Jembow is in England.

01-10-2022, 02:10 PM	#16
ktgarcia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nevada Posts: 115	Re: 12volt or not? I considered converting my 1939 truck to 12 volt and finally decided that it worked back in 1939 so why change. Thus, I kept everything as stock as I possibly could. No regrets on doing that. When rebuilding the electrical wires, I soldered all connections. I kept the rebuilt generator and rebuilt coil and I haven't had any problems with starting. It does take more cranking after sitting through the winter, but once started, starts right up with 6 volt. Just my two cents. I also wanted to share with fellow FordBarner's. I finally found a picture of my truck sitting in front of my parents house back in 1966?? Was truly a love to restore as it was the truck I learned to drive in. Hard to believe it has been 55+ years. A lot of the damage on the truck was the result of my brother. I remember my father putting snow in the bed in the winter to assist traction. I also remember sitting on the fenders around the headlights. Hope these pictures come through. Kind of a rookie in uploading pictures. 20201004_182708 (2).jpg

01-10-2022, 02:16 PM	#17
ktgarcia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nevada Posts: 115	Re: 12volt or not? My followup picture. Last edited by ktgarcia; 01-10-2022 at 02:16 PM. Reason: need to update picture

01-10-2022, 02:18 PM	#18
ktgarcia Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Nevada Posts: 115	Re: 12volt or not? Apologies, I need to figure out why my picture of the truck today won't upload.