I just noticed that on my 6v '55, the negative battery pole is connected to the ground wire to the block. All accessories etc. work correctly. I am not gutsy enough to just switch the battery connections to "see what happens." Any thoughts on how this can be and what i should do now?

Jim H

Jim H

Jim, my '55 was negative ground when I bought it. Just reverse the battery cables and repolarize the generator like when you replace a regulator. That's it. You would think the starter and fan motors would spin a different direction, but they don't.

  Dennis in Lititz PA

Don't worry about the polarity. You will find if you want to use any modern accessories they are all negative earth.

If everything works fine, just enjoy it.

Regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

Ray:

You took in a little too much territory when you said "all" 6v Fords were positive ground.  Model Ts were negative ground, I'm not sure about Model As.  Seems like positive ground came in with the '32s and the V-8s.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

If it is six volts it should be positive ground. It will run either way. Amp meter will read backwards if switched. Ignition will not be as efficient as coil polarity is will be wrong.

ray

My extreme apologies, Sir. I stand corrected. My experience has been with Ford cars, trucks, tractors, of the mid 1930s vintage up.

ray

Wrap up on the positive ground story:  I switched the battery leads back to positive ground, and repolarized the generator. Everything ran fine and i picked up a BUNCH of performance as the coil had been wired for pos ground and never switched to neg ground when he reversed battery leads. what a difference getting full spark going the right direction! thanks to all.

Jim

Jim H

OK, you just sent shivers down my spine.  I converted my 55 to 12 volts but the negative battery post is still ground.  On my 12 volt coil, one wire goes to the resistor and on to the ignition switch wire and the other coil wire goes to the distributor terminal.  Should the negative wire of the coil go to the resister and on to the ignition lead (battery)?  I have newly rebuilt engine and new carburetor and have had stall/hesitation issues.      

Gary

In your situation you are definitely better off with the negative battery terminal to earth. Your coil needs to have the negative terminal connecting to the distributor. This will probably cure your hesitation issues.

Regards

Rick - West Australia
Do Y Blocks Downunder run upside down? Gravity Sucks!!

OK, thanks!!!

Gary