What would happen to my electrics if I replaced my 6v battery with a 12v & did nothing else?

Car is standard & dont want to deviate too much from original. Turns over slowly with a 6v & takes a while to start, I have fitted a hidden electric fuel pump with a new mech. pump, replaced all battery, engine & chassis earths with heavy duty cable, tested starter motor, but still slow to turn over. It does start but I am afraid of being caught west of the black stump when it wont.

Is there something I could hook up to a 12v battery that would start it on 9v & then return it to 6v to power the electrics ?

Hoping for a miracle,

Cliff Donnon

South Australia

Cliff,



What kind of starter "test"? Unless the brushes are fresh and the battery is very good (I get a new 6V/850CCA Optima every 5 years, and keep one on a special charger designed for that type), you can't eliminate those as a cause for slow cranking.

I HAVE seen cases where 55s with hopped-up/high CR motors had fabricated battery trays that held two 6V Optimas in Parallel (they ARE small). Likely not really necessary, but still a simple way to add starting insurance compared to 12V conversion.

My car had an 8V battery when I got it. Obviously, the previous owner never took it out at night, since the first time I did, it blew the headlights.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Daniel, you said "and keep one on a special charger designed for that type".



I also use an Optima 6volt and it works great. I have not had to charge mine with anything but the car's generator as of yet, but only have your average auto store style of 8 - 10 amp charger. I looked at the Optima website and they do have chargers designed for the 12 volt ones, but I did not find any for 6's??? What kind do you use? Thanks, Tom



Tom from the chiggerfarm located in the beautiful Heart of Central Texas

When you cannot dazzle others with your brilliance, baffle them with bullcorn!

Thunder down under:

In answer to your question, if you simply put a 12 volt battery in your car without other changes, you will find that the 6 volt generator will not charge it, and you will likely blow all your light bulbs.  Your radio won't like 12 volts, and your heater/power window/power seat motors will run much faster than designed.  Your temp and fuel gauges will possibly read higher than normal.

I have a friend who installed a 12 volt battery behind the seat on the shelf, and a 12V starter solenoid.  He wired that battery through the solenoid directly to the starter.  I think he also left the 6V starter cable connected to the starter.  I assume he wired the 12 volt with a positive ground to avoid any possible crossover currents.  He wired the solenoid to a push button switch.  To start the car, he turned on the ignition switch and pushed the starter button.  Cranked the engine with 12 volts without any surges in the original system.  Only downside was that he had to charge the 12V battery occasionally with his battery charger.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Cliff, If I'm understanding your question you want to replace your 6v with a 12v battery? How were you proposing to charge the 12v with a 6v charging system.



My take on situations like yours is to ask myself 'Did it work when it was new?' Then I find out why it is not working now, not redesign the system.



Probably not the answer you wanted, but as usual just my 1¢ worth...

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

haha, John, you beat me by an RCH!!

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

MC:

A RED one???

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Red ones are thinner...

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

Some people say that even back in the day the 55's had a starting problem when they got a year or two old???? Even those that have been restored have the problems you have.



Probably half the 55's today have been converted to 12 volts. I say go all the way and make a full conversion. You can''t completely enjoy the car the way it is so change it. Have fun with the car.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Tom,



Go to the 'BatteryPlex.com' site. Ordered my Optima from there, and also the specialized AGM 6V charger: (Interacter EX0606)



Paul,



Never had a starting problem that a fresh battery & starter didn't fix. Proper sized cables, clean grounds, and a carb that doesn't flood when hot is all it takes otherwise. Unless you have to run a lot of 12V accessories, I just don't see the point.

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA