6 volt or 8 volt??

[graderman]

Hi to somebody!! I just became the owner of a 1938 ford 81a deluxe kar. It has been restored but came with a 8 volt battery! I have had the generator rebuilt should I change it to a 6 volt battery ??? Graderman

[graderman]

Anybody out here?? Talk to me!!!i need information!!!!

[oldford2]

[QUOTE=graderman;1284440]Anybody out here?? Talk to me!!!i need information!!!![/QUOTE]

Well, you post at 7:39 and 5 minutes later you come back with the above panic. Not a good start on Fordbarn in my opinion

[tubman]

[QUOTE=oldford2;1284465]

Originally Posted by graderman

Anybody out here?? Talk to me!!!i need information!!!![/QUOTE]

Well, you post at 7:39 and 5 minutes later you come back with the above panic. Not a good start on Fordbarn in my opinion

Must be used to the H.A.M.B.

[graderman]

Oh!sorry about that!!!!

[C26Pinelake]

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[QUOTE=oldford2;1284465]

Originally Posted by graderman

Anybody out here?? Talk to me!!!i need information!!!![/QUOTE]

Well, you post at 7:39 and 5 minutes later you come back with the above panic. Not a good start on Fordbarn in my opinion

You said what many thought! Wayne

[rotorwrench]

I would say yes. If you are running a 3-brush generator, most definitely. A two brush generator with a regulator should be too. Many folks think the 8 volt battery is the savior for all there electrical problems but it tends to be detrimental in fact. An 8 volt battery needs to be charged at 9-volts to stay hot and the 6-volt system was never designed to put that much voltage out. Light bulbs suffer a rapid decline on 9-volt if you can even get the system to make that much.

[Automotive Stud]

It's a pretty common swap to put an 8v battery in a 6v car to make it easier to start. I wouldn't worry about it unless you are having issues.

[tubman]

Here we go again. Proper sized cables, good grounds and connections, and an 800 CCA Optima. Problem solved, AND you get to keep your light bulbs!

[C26Pinelake]

Originally Posted by tubman

Here we go again. Proper sized cables, good grounds and connections, and an 800 CCA Optima. Problem solved, AND you get to keep your light bulbs!

A great answer! Wayne

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by tubman

Here we go again. Proper sized cables, good grounds and connections, and an 800 CCA Optima. Problem solved, AND you get to keep your light bulbs!

That's the advise I took and being cheap bought a 6v alt when the new looking generator died. The optima and alternator don't look right under the hood but it sure starts good and never worry about winding the battery down if it gets flooded and I have to crank it over. You can go to napa and buy heavy cable by the foot and heavy duty lugs. It is easy to solder the lugs on custom built battery cables.

[woodiewagon46]

Do a search and you will see that this subject has been covered many times. As tubman suggests, make sure ALL your connections including and probably most of all the grounds and a 6 volt battery is fine.

[JSeery]

6 volts is fine, no need for 8 and it just introduces additional problems.

[Charlie Stephens]

I have never felt the need for 8 volts and after reading the posts I don't think I would ever try. Six is fine if the cables are the correct 6 volt size (not the modern 12 volt cables) and all of the grounds are clean. If I changed anything it would be to go to 12 volts negative ground. Do a search for "8 volt". BE SURE TO INCLUDE THE QUOTATION MARKS WHEN YOU DO THE SEARCH. If you still have questions post again.

Charlie Stephens

[Diavolo]

You need to have 2.4V per cell over rated voltage to properly charge any battery. If you have a 8V battery on a 6V charging system, you will NEVER properly keep the battery charged and it will sulfate and die sooner, requiring replacement. Run whatever voltage you want, but have your charging system set up for it. Your charging system will need to put out 9.6V to properly charge the battery.

IMHO, run 6 or 12. Both are common enough to get parts if you're stranded. As said before, if you're having problems 8V is a band aid. Replace your wiring. Unless it was a restoration, I would just run 12 just for the fact someone might need a jump start and 12 is universal.

(I may wrong about the numbers for charging, I'm recalling from memory. If I am off, please correct my numbers.)

[jerry shook]

I changed to 8 volt on two of my cars works great. been several years with no problems. Change to a 8 volt alternator, battery and twek the voltage regulator that all and enjoy your ride.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by jerry shook

Change to a 8 volt alternator, battery and twek the voltage regulator that all and enjoy your ride.

Yup........It should really be easy to find a replacement for that 8v ALTERNATOR on a Sunday afternoon in Butt-lick, Missouri. DD

[DD931]

Some subjects never die!!

[rotorwrench]

If a person going to do a change, why not go all the way and change to 12-volt. This subject gets pounded to death and it boils down to whether you want OEM or Rube Goldberg to fix your problems.

[swanwaco32]

I have made the 8v change for years on old Fords and VW,s. worked on VW,s for 45 years for a living and it works great..!!