Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Early V8 (1932-53)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-23-2020, 09:40 PM   #1
Cadillac Bill
Member
 
Cadillac Bill's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Stone Mountain Georgia
Posts: 44
Default My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

My friend BB has a 53 Mercury and thinking about upgrading to a 12v system.

Pros and Cons?

Your opinion?
Cadillac Bill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 09:48 PM   #2
Jack E/NJ
Senior Member
 
Jack E/NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,171
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Tell your friend to google the keywords pros and cons to upgrade from 6 volt to 12volt system

8^) Jack E/NJ
Jack E/NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 12-23-2020, 09:51 PM   #3
Joe Immler
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Massillon, Ohio
Posts: 783
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

I have had my restored 1941 Coupe for 30 years. It is 6 volt. I have had no reason to convert to 12 volt. I changed my tail lights to LED as they were very dim. Fabulous now.
I put my battery on a trickle charger when I put the car away for winter. I bought the battery new in 2013 and it is still just fine. If one cares for and maintains a 6 volt system
all seems well. The only reason I can see going to 12 volt would be to upgrade to a good radio or something.
Joe Immler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 10:07 PM   #4
whizzernick
Senior Member
 
whizzernick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Hayward Ca
Posts: 635
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

very easy to change to 12 v (I use original generator with cut out--My car is a 1933 ) generator charges 12v battery just fine I drove my 1933 roadster to grand national meet in 1983 (and many other meets ) YOUR 41 you might have to get a 12 volt gen and regulator . ( I think a late ford gen and regulator will work ( other barners would know )
I use original coil ( I just add a resistor to original resistor) I use 65 mustang resistor (must keep it FORD )
change all light bulbs
easy to change back --- + or - ground --- I keep battery tenders on most of the time.
The good (brighter lights ) easy to get a new battery---- easy to change back if you want--- easy on older wireing ( 12 volts is 1/2 the amps ) cell phone charger --- modern radio ( you can hid it )
whizzernick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-23-2020, 10:47 PM   #5
skidmarks
Senior Member
 
skidmarks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: newark, delaware
Posts: 3,735
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

The only con, and ive had it happen a couple times. If you keep the 6v starter, putting 12v to it can break the bendix spring.
A big plus is 12v batteries are easy to get and tend to last longer and easier to jump start.
skidmarks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 12:16 PM   #6
johndee138
Senior Member
 
johndee138's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Atlanta GA
Posts: 505
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Not to mention the aftermarket backup cameras, cigar lighter driven accessories, like a fan for the driver, phone charger, etc, etc.
I LOVE the cigar lighter driven rear view camera for my car, it is priceless and only cost $40 on amazon.
I also rigged up a 12v boat bilge pump fan to an intercooler submerged in an ice chest for the hot summer days. Poor mans air conditioning!
I did swap my starter for a 12v one, the 6v hit so hard on 12v that I was afraid it would break in the most inopportune time, like when the wife and I were off somewhere inconvenient
johndee138 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 12:56 PM   #7
McMimmcs
Senior Member
 
McMimmcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ View Post
Tell your friend to google the keywords pros and cons to upgrade from 6 volt to 12volt system

8^) Jack E/NJ
I agree and it will keep him busy a while !
McMimmcs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 01:51 PM   #8
51 MERC-CT
Senior Member
 
51 MERC-CT's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Hartford, Ct
Posts: 5,898
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Quote:
Originally Posted by skidmarks View Post
The only con, and ive had it happen a couple times. If you keep the 6v starter, putting 12v to it can break the bendix spring.
A big plus is 12v batteries are easy to get and tend to last longer and easier to jump start.
And what accounts for all the bendix springs that have broken while the starter was being powered with 6 volts?
__________________
DON'T RECALL DOING SOMETHING FOR MYSELF BASED ON SOMEONE ELSE'S LIKES OR DISLIKES
51 MERC-CT is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 02:08 PM   #9
36fordguy
Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 73
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

easier to change to LED bulbs Better lighting and less power 36fordguy
36fordguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 03:03 PM   #10
skidmarks
Senior Member
 
skidmarks's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: newark, delaware
Posts: 3,735
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Quote:
Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT View Post
And what accounts for all the bendix springs that have broken while the starter was being powered with 6 volts?
Age
skidmarks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 04:38 PM   #11
Jack E/NJ
Senior Member
 
Jack E/NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,171
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

51 MERC-CT>>>what accounts for all the bendix springs that have broken while the starter was being powered with 6 volts?>>>


skidmarks>>>Age>>>


My starter spent the first 21 years of its life cranking its 21-studder on 6v. Then another 3 years on 12v. Then it rested 48 years; it was incompatible with a SBC. For the last 10 years it's been cranking its 21-studder again on 12v. So if my calculations are correct, proof-positive that its bendix has lasted 8 years longer on 6v than 12v so far. 8^) Jack E/NJ
Jack E/NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 04:39 PM   #12
Strick
Senior Member
 
Strick's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Marietta, GA
Posts: 1,097
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

sent you a PM about your friend's 53 Mercury
__________________
1940 Mercury

Looking for DENVER heads - 81AS - 99AS - 19AS
Strick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-24-2020, 11:50 PM   #13
JM 35 Sedan
Senior Member
 
JM 35 Sedan's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Near Rising Sun, Maryland
Posts: 10,856
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Quote:
Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT View Post
And what accounts for all the bendix springs that have broken while the starter was being powered with 6 volts?
Murphy's general laws

• Nothing is as easy as it looks.
• Everything takes longer than you think.
• Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
• If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong. Corollary: If there is a worse time for something to go wrong, it will happen then.
• If anything simply cannot go wrong, it will anyway.
• If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which a procedure can go wrong, and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop.
• Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
• If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
• Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.
• Mother nature is a bitch.
• It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious.
• Whenever you set out to do something, something else must be done first.
• The Light at the end of the tunnel is only the light of an oncoming train.
__________________
John

"Never give up on what you really want to do. The person with big dreams is more powerful than one with all the facts". Albert Einstein
JM 35 Sedan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2020, 11:37 AM   #14
Zeke3
Senior Member
 
Zeke3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Columbus, IN
Posts: 1,401
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Quote:
Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan View Post
Murphy's general laws

• Nothing is as easy as it looks.
• Everything takes longer than you think.
• Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
• If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong. Corollary: If there is a worse time for something to go wrong, it will happen then.
• If anything simply cannot go wrong, it will anyway.
• If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which a procedure can go wrong, and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop.
• Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.
• If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.
• Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.
• Mother nature is a bitch.
• It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious.
• Whenever you set out to do something, something else must be done first.
• The Light at the end of the tunnel is only the light of an oncoming train.
And, by many reports, Murphy was an optimist.
Zeke3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2020, 01:25 PM   #15
Epper1
Junior Member
 
Epper1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Sparks NV
Posts: 11
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Had no problems with 6 volt starters changed to 12 volts
Epper1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2020, 01:41 PM   #16
McMimmcs
Senior Member
 
McMimmcs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Fort Gratiot, Michigan
Posts: 2,296
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Quote:
Originally Posted by Epper1 View Post
Had no problems with 6 volt starters changed to 12 volts
I changed 2 since June and both bendix springs broke.
McMimmcs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2020, 02:48 PM   #17
VeryTangled
Senior Member
 
VeryTangled's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,386
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Hi Everyone. One consideration would be who is gonna help you when you have to do troubleshooting? The farther a vehicle is from stock the more variables are inserted, I feel.
__________________
-Jeff H

Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum?
VeryTangled is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2020, 04:55 PM   #18
Robz51
Senior Member
 
Robz51's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Rogers, AR, USA
Posts: 141
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

My 52 merc has been 12 volts for 26 years. The engine has been 12 volts for 32 years and I've never laid a hand on the starter. Just my experience. Make sure you yse the correct resistors(regulator) for the gauges. I know there are merits to 6 volts and they can be reliable. Guess it's a personal choice.

Sent from my SM-G955U1 using Tapatalk
Robz51 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2020, 06:36 PM   #19
estout81
BANNED
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Utica, Ohio
Posts: 522
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

No difference in troubleshooting. Just different numbers on the meter.
estout81 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2020, 09:10 PM   #20
JSeery
Member Emeritus
 
JSeery's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
Default Re: My Friend BB wants pros and cons to upgrade to 12volt system

Quote:
Originally Posted by estout81 View Post
No difference in troubleshooting. Just different numbers on the meter.
And to non-early Ford people the positive ground can be a challenge.
JSeery is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:03 PM.