what if 6 were 12? how do you switch voltage on a chevy?

[Tim]

hey all,

i know on a early 50s ford to go from 6 to 12 other then lots of new bulbs all you need to do is switcht he voltage regulator

what all would be involved in turning a 54 ish chevy with stock wiring set up to 12 volt?

just find a similar style regulator that runs 12?

tia
tim

[ABone312]

As far as I know, it is the same as the Ford, other than it is already negative ground. Change the light bulbs, ignition coil, generator, voltage regulator (get one for the first year that Chevy was 12 volt), and put Runtz voltage drops on each one of the power wires to the gauges. If you look in Speedway Motors, they have a really good little guide booklet that they sell for doing the swap. It has part numbers for the coil and a light bulb cross referance chart. They also sell the voltage drops. Hope that helps.

[Tim]

thanx for the info, thats preety much as much as i had figured. though the fords generator pushed more then 12 volts out when it had a 6 volt system so wouldnt the chev?

tia
tim

[Rocky]

No Tim.......gotta use a 12 volt generator. And a 6 volt "voltage limiter' is all that's needed for the gauges. I've never heard of using a 12 volt regulartor with a 6 volt generator. When I built the Rocky 33, I used a 63 merc generator and regulator...both 12 volt.

[Tim]

hmmm, ic, ic

my prior generator knowledge comes from my extensive talks with tuck about switching shoeboxes and he said that those gens would work fine......or do work fine for him


hmmm
tim

[Rocky]

Well, I suppose ya got nothing to loose by trying except an old 6 volt GM generator, which is about nothing anyway. Try it, Tim........goin to Goodguys?

[Tim]

nope, just bummin at my parents house with my brother for the weekend i guess.
when ya goin?

[Tim]

oh, and would the wiring bethe same on a ford generator? if i know the ford one will work will it wire up?

how hard to just switch to an alt other then the bracket?

[Rocky]

Tim, I'd hafta consult my notes and manuals to see if they wire the same [ford VS chevy] because I really don't remember...
Some brackets accept the G.M. S-I alternator alright with some spacers to help the belt line up with your existing pullys. I've never had a problem mounting one to the early GM brackets. I've mounted them on about everything I drive, including my 48 Pontiac with the original straight-8.
32 Hiboy and I are leaving early Sat AM for a one-dayer at DesMoines...takin the Rocky Goodtime van.

[Cad Carver]

In issue no. 2 of Hot rod deluxe there is a tech on building a 12 to 6 voltage regulator. Engine on 12 everything else on 6. Or something like that, it was cheap and you got the advantages of a 12 volt battery and didn't have to swap everything out.

[Flat Ernie]

You can get 12V out of a 6V generator with only a change in the voltage regulator. However, you won't be able to get full current out of it - probably only about 2/3 the rated 6V current will be avail at 12V due to the way the armature is wound.

There should be a later-model equivelent case 12V generator out there somewhere that should fit your mounts & look period correct (if you don't care about the look, quit fooling around & get an alternator!).

So yes it's possible, but you end up with a compromised system. Good enough to get you on the road though!

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