okay i have a problem. >:l

so my damn 51 cadillac is acting up..the problem is that everytime i drive it for about 30- an hour and i turn it off i have to wait for it to cool down in able for it to turn back on..i say its the fact that its a 6vlt.
they told me that it mite b my starter. can some 1 please help me out ??

i have a question ??????
if i change my alternator and battery to a 12vlt wat would happen ?
i have new wireing andi want to make it a 12vlt is that good enought ??

 

I have heard of starters getting too hot. One thing to try is wrap your starter with insulation to keep the heat away.
If you were serious about your other questions. The answer is even if you change your battery, wiring, and alternator you will still need to have your gauges rebuilt for 12V or get a voltage reducer for them so you don't damage them

 

oh i see..thank you i will get on that starter to see if that helps...
where would i get them rebuilt ??

 

When you say it doesn't turn back on....do you mean that the engine doesn't turn over? Or the engine cranks and won't fire?

If it will not crank, it could be the starter, solenoid, battery cable, ignition switch, or a bad ground.

If it cranks and doesn't start, it is in the ignition system. Bad coil, condensor, or points.

Both of these problems happen with 6v and 12v systems.

.

 

If it doesn't crank I'd be looking at the battery cables first. Sometimes they look fine, check with a meter.

 

Assuming it won't crank (turn over) after getting hot, my best guess is that you have a starter issue of sorts (I know, duh). Since I know diddly about 51 Caddy starters I will ASSUME that there is no solenoid mounted on the starter which is where most GM "hot start" issues stem, but I think I would still change out the solenoid AND making sure all CABLES and CONNECTIONS (Grounds included) are TOP NOTCH before changing out the starter.

IMO, insulating the starter will have little effect. Cars got hot even back in 51, you need a fix, not a wing and a prayer.

All else being = , First check cables and connections, then the solenoid, and then get a starter. Yea, replacing the starter might be premature even at this point, but when a person is driving an obscure car, having a spare starter available ain't such a bad thing anyway. I have a spare for my Lincoln...

 

Sounds like a hot starter. Had that problem on my 64 T-bird. Low ground clearance + small radiator space + old starter = crap out. I replaced the starter and insulated the new one. It was a 12 volt system. Definitly use the step down. Any battery shop should have them. The t-bird had a remote solenoid and voltage regulator. It is the same thing as the gm type. When I did the starter, within a month I also repaced the voltage regulator, battery, both cables, and rebuilt the alternator. Like everyone says, check everything....

 

had a 50 Olds in the 60s...6 volt starter would not want to crank a hot engine....everybody said go 8 volt....rebuilt the starter...new bushings,windings,turned armature...etc....started great on 6 volts after that; ALSO a 6 volt needs some pretty heavy cables....none of those wimpy 12V cables

 

where can i buy a starter for my car ??? 51 cadillac ...and what type of heavy cables ??battery cables ?

 

Where have you looked so far? You have a computer, try looking for a vintage Cadillac parts dealer. Read my signature, I hope this isn't your problem.

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