6 Volt or 12 Volt System?

[studda]

I was looking at the 1953 4400 with a 216 in it that I bought a couple weeks ago and the guy who I got it from said it was a 6 volt system still. He had it given to him and it hasn't been touched since 1980. The alternator is a 12 volt alternator. It has a 6 volt coil on it and what appears to be the original starter, which I assume is 6 volt. I hooked up a 12 volt battery and checked voltage going into the coil, which is 12 volts. There is a piece of angle iron bolted to the firewall with what looks like three rheostats and also one on the hot wire going to the heater and defroster. I'm guessing those three are going to the gauges. I'll get a pic tomorrow to see if anybody knows what they are for sure. What are some definitive indicators that it has been fully converted to a 12 volt system? I'm guessing I need to change the coil and possibly the points (which probably wouldn't be a bad idea anyway) and the bulbs, if they aren't already.

[Katrina/10]

To convert 6v to 12v you need, in addition to a 12v alternator and battery: ballast resistor, 12v bulbs. Everything else will work fine on 12v, except the heater motor.

[_Ogre]

sounds like it has already been converted to 12v. the rheostats drop the voltage to the heater motor. all coils are 6 volt there should be a ballast resistor in the ignition wire to drop the voltage to 6v, it will run fine and start better on 12v but 12v will burn points. 6v starter will work fine on 12v if you run it for short periods, no grinding of a flooded engine. check the headlights or an easy to pull light, they should be swapped for 12v lights

this pic is a newer style solenoid starter not a foot starter, but it shows you where the resistor goes

[OrrieG]

http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/12...onversion.html tells how to convert from 6 to 12 v. Match it to yours and that should tell you. Sounds like to was converted.

[studda]

I looked at the lights. They are indeed 12 volt bulbs. I will just change the coil and the points in it and check all other wires with a voltage meter to make sure it doesn't burn out the gauges.

[_Ogre]

all coils are 6v, if it's a good coil keep it and add the ballast resistor

[studda]

I'm not sure if the coil is good or not. It was getting 12 volts to the coil, so the points may be burnt up in it. I'll have to check the voltage coming through all the wires and all the bulbs just to be sure they didn't get it part of the way converted and then stop.

[studda]

So, then brings up a good question. What size resistors do I need to use? The ceramic in the old ones look cracked and I'm going to replace them.