41 Super changed to 12v

[Guest fargomike]

I have a 56C that had a 322 or 263 stuffed into it in 1958. My ownership began in 1980, but I have been aquainted with the car since 1960. It has always labored to start. Even with a new long style 6v battery it turns slow and can fail to start. I have several old cars, starting with a '31 Model A to a '65 Olds 88 convert, so I have let the Buiuck sit in a corner for several years due to the starting problem. Is a 12v conversion a reasonable solution? Lights, heater motor, radio, generator, horn relay, coil all seem to require attention with a conversion. What else? Can I use a one wire GM alternator and delete the voltage regulator? Thanks. fargomike

[Mark Simmons]

Mike sounds like a starter problem or cable issue with the 6v system. 6 volt systems require larger wire size for current flow. There's nothing wrong with a 6volt system as long as the wiring is solid and the connections are dry and tight. I'd suggest checking/replacing the battery cables with the proper size 6 volt cables as a first effort and move on to a starter rebuild. Both of these are less time consuming and cost far less than a 12 conversion. I have converted 40's Chevies to a 12 volt systems in the past and there were a few times something jumped up to bite me in the ??? So I learned to just stay with the 6 volt systems and diagnose and repair the problems as they popped up. Just my .02 cents worth of advice. Mark

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

Mike, Mark is correct. If the positive cable is not as large as your thumb, it should be. The braided flat ground cable should be about 1" wide. If these either one are not so, start by replacing them and see what happens.

322 0r 263? Completely different. If a 322, the exhaust manifold will be a three piece affair.

Good luck

Ben

[FLYER15015]

I'm with Ben.

You may only have 6 volts, But they are really BIG VOLTS and they need a lot of room to move.

Starter wire needs to be really big. If not stock and clean, go get some good copper welding cable and make a new one. Same with the ground (a common problem).

Just my $ .02

Mike in Colorado

[Joseph P. Indusi]

Unlikely that a 320 could fit in the space originally used by a 248, but in 1941 I am not sure, maybe there is room. I agree with the folks above who provided really good advice. Stick with the 6 volts and remember that they performed well back in the day.

Conversions can lead to a heap of trouble. A friend of mine recently acquired a very nice 1940's era GM car in which the previous owner had "converted" to 8 volts using an 8 volt battery. The voltage regulator needed to be adjusted to charge the 8 volt battery and it appears that it was not done right. The radio stopped working either from a blown fuse or internal damage to the circuitry from excessive voltage and the headlight switch thermal cutout is acting up. The 8 volts will certainly shorten the life of the sealed beam headlamps because if the regulator was adjusted to charge the battery the generator will be putting out 9 to 9.5 volts, way more than the bulbs and radio, clock, etc. were designed for. He is in the process of changing back to 6 volts and he has found that the car starts right up on the 6 volt battery and some new heavy battery cables. My suspicion is that the prior owners mechanic converted to 8 volts to make starting easier instead of replacing the somewhat thin battery cables in the car.

Joe, BCA 33493

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

Joe, this looks like another one of those threads where the OP forgot to come back and say thanks or KMA. Pity.

Ben