Guest imported_MikeWilliamsUK Posted January 31, 2003 Share Posted January 31, 2003 The previous owner of my 1938 Zephyr started to convert it to 12 volts (generator, instruments etc), but didn't get around to the ignition coils. I would like to continue with this conversion, but was surprised that Jake Fleming will only rebuild these coils to 6 volts. The general advice seems to be to fit a pair of modern 12 volt 'can' coils and use the stripped out original coil casing as a terminal block. That would work, but wouldn't look very nice.Why can't I run the car on 12 volts and put a step-down transformer (ballast resistors?) in the engine circuit to run the 6 volt coils?or, could I use contemporary Ford V8 coils in the Lincoln housing?Thanks,Mike Williams (UK) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peecher Posted January 31, 2003 Share Posted January 31, 2003 The easiest thing to do is to use resistor to drop voltage at the coil to 4-1/2 volts. Even if the coil was converted to 12 volts you would have to reduce that voltage to the points. DP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_MikeWilliamsUK Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 Thanks for that tip. Do you know anyone who has actually done it, or any idea how best to drop the voltage?Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peecher Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 This site will be helpful for you. http://www.classictruckshop.com/12volt.asp They discribe a ceramiic resistor with a NAPA part Echlin ICR-13. In your case I would put this resistor in the FEED line to the ignition switch and then check the voltage at the coil. As I remember it, there is a dropping resistor on the passenger side of the firewall that reduced the original 6 volts down to 4.5 volts. Hope this helps. DP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_MikeWilliamsUK Posted February 1, 2003 Share Posted February 1, 2003 That's exactly what I wanted - thanks very much indeed DP.MIke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_MikeWilliamsUK Posted February 8, 2003 Share Posted February 8, 2003 Further to this correspondence, all my local auto electric specialists still tell me it can't be done for reasons I don't understand. However, a Ford V8 specialist tells me that Ford military vehicles during the war used the familiar V8 running 6 volts whilst the vehicles themselves ran 12 volts. They also used a step-down ballast resistor, so it MUST work! I'll find out in about nine months when my rebuild is completed!Mike Williams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peecher Posted February 9, 2003 Share Posted February 9, 2003 Mike, did you get my e-mail? My message center shows that it didn't go thru.DP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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