6 volt +++ Ground Alternator

[bighammer48]

Does anyone out there have any experience with the installation and use of a 6-volt + ground alternator in there old MOPARs?

[Niel Hoback]

I have been using one for several years now, best thing since sliced bread.

[steveplym]

I have been using one for several years now, best thing since sliced bread.

Where did you get yours Niel? I've been thinking about switching over myself on the P-15.

I just put a one wire alternator on my '65 Chebby and it is great.

[Niel Hoback]

I got mine at the Hoosier Swap meet several years ago. It was made by an electric shop in Terre Haute whise name I forget now. I'll see if I can find the tag from it.

It does a great job and is probably the reason my battery has lasted 8 years now. I once metered it at 73 amps, but only for a few seconds before it backed off some.

Wow, I found it !

Weust Auto Electric

1407 1st Ave.

Terre Haute, IN. 47807 PH. 812.243.8582 or 800.283.1298

Keep in mind this was several years ago.

[bighammer48]

Here is a good source for those interested.

http://www.alternatorparts.com/6_volt_alternators_&_kits.htm

[steveplym]

Thanks for the link. I'll have to bookmark it.

Once the generator stops working well I'm going to have to invest in one of those, or convert to 12 volt. Decisions, decisions.

[48mirage]

On the *bay there is at least one supplier that I got the parts from to convert a pick'n pull $10 alternator to 12 volt positive ground. My total cost was less than $50. The changeover to positive ground was just taking the thing apart cleaning it up and replacing certain pieces. Here is a kit for converting a gm 10si to 6 volt positive. http://cgi.ebay.com/Delco-10SI-Positive-Ground-Changeover-Kit-6-V_W0QQitemZ250213566430QQihZ015QQcategoryZ121876QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1713.m153.l1262

[woodie49]

When you convert to a 6v alternator, I assume you need to change the voltage regulator? Anything else need to be swapped out?

[martybose]

When you convert to a 6v alternator, I assume you need to change the voltage regulator? Anything else need to be swapped out?

If you change to a 1 wire alternator, you just throw the regulator away, as the 1 wire's have an internal regulator.

I've had 6V and 12V 1 wire alternators, and they didn't have no stinking external voltage regulators!

Marty

[greg g]

Model A parts suppliers generally have 6 V positive alts in their catalogs.

[greg g]

I believe with a single wire deal the easiest way to to wire it is to attach the wire to the wire that formerly connected to the bat terminal of the now unneeded VR.

[bighammer48]

I thought you guys might like an update. It's almost 1 year since I installed my DELCO 1 wire alternator from Quick Start. I went to their web site and purchased the alternator and bracket kit.Since my '36 Plymouth had a VR bolted piggyback to its generator, I took the single wire running to the VR BAT terminal and put it on the alternator.

It works great. My battery is never low even after months in storage, it charges to full in less tha 1 hour of driving. No more dim headlights, or turn signals that barely blink at night. I even installed a MOPAR original foglight kit. I can run all of the lights at night without any sign of battery discharge.

I installed a 6 volt voltmeter from Westach, and at night with everything on, even the radio, it reads between 7.5 and 8 volts at idle. Best modification I ever made!

[Don Coatney]

My battery is never low even after months in storage, it charges to full in less tha 1 hour of driving.

One hour seems like a long time. My recovery time is usually less than 5 minutes.

[bighammer48]

Don,

It actually charges in a few minutes ( which is less than an hour ), but I thought I'd be conservative.

Mike

[grey beard]

When you install an alternator, unless it is a very old unit with an external regulator - hardly seen any more - you will get a complete charging unit - alternator and regulator combined.

The charging system of your vehicle is the only thing that cares how your battery polarity is connected - unless you have an old radio. Why go to the work of adding an alternator and then making it still be positive ground? If you install a negative ground unit, everything else will work fine. Seems to me like a step backwards to install a nice alternator, and then make the system still be positive ground. There's no reason for this - unless you still use an old radio that is polarity sensitive. Everything else will work just fine, and never know the difference. Just turn your battery and your coil wires around and enjoy. JMHO

[bighammer48]

Your point is taken. The advantages of a + ground alternator are:

1. My gauges won't work backward;

2. My factory perfect original radio works perfectly;

3. It bolted right in and connected right up without any screwing around with wiring. My philosphy has always been that the more you change, the more you introduce opportunities for errors. My motivation for this change was that since all of my wiring is new, and since I frame-off restored the '36 Plymouth, the original 20 amp generator was woefully underpowered to run even the headlights and taillights without a constant, but slow discharge of the battery, even with the generator having been overhauled and beefed up. The alternator solved all of those issues. I'd recommend it to anyone. My '48 Dodge D24 has no such issues as the generator is more than capable enough for the load imposed on it.

Thanks for your input,

Mike

[Jim Shepard]

Does anyone out there have any experience with the installation and use of a 6-volt + ground alternator in there old MOPARs?

I've had a 6V negative ground alternator in my 1950 Dodge Truck for almost three years now with no problems or issues. It's a one-wire, internal regulater type. It looks like a re-worked GM product. I got it from Fifth Avenue out of Kansas and they recommended a 6V Optima battery, which I also purchased. The only down side was that Optima doesn't (or didn't ) make a battery holder for their 6V so I had to fabricate something. I don't have a radio and everything else seems not to mind the negative ground. I wanted to stay with 6V primarily for the winshield wiper and heater motors.

[martybose]

Your point is taken. The advantages of a + ground alternator are:

1. My gauges won't work backward;

2. My factory perfect original radio works perfectly;

(snip)

Thanks for your input,

Mike

I too ran a 5th Avenue 6V negative ground alternator for several years until I had a reason to switch to 12V negative ground.

1. The only gauge that read backward was the ammeter, and the instructions told you to switch the wiring on the back of the gauge to fix it.

2. My original radio worked just fine on 6V negative ground. The only time you would have a problem is if it was rebuilt with an electronic vibrator, since they are polarity sensitive.

Marty

[steveplym]

I too ran a 5th Avenue 6V negative ground alternator for several years until I had a reason to switch to 12V negative ground.

1. The only gauge that read backward was the ammeter, and the instructions told you to switch the wiring on the back of the gauge to fix it.

2. My original radio worked just fine on 6V negative ground. The only time you would have a problem is if it was rebuilt with an electronic vibrator, since they are polarity sensitive.

Marty

Marty, since I switched to 12v negative and an alternator that has been the best thing I've done to the car. The electronic ignition helped tremendously. Definitely go the alternator route any day. Some modifications just make sense.

[paulbone]

I converted my D24 to 12 volt Neg, and used an old 58 Chevy generator I had lying around.

It runs great, all lights at once with no loss of power, and the bonus is the whole system looks original - I only had to make a slight alteration to the bracket.

The only other change was to switch the ammeter wires around, and usual 12volt changes of course.

I swear by 12 volts now.

[48mirage]

The kits to change those GM alternators multiple ways are readily available on the *bay and cheap. For less than $40.00 I got a GM alternator from the pick and pull cleaned it up and bolted in the new pieces. I spent almost the same on the bracket and correct pulley to mount the alternator to the block.