1952 truck with a 1941 car engine questionses'es

[pothole]

Hello...Again.

 

I have a 52' Pilot House with a 41' Dodge car engine in it according to the engine engraving D19-150648.

 

I need a new carb top piece, it has a crack in it that goes all the way through. I have yet seen just the top for sale and no better with a whole carb...Does anyone here have one for sale or know where I can get one? 

 

OR...Is there a better carb up grade available?

 

Also... My 52' has a wraparound diamond plate rear bumper, am I special or what?!  I don't see pictures of these very often. I think it is cool. 

 

And...If a truck has had it's volts changed to 12 volt, does that mean the stock gauges wont work?...cuz they don't. Although, they look real crusty...I have another stock gauge cluster that came with the truck. 

 

Thank you all,

Pothole

[Reg Evans]

I've got one you can have. PM me with your address.

[Young Ed]

Everything but the fuel gauge will work either way.

[jeffsunzeri]

My '47 pickup had the same style bumper as yours. I removed it to go to a more original bumper and found that both rear fenders had rusted through where the bumper met the fender and trapped dirt, leafy matter, and such.

 

There is no better carb upgrade available. Many will fit, but pose various problems and don't provide any advantage.

 

There is no good reason to convert to 12 volts. None.

[Jeff Balazs]

Welcome. My truck came with a similar rear bumper. They are definitely an aftermarket item. I ended up bobbing mine and remounted it. I think it looks better than the factory optional bumpers ..... they just look too small in my opinion.

 

Here is my take on the 6V vs 12V thing. 6 volt systems work just fine ......if everything is in good nick. They are however more expensive to build, maintain and add accessories too than a 12 volt system. You will pay a premium on most 6 volt components......and often time have to special order or go on a serious hunt for them. By comparison 12 volt stuff is almost always readily available.....and cheaper. If your truck has been converted to 12 volt you shouldn't have any significant problems getting it all to work. Just read through the past threads here on the subject.

Staying with the 6V system is the one regret I have with my build. I figure it cost me at least $500 more to build than if I had just gone to 12 V.

Dont get me wrong everything works just fine with my 6V......but it cost more and doesn't really have any significant advantages over a 12 volt conversion.

 

Good luck with your project..

Jeff

[pothole]

Well cool! Thank you Reg, I will gladly accept your offer! I am looking forward to getn' the 52 running smoothly!

 

There is so much hinky wiring that is not stock under there, it must be 12V now.

 

I see both sides of the Volt debate. I'm just runnin' it the way I got it. I'm no electrician so hard to have an informed opinion but thank you for your input!

 

So I'm not special and my rear bumper is aftermarket...Oh well, I like it any way. My fenders are solid, I'l remember to keep the debris out, thanks for the input.

 

Thank you

[jeffsunzeri]

Welcome. My truck came with a similar rear bumper. They are definitely an aftermarket item. I ended up bobbing mine and remounted it. I think it looks better than the factory optional bumpers ..... they just look too small in my opinion.

 

Here is my take on the 6V vs 12V thing. 6 volt systems work just fine ......if everything is in good nick. They are however more expensive to build, maintain and add accessories too than a 12 volt system. You will pay a premium on most 6 volt components......and often time have to special order or go on a serious hunt for them. By comparison 12 volt stuff is almost always readily available.....and cheaper. If your truck has been converted to 12 volt you shouldn't have any significant problems getting it all to work. Just read through the past threads here on the subject.

Staying with the 6V system is the one regret I have with my build. I figure it cost me at least $500 more to build than if I had just gone to 12 V.

Dont get me wrong everything works just fine with my 6V......but it cost more and doesn't really have any significant advantages over a 12 volt conversion.

 

Good luck with your project..

Jeff

Jeff, I know you've done some pretty thoughtful and creative things to your truck, and it sounds like a cool vehicle, but the cost of staying 6 volt being $500 more than converting to 12 volt sounds a little incredulous. Could you break that down? What 6 volt component cost substantially more than a 12 volt counterpart? I'm not doubting you at all, just interested in what you've encountered.

 

When I've done 12 volt conversions , they actually cost substantially more than sticking with 6 volt due to the cost of:

- converting the fuel gauge

- replace ignition coil

- replacing all bulbs

- replacing charging circuit components

- if present, replacing or converting clock, blower motor(s), wiper motors, radio

- Labor cost - nobody's time is free

 

It used to be that converting to 12 volt would allow one to operate modern radios and stereos and other components, but with inexpensive converters being readily available, add-on components can be any voltage or polarity one could imagine nowadays. Six volt batteries and electronic ignitions are readily available today everywhere on the planet at the same or very comparable cost of 12 volt components.

Edited August 7, 2015 by jeffsunzeri

[Jeff Balazs]

Jeff S.

There were several things and I have not done a tally but I am sure I am not far off.

A) 6 volt positive ground alternator

6 volt cooling fan

C) 6 volt positive ground full time fuel pump

D) HD power converter for stereo

E) 6 amp power converter for accessories (Gopro etc)

F ) Super duty battery selector switch

G) 6 volt optima battery

H) 2/0 battery cables

I) HD 6 volt heater switch

j) 6 volt headlight relay

K) 6 volt positive ground LED tail light for rear window

L) 6 volt positive ground Pertronix module

M) Misc. 6 volt bulbs and relays.

 

And I have probably missed an item or two. Most of these items you pay a premium for over standard 12 volt stuff. And because some items are special order or not in stock devices I have new spares such as the fuel pump and ignition module. Trust me it all adds up.

 

Jeff

[Dave72dt]

I can see maybe 500 dollars worth of upgrades made by choice, not necessity. I don't see that much difference in cost of equivalent 12 v parts except the cost of those converters to allow you to play with the 12v toys.

[Jeff Balazs]

Dave;

It adds up. If you laid out the money you would know. $20 here $40 there. It is true I have done several upgrades but they make sense to me. Just as an example ..... price out a 6 volt positive ground alternator (single wire) and compare it to a standard 12 volt.

Like I said it adds up. And from the standpoint of using one of these as a daily driver I think what I have done is sensible ..... and having certain spares on hand prudent.

You can look at this from many different angles. I do. And what I think makes the most sense for the long run is a 12 volt conversion. I just wish I had come to that conclusion sooner.

 

Jeff

[Dave72dt]

O'reillys Red top Optima 6v, 800 CCA =202, 12v red top Optima 800cca-216

Pertronix ignitor conversion from Oreillys , 6 or 12 for Autolite 6 cyl, 165

Powermaster Gen-alt 6v pos-429, 12v neg,.. gen alt 449

Apples to apples, just a sampling from common nationwide parts sources I found online. Your big ticket items, if the same product, cost less in 6v than 12v

I don't know if you used any of these particular products or not but unless you used o lot of items with a 10, 20 or 40 dollar difference, it's hard to come up with the 500 extra cost variance between 6 and 12. I don't question your upgrades or reasons for them. They make perfect sense in your application

Edited August 8, 2015 by Dave72dt

[MBF]

I've got one of each.   I converted my 1 ton to 12V for reliability and convenience.   Try finding a 6 volt voltage regulator or bulb in a NAPA store on the shelf.  Can they get them, sure, do they stock them?  Maybe.   The internally regulated 12V alternator eliminates the external regulator and is pretty much trouble free (at least they have for me).  The engine spins over quicker when starting, and the lights are brighter.  I have yet to find a 6 volt wet cell battery that lasts more than a year or so, and try pricing the proper guage batt cables for a 6 volt system.      Yes there were things that I had to buy to make the conversion, but I did it probably over 10 yrs ago on this and my 36 Plymouth and I'm happy with the both of them.   My 2.5 ton remains 6 volt for the time being.  It was a former firetruck so it let somewhat more of a charmed life, and didn't need rewiring to the extent of the 1 ton.   There are positives and negatives (pun intended) on both sides of the argument, but I'm glad I made the swap.  Whatever you decide to do will be right for you.   Mike

[Jeff Balazs]

Well like I said I have not added it all up. Maybe it was less?  It sure seemed like I was paying a premium at the time.

 

For the alternator I used a Quality Power 6 volt positive ground single wire unit. I seem to remember it costing around $135 and I could get a GM 12 volt for around $80. I know I paid around $100 for my 6 volt cooling fan.......and the same size fan in 12 volt was $70.

 

Yes and having some 12 volt accessories required purchasing power converters. I have one of those small $70 cube type converters which was not adequate for the stereo system........so I found a nice unit made in New Zealand that would run that. That added another $165.

I guess one could get by with out these  ? But it is nice to have some sounds and be able to use a tire inflator etc...

 

Also I suppose I did not have to buy all the back ups (spares) I did. If you only use the truck once in a while then it you can probably wait a week for some of this stuff to show up. Assuming you are some place you can find it. Obviously my choice was to have all the essentials at hand.

 

Jeff

[pothole]

You guys really know your stuff. What are the tell tell signs that a truck has been converted from 6V to 12V?

[Don Coatney]

Use of a 12 volt battery is usually a pretty good indication.

[pothole]

Oh man, I just realized that when I exchanged the other mammoth sized battery in for a new one, it may have been a 12 Volt...My new one says 6 Volt on it and is significantly smaller AND is the 'correct' battery for a 52' per Auto Zone...So now what?

[Don Coatney]

Does your vehicle have a generator or an alternator? Do you know the difference?

[Reg Evans]

Eric,   Remove one of your headlight bulbs and it should be marked with 6V or 12V

[NiftyFifty]

You know the difference between 6 and 12 volt? Let me explain..... 6 volt Rrrr......rrrrrr..........rrrrrrr.......rrrrrrr, and 12 volt RRRRRRRRRRRRRR VROOOOOM!!!!

LOL

6 volt is great if you have no plans to add accessories, buy a light bulb at a gas station along the road, or start your vehicle in the cold, but if you would like to do those things, the 12 volt system is much nicer to work with. I also have a hard time believing most original wiring is up to snuff after 60+ years, so people should be expecting to rewire a lot of the truck anyway, and it is cheaper to be rewired in 12volt as the gauge is less the 6 on a lot of circuits. Also switching to a 1 wire GM alternator means you can get that at almost any parts store...try getting a 6v generator at most stores today without ordering from some far out warehouse. If your going 100% original, that's one thing....but as a driver, I say 12 volt is a much better system

[The Oil Soup]

One wire is fine if you're driving a tractor, otherwise three wire for 12 volt. http://www.madelectrical.com/electricaltech/onewire-threewire.shtml

[NiftyFifty]

3 wire is of no benefit unless you want the idiot light, other then that the 1 wire is just fine, and that's BS that not stocked at auto parts stores....o'rileys had one in stock when we were in Devils Lake this spring for a show. All your doing is triggering the alternator with the second, and a quick rev of the engine does the same thing. Most 1 wire can also be used as 3 if you buy from the right supplier, and most big car shows have 1 wire Chrome for $100

[jeffsunzeri]

Quick Start Alternator Parts offers a kit to convert an old junk-yard alternator to 6 volt, positive ground for about $40. The conversion is about a 2 out of 10 on the knuckle-buster meter.

[pothole]

I think I'm not sure now if I do know the difference between a generator and alternator...

 

I looked at the headlamp...It's a sealed 12 amp Halogen...When I bought it I don't remember if I used the lights or not...

 

After installing the New 6V battery it goes rrrr....rrrr....rrrr....then starts....I think that was how it sounded with the old battery too, like it was dying, which it ultimately did.

 

AND, it has only one wire coming from the alternator OR generator...

 

There is definitely new wiring...not professionally installed but newer than 52' for sure. Which made me assume it's 12V...now I don't know.

[Merle Coggins]

Generator

 

Alternator

[Don Coatney]

I see you have owned a 72 Plymouth duster, 72 Dodge Challenger, 69 Dodge Charger, a 69 Chevy Malibu, and a 78 Dodge van.. Did you ever open the hood and look at the battery charging device in any of these vehicles?