1950b2b

[Guest rngr5201]

I just purchased a 1950 B2B with a flatbead. Along with the usual stuck zerks and things that need oil I need to update a few things.

1. What's the best way to convert the 6 volt positive ground to a 12V negative ground? I've used a GM alternator on other trucks but they've all been a negative ground. Will the starter turn backwards, what coil and condenser should I use, and how do I modify the sending unit in the fuel tank?

2. It still has split rims and none of the tire shops want anything to do with them. What drop center rims will fit front and back? The truck has duals on the rear.

3. I want to change the vacum wipers to electric. JC Whitney offered a conversion unit for Jeeps at one time. Is there a better way to go?

Thanks

[Tony_Urwin]

Welcome to the Forum! Fill out some info on your profile so we all know just a little about you.

I purchased a B1C flatbed a few months ago, and I am going through some of the same stuff that you mentioned.

Are you sure you have a B2B? That would make it a half ton truck. Usually the duallys were one ton and bigger, weren’t they?

Anyway, about your questions:

1) The 12V conversion is pretty straight-forward. Alternator, 12V coil, ballast resistor, 12V bulbs, put a resistor inline for the fuel gauge and any other 6V items you want to keep like the heater fan, etc. www.vintagepowerwagons.com has a kit. Check out their kit online, then buy your own components (cheaper that way). Starter still turns the same way, only faster.

I used a Mopar alternator on my truck (fits good) Other guys have used the Chevy alternator.

2) Not sure about the problem with your rims. I’m running radials on original rims on my truck.

3) Pilotthouse trucks had electric wipers as an option. The 6V wiper motor can be updated to 12V by a competent repair guy. I know a guy here in the Cinti area who advertises these types of conversions in the street rod mags. Personally, I used the Newport Engineering 12V wiper kit in my truck.

Good luck with your new truck. You will find all kinds of answers available by searching the forum. Email me if I can help

Tony

[Guest rngr5201]

I may have the wrong model designation since it is a one ton, 8000 lb GVW.

The only problem with the orignal rims is finding someone to change the tires! Two of the shops refuse to change them for safety reasons and I haven't gotten to the others yet. What size radials are you using?

I thought the electrical would be pretty straight forward. I have to rewire the panel and the headlights so it'll be a good time to convert it to a 12 volt.

I looked at redoing the wood on the flatbed. Lots of rusty old carriage bolts.

Thanks for the info on the wiper motor and 6 to 12 conversion. As I get into this, I'm sure I'll have more questions. It runs OK, except for a leaky freeze plug, and the oil pressure is pretty good so I have a good solid truck to work on.

[Tony_Urwin]

If your truck is a one ton, it would be a B2D. Mine is a B1C, the ¾ ton.

I used Federal 700R15 tires with tubes because they were the tallest 15” radial tires that I could find. (The taller the tires, the lower the RPMs at highway speed.) Maybe your wheels are in rough shape?

Some of the more ambitious guys here have made their own wiring harnesses. I rewired mine with a Painless Performance wiring harness, casue I didn’t want to burn my truck down. You have to know your limitations, right?

I bought yellow pine for my stakebed. Some of my bedstrips were rusted through, so I bought new ones from Bruce Horkey.

[MBF]

Are you talking about the 16" Budd type rims on the duals (6 hole rim)? If so they're locking ring, not split rim. The split rims are pretty hard to find anyone to mess with since they can come apart at any time and in some states they're illegal. The locking ring should be handled by any truck tire dealer. You're going to want to make sure that the groove on the rim is cleaned out (no rust) and the lip on the ring that goes into the groove fits snugly. The 17" drop center 6 hole rims from the later 1 tons will fit your hubs, but the 17" tires are tough to come by at least around here. I haven't found a 16" drop center that will fit the 6 hole hub. When you look for rims, there are two type of the Budd style-one for single applications, and one for duals. The single rims can't be used in a dual application as their offset is different. If you try to use these with duals, the sidewalls of the tires will touch instead of the rim centers. Mike

[4852dodge]

I have a B1D-128 with duals. The wheels I have on the rear are from a newer Ford(1960's). The Dodge , Fords and Internationals used the same rims and interchange if you keep the same offset. The newer wheels are a little wider but do not cause a problem. I still use bias ply tires. The local tire guy discouraged using radials on the split rims and offset rims, he claims the added side stresses of a radial may cause the lip of the rim to fatigue.

I converted to 12 volt by using a 12 volt generator and regulator, changing the bulbs and because my gauges were beyond repair I used aftermarket gauges mounted in a custom mount under the center of the dash. The starter motor is still the 6 volt and has worked for 15 years, Just don't crank for more than 2-3 rotations and let cool. The wiper motor is from a 70's Plymouth with fabricated linkages.