12 Volt Conversion kit

[Guest dasaint80]

Hey all. I'm trying to find a 12 volt conversion kit. where can I find one and info on what needs to be done to the car to prepare for it.

Thanks

Steve

[PatS....]

Have a look at this kit:

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll?parta~dyndetail~Z5Z5Z50000278a~Z5Z5Z5AAAQL~P359.95~~~~S27R03VLEH68146115414x~Z5Z5Z5~Z5Z5Z50000278a

[Guest dasaint80]

with that kit do I have to put resistors on the gauges and the headlight and all 6V electrical? or is the a complete plug in kit?

Thanks

Steve

[MBF]

When I did mine I went with the internally regulated GM DELCO alternator and made a bracket for it. I changed all of the bulbs and installed a 12v coil but you can put a ballast resistor on yours I think. I also switched to a voltmeter instead of the ammeter to monitor the electrical system. You'll need a voltage reducing resistor for the fuel guage too. Mike

[Guest dasaint80]

When I did mine I went with the internally regulated GM DELCO alternator and made a bracket for it. I changed all of the bulbs and installed a 12v coil but you can put a ballast resistor on yours I think. I also switched to a voltmeter instead of the ammeter to monitor the electrical system. You'll need a voltage reducing resistor for the fuel guage too. Mike

Hey Mike,

where can I find a GM Delco Alternator???

[Don Coatney]

Hey Mike,

where can I find a GM Delco Alternator???

Not real sure but I would try an auto parts store.

[MBF]

Go to any NAPA or similar store and tell them you want an internally regulated GM alternator. Sorry for the delay in the response-I just saw this post. Mike

[oldmopar]

Here is a few links with 6-12 info

http://www.oldengine.org/unfaq/six12.htm

http://www.classictruckshop.com/12volt.php

http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Tech/SixVolt.html

http://www.oldengine.org/unfaq/10si.htm

and about 1/2 way down on the tech tips for this websites home page

http://www40.addr.com/~merc583/mopar/framesets/techtipframeset.html

Also vpw has a kit again at the link about 1/2 down the page but you can do it cheaper if you get the parts on your own

http://www.vintagepowerwagons.com/catalog/pdf/group6-electrical.pdf

[brian hood]

THanks for sharing this!

[old woolie]

Why would anybody put G.M. stuff in thier mopar when mopars alternator and electronic voltage regulator are so easy to mount and connect.Plus they rarely fail unlike the G.M. one wire units. I'm new here and don't want to ruffle feathers but this has been my experience with G.M. alternators.

[Don Coatney]

Why would anybody put G.M. stuff in thier mopar when mopars alternator and electronic voltage regulator are so easy to mount and connect.Plus they rarely fail unlike the G.M. one wire units. I'm new here and don't want to ruffle feathers but this has been my experience with G.M. alternators.

I am running a GM 12 volt alternator on my P-15. Close to 15,000 miles to date with no problem. I paid around twenty bucks at one of the bubble pack auto parts stores for this alternator. Should this alternator fail I should be able to get a replacement most anywhere. That is why I went with a GM unit.

[MBF]

Haven't had any problems with the Delco alternators in either of my old mopars for several years now, but I've replaced the one in my '78 1/2 ton several times in the 26 yrs I've owned it! Next time-that will be getting an internally regulated Delco too! If it isn't 6 volt it isn't original anyway-but its the way I like it-simple and reliable! Mike

[wallytoo]

Why would anybody put G.M. stuff in thier mopar when mopars alternator and electronic voltage regulator are so easy to mount and connect.Plus they rarely fail unlike the G.M. one wire units. I'm new here and don't want to ruffle feathers but this has been my experience with G.M. alternators.

as noted above, if mine fails, i can go to virtually any autoparts store and get one - in stock. the same cannot be said for the mopar units.

fact is, that "old dead chevy out in the field (or behind the barn, etc.)" probably has an alternator that i can swap directly into my conversion. no new wires. no new brackets. universal.

[norrism1]

Make sure the alt turns the correct way when buying. Clock wise or counter clock wise with the engine running of course.

[Don Coatney]

Make sure the alt turns the correct way when buying. Clock wise or counter clock wise with the engine running of course.

I am not sure if that is true. In theory it seems that as an alternator produces alternating current that is converted to direct current that it should produce the alternating current spinning in either direction.

While looking for an answer to the above question I ran across this interesting article.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2005/09/23/exhaust-driven-alternator-turbonator/

Exhaust driven alternator - turbonator

This is interesting. It’s an alternator driven by exhaust gas instead of a mechanical drive system. The TIGERS Turbo generator Integrated Gas Energy Recovery System alternator can be spun up to 80,000rpm and generate as much as 6kW. By eliminating the mechanical drive and parasitic losses, they immediately gain efficiency. In cars and especially trucks, this can be a substantial benefit though I don’t know that this is directly applicable to motorcycles.

These types of systems always require careful thinking, basic laws of thermodynamics still apply so when you gain efficiency by reducing mechanical losses one place, the losses from the exhaust driven generator must be added back in. Figuring out the net benefit is beyond my calculating powers so we’ll have to read the article and go from there. Neat idea, though.

[norrism1]

Pulled this off of Yahoo Answers:

(quote: yes it matters on any of them ,they have to turn in the direction they would turn on the engine if it was on one, other wise they wont put out any voltage and it will damage them,its is important that they turn the right way

Source(s):

been a certified mechanic for 37 yrs.) unquote.

This is the link where I got info!

answers.yahoo.com.au/question/index?qid=20080320213634AAbwTWw

[Don Coatney]

Thanks for the link. That is interesting. I would have thought direction was not inportant.

[norrism1]

Don,

Best way to determine what direction it turns is by the cooling fan built in the pulley. It may work backwards but burn out as no air flow is being pushed thru the alt.

Norris

[5.9diesel]

norrism1: the guy who lives down the road from me put an alternator on his lawn tractor years ago when his stator died. because of the only availible mounting location, the alternator has to spin the other way. that thing has been running and charging for easily 10 years with no problem so far.

[440scout]

i run alot of gm alternators not only on my mopars but my fords too.

now if it already has a functioning system on it i dont mess with it but if the vehicle has wiring issues or something more complicated,than it gets a gm 1 wire...