I think a good deal of the time people try to milk the
electrical system dry. I mean rather than keep up with the
cleaning and replacement they will just keep on living and
complaining about how the 6v system is inadequate. When dim
or erratic lights, sluggish cranking, charging problems and
such are the result of a poorly maintained system.
As you point out Roy, no matter how hard you try, placing the
red and green anti-corrosion washers under the cables,
covering them with grease, battery terminal protective spray,
etc. they will still corrode back under the insulation and
should be replaced periodically.
Galvanic corrosion between two dissimilar metals, that is,
copper wire terminals and steel frame/body is always present
as long as there is any moisture in the air. Your lighting
connections if left for decades could be only making contact
over an extremely small area, creating a high resistance
where much of the 6v potential is dropped instead of being
available at the bulb.
I hate to see 8v batterys used as a fix for a poorly
maintained system. My '54 had one when I bought it and it
came out the day I brought it home and now serves as a
DC power supply at the radio bench in the basement. The
generators and regulators aren't designed to supply a
steady 8v in a Stovebolt.
One thing that's being left out of this discussion is, that
this hobby is supposed to be a fun thing and we should be
doing what we want to customize our trucks to our own
taste.
If you feel better with 12v, an alternator, power steering,
multiple carbs, dual exhaust, Peptronics ign, tilt wheel,
etc, then go for it, it's your truck, do what makes you feel
good. Just don't blame all the problems that your having
with your newly acquired stock Stovebolt on the original
electrical system, it was adequate when new and still is
if you keep up with it.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Last edited by Denny Graham; 09/15/2014 12:22 PM.
