The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre New member Winston Salem , nc

Hey guys! Paw Paw here...I just aquired a 51 5 window cab and a 52 3 window cab......traded for them. Both are complete trucks.....mostly....
I'm looking to switch both over to 12 volt systems.....is there a checklist ?

Evening Paw Paw, and welcome to the Stovebolt. Sounds like you hit a home run on acquiring TWO trucks. Wow.

I worked in Winston-Salem for Microfibres for a couple years. Its down off Stratford Rd. Printing/dyeing outfit. I wish sometimes I'd have stayed a couple more years. Good place. Almost bought a house in King or Kernersville.

By the way, there are several bolters here from Winston, I think one or two from Kernersville, and some from Raleigh, Greensboro and some more close by. Watch for them. If someone up that way will do what we call a "GafFest" or "Reunion" you can count me in. Just name a place and post it here in the EVENTS Forum or the Greasy Spoon, and the Southern Bolters Forum and we'll have a blast!

One piece of advice is to ask questions in the most appropriate garage forums....like Engine questions in the Engine Forum, Driveline in the Driveline Forum and so on. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.

.....but I might add a note to the 12V conversion. A lot of folks do it but MANY here "testify" that the 6 Volts work good and that the biggest problem with the 6V folks is they don't have a GOOD GROUND which means everything when starting ect.

....but we also agree here that it's YOUR truck and you can do what you want and we'll even help you do it! Lots of knowledgeable folks here willing to share.

...and some pictures when you can post up a link. Whew.

Evening Achipmunk!.....funny short story.....a few years back I was living in Massachusetts ....planning on moving back home here in Winston .....traded a Silverado for an enclosed 14 ' trailer......moved myself home and traded the trailer for the two trucks!.....and so it begins!.....

Great story. After being in the military in the U.P. of Michigan I'd never have made it in Mass. To cold for me!

I think you'll find a lot of great folks here. I've been here for many years and to several "stovebolt gatherings" and have never been disappointed. Never. Visit often, contribute when you can and let us know when we can help.

....now if you get down to Old Salem, be sure to eat some "sugar bread" from the bake shop. Man, I miss it!

Welcome!

As Alvin mentioned, probably best to ask your electrical questions in the electrical form, but here are a couple thoughts.

If you stay with 6 volts, be sure and use heavy enough battery cables, not the tiny ones you find in most stores.

If you switch to 12, there are steps you need to take so you don't fry your 6 volt gauges. It can be done, but just a couple things to think about.

Welcome.

I did the switch to 12v a few years ago, it's not to hard. Change all the bulbs, protect the fuel gauge with a resistor. I used a 6 volt wiring harness and have no problems.

I'm just south of you in Rowan County.

Paw Paw,

Welcome to Stovebolt.com

There is a very helpful Tech Tips section here on Stovebolt.com. Look at the top menu on this page.

To get best advantage out of a Tech Tip. After reading a Tech Tip, and thinking about what is in it, post your questions here for clarifications.

Here is direct link to the 12v Conversion Tech Tip:
http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/12_volt_conversion.html

Hello Paw,

I'm New to the Forum also, but we're neighbors....
Almost... I'm in Raleigh. Just purchased a 59 Spartan 100.
I'm starting to think... What'd I get myself into... LOL

ptjetpilot

ptjetpilot, be sure to look up Roadmarks here in the forum. He has a couple panels/suburban and lives in Raleigh. He's been to about every Stovebolt gathering I've had here.
....hey, ya'll need to have a "gabfest" before the year is out. There's a bunch of you guys around.

Thanks for the welcome guys! This is my second and third stove bolt truck....my first was well before the interweb was a big thing.thanks for the info too....can't wait to meet y'all at a gabfest!