BUSY BOLTERS Are you one?  The Shop Area
continues to pull in the most views on the Stovebolt. In August alone there were over 22,000 views in those 13 forums.
| | Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | |
8 members (Guitplayer, WICruiser, 32vsnake, DuckRancher, Bill Hanlon, SWEET, 66flea, 1 invisible),
564
guests, and
1
robot. | | Key: Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod | | | Forums66 Topics126,777 Posts1,039,270 Members48,100 | | Most Online2,175
Jul 21st, 2025 | | | | Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 59 Chief Bottle Washer | | Chief Bottle Washer Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 59 | Hi Gang,
Is my truck a Positive or Negative ground?
All original...1952 3100, 6-volt, 216 cu in.
I can turn a wrench, but have no mental concept for anything electrical. I have done due-diligence trying to find an answer here, and on other sites, but am getting a lot of conflicting
information. I really wish the answer could be posted on SB's "Tech Tips" link...
Cheers,
Jim | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,442 | Chevy is Negative ground.
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,988 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,988 | Chevy is Negative ground. Which means the cable attached to the negative post on your battery goes to the motor or the frame or the body. The positive cable goes to the appropriate starter lug. I guess it's so understood that it's not a tip. Sure like to know what conflicting info you are talking about. GMC, not to be confused with the company called GM who made them, had positive ground trucks for a while. Chevrolet trucks with Chevrolet motors, also a part of the company GM, used negative ground. Just to test a web search, which I recommend, I googled "Chevrolet positive ground" and the first entry gives the answer. It is possible for someone to convert to positive ground or hook up a battery wrong and the new owner can get confused. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 1,003 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 1,003 | i'm curious now what would happen if you swapped it to positive ground by mistake...
you would be able to start the engine,
all the lights would be find
but... the generator and amp meter wouldn't like it much at all, that might lead to a damaged regulator and amp meter
the gas gauge should probably read okay
-s | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 28,674 | Lights and starter won't care. The ignition and charging systems will have a few problems, possibly including stuck cutout relay points in the regulator if a DC generator is installed. If the vehicle is equipped with an alternator there will be an immediate dead short that will fry the alternator and possibly set the wiring harness on fire.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,066 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,066 | I did a 12 volt conversion on a 55 T-Bird a few years ago. Prior to the conversion the owner had the cables switched as he didn't have any knowledge of the differences in vehicles that used 6 volt systems. All he had ever seen were late model cars with 12 volts. I recall it did run but I believe he had it towed home a lot. It performed great with the 12 volt conversion and using a 10SI alternator.
Fred
1956 3100 Pickup/Red/350/3sp OD/PS/Disc Brakes
1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe/Red/355/TH350/PS/Disc Brakes
2017 Silverado LT Single Cab SB/Black/5.3/6 Speed Trans
1947 Willys CJ2A w/F-Head engine
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 59 Chief Bottle Washer | | Chief Bottle Washer Joined: Oct 2018 Posts: 59 | Thanks everyone, you've bailed me out one more time!
Jim | | |
|
|
