The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk What to do! Looking for opinions..

I have a 53 1/2 ton that I would love to be a daily driver. . Around town. No highway. It has a 54 235 engine on the original 216 transmission and flywheel. Converted to 12 volts but kept the 6 volt starter. I burned the starter motor when I believe the foot stomper got stuck and it kept cranking the starter. Tired of working on it in the street and found resto shop nearby. He says that the starter should be a 12volt as it will last longer - but wouldn't I need to change the flywheel? Another option is putting a 350 from a 72 Chevy pickup that is available... keeping it stock isn't terribly important to me but money is.. I am asking for opinions. Thanks, Scott

I put over 100,000 miles on a 55.1 converted to 12v with a 6v starter with nary a problem with the starter. All you have to avoid is what happened to you. Don't crank it long and a 6v starter will last forever. Just make sure it doesn't "stick" again.

You have a great engine already. A 6 volt starter fed by 12 volts is not only fully acceptable, it is awesome to have. It turns the engine much faster which makes a cold engine start right up.
You probably had an old starter which lived past its life expectancy. I new/rebuilt one will serve you very well.
Figure out if the stomp starter linkage parts were actually the cause of the stuck starter. Take a look at all of the moving parts for excess wear and replace the worn parts if necessary. You should have no trouble finding a serviceable used one by posting in the Parts Wanted Forum on this site. Just about everyone has a good one laying around.
Carl

If $ is important, I would just replace the 6 volt starter with another. They will last forever on 12 volts if you don’t go crazy with the time spent cranking it. Replacing the flywheel and putting in a 12 volt starter could get pricey if you can’t do it yourself. JMO 🛠

Yes, the number of teeth on the flywheel changed on 12v engines.
6v/139 teeth & 12v/168 teeth

A 6v starter should be used on a 6v flywheel, and, a 12v starter on a 55nd and later flywheel (the teeth need to match).

Unless you are careful as Tiny and Martin and Carl post above.

Putting that V8 in there is also possible, but a lot more complicated. Among other things there are clearance issues with the steering box. A search of the forums should turn up all kinds of info on that. Better off to keep what you have, as has been mentioned.

Ha ha, 6-volt horns work better on 12 volts too! Intermittent use accessories can survive brief overloads.

I've been starting my 37 Buick on 12v but only for the last 40 years on the same starter. It's driven 2500 miles per year so not a dust gatherer. If your stomp mechanism is hanging just use a car starter with a push button. I have never had trouble with engine heat, smell, or smoke coming in around a push button.

Check the cab mounts. Lots of time a "stuck" starter is actually caused by the start pedal shaft dragging on the hole it goes through.
Jerry

Great advice. Appreciate it. Think I will stick with the 235 and just get her on the road!

You won’t regret that decision! Enjoy!

Just take the starter to a good shop and have them put 12v field coils in it.. that way you are good with the flywheel

Thanks to all. Didn't realize a 12v starter that fits the 139 teeth flywheel was an option. Got one ordered from Chev's of the 40. Thanks to everyone.