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| | | | Joined: Feb 2022 Posts: 162 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2022 Posts: 162 | What do I need to convert the 6volt distributor to 12v on a 51 ,216? Part #'s
1953 with a 216
| | | | | Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,067 Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums | | Housekeeping (Moderator) Making a Stovebolt Bed & Paint and Body Shop Forums Joined: May 2015 Posts: 11,067 | I believe at most the capacitor. The points are just a switch and can work at either 6 or 12V.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truckFollow this saga in Project JournalPhotos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together. | | | | | Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 2,457 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 2,457 | It is not IN the distributor, but you'll need either:
1. a ballast resistor, a new stomp starter switch with a terminal on the side and a few feet of wire
OR
2. a new ignition coil marked 12v
I prefer door #1 for a hotter spark while starting.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12
'52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,803 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,803 | There are some very good reasons Chevy chose to go to a taller distributor cap and rotor when they switched from a 6V to a 12V electrical system. I don't believe the short cap distributor was ever used on a 12V system, at least by the factory. Trying to detail the differences will simply create a big fire hydrant watering contest. Suffice it to say that I won't use a short cap setup with 12 volts.
Jerry
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| | | | | Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 1,101 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2016 Posts: 1,101 | FYI - After converting to 12v I ran my original 6v ignition coil for almost 6 years before it failed. You might or might not get that out of your if you are looking to save a little money in the short term. When it failed it did leave me stranded on the side of the road so I suggest you change your coil while you are at it. Ballast resistor at Napa Part # ECH ICR13. Coil Part # MPE IC12SB
Last edited by dgrinnan; 09/14/2022 2:15 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 2,457 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2022 Posts: 2,457 | If you put the ballast resistor on I'll betcha the present coil will last for longer than Dave's 6 years.
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12
'52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
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