The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 6 to 12 volt starter/53 chev pu

When I install my V8/12 volt starter in my 53, can I still keep my old ignition switch and floor starter?

the v8 bellhousing doesn't have the provisions for the floor button linkage to mount to - it's partly on the bell housing of the 6cyl, as well as the starter, which also means different ign sw, or an added push button for the start function - you might be able to rig it somehow, but I don't think it'd be easy

Bill

Thanks Bill, I don't know much about these pre 55's,I've only owned 55 and newer stuff till now.PS, that 58 of yours looks great.
Lothar

On my '47, the people who put the V8 in it installed a push button right next to the ignition switch. Works great!

Go to your local tractor supply store and get a push-button starter solenoid and mount it on your truck where the original floor starter will engage it,
Scott

For Red 58 - Bill could you get in touch with me by email or whatever way. Thanks.

Bill 0lblu

Sounds like you are planning to change from a 6 volt mechanical shift starter drive to a 12 volt solenoid shift starter drive.

They are fundamentally different.

If you swap out the starter motor, make sure the new starter drive has the same pinion gear as the old starter drive. If you don't, we will probably be answering questions about chewed up teeth on the flywheel and/or starter drive.

If you can somehow mount the mechanical linkage for the foot stomper starter on the bell housing, I suppose you could try mounting the old pushbutton contactor mounted on the top of the old starter motor to the top of the new starter motor.

If you do that, DON'T connect the battery cable to the switch any more. The positive battery cable would connect directly to the solenoid. The "new" switch on the starter motor would be the pushbutton, operated by the foot stomper, to complete the low amperage connection to the solenoid.

Just be sure you have good spring returns on the foot stomper linkage and the push button the linkage engages so that the mechanism disengages and doesn't mash the pushbutton when you don't want it to, otherwise when you hit a bump, you could get a surprise as the solenoid attempts to engage the starter motor at speed!

Thanks guys for your input.What I am actually thinking about is installing a V8-automatic, starter and all.I was hoping to retain the original way of starting up the truck with the floor button.I'd like to feel like I'm driving an old truck,yet have modern running gear and safety equiptment.

Hey olblu49(William),I see you are still trying to sell your blue truck,I hope it works out for you.I would love to have a truck that nice,but I want to customize one .And although I do not have a problem doing that with a non stock truck, I could never allow myself to do it to a truck as nice as yours.I've been looking for a decent truck like yours for a while, and haven't found one with the stuff I'd like it to have yet.In the meantime ,I've been plugging away at my 53 and have finally completed welding up all the rusty sections in the cab.After you sell yours, are you going to do another one?
Lothar