The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Need simple question answered

Hi guys...You'll probably be seeing a bunch of questions from me in the weeks to come. I just brought home my "project". It is a 55 (according to the California DMV)...54 according to the guy I got it from (based on the photos available on the web.
I don't know where to start with the questions but first...is the electrical system negative or positive ground??? There was no battery in the truck and there was a fairly new RED cable bolted to the seat hold-down bolt! Most of the other wiring has been cut by someone. I just wanted to see if I could get this beast to fire up. It is still 6 volt and still has the floor pedal starter. It has a Delco-Remy metal tag on the starter but that doesn't offer any clue.
I don't even know what straight 6 motor I have. It may be original.
Do they make 12 volt starters to fit this old motor?
Your forums here are like the Encyclopedia Britanica and I will read (alot) but right now, my 14 year old son (the NEXT owner) is really impatient and I can't give him answers...
Thanks!

It could possibly be a '55 - first series.(changed to next body style mid-year) Your truck is negative ground. Only the GMC's were positive ground. Apparently, the PO(previous owner) just used a red cable to ground. Your battery should be grounded to the frame, as should the engine.

If you will give me that Delco starter number I can tell you what motor it fits, unless the starter has been changed.
Ken

A 12V starter will not mesh with your flywheel if still has the 6V flywheel in it.

Another tip. If the replacement cables are the same diameter as modern 12V cables they aren't big enough for 6V.

If it has been changed to 12 volt, chances are pretty good that it is still the 6 volt starter. It has been fairly common practice for vehicles to be changed and leave the old starter in and they will work. Probably not the recommended way, but it's been done a lot.

Thanks I will get it later today!

Funny you should mention that...the cables I took off it were the diameter of a cheap pencil! I thought "Geeze....what did they do?"..."Take these cables out of a Yugo?"

The Flywheel also is worn from poor engagement or mis-alignment!

I was thinking this would work...As long as the motor fires quickly...shouldn't be too hard on the starter motor. Thanks!

I have the tag numbers...

Model # 1107009
Serial # 8L15

I just pulled it from the motor and found a broken brush tension spring! The brushes are almost gone too! I am guessing the brushes might be available, what about the little spring???

Your particular starter, #1107009 is a pre-war starter number used from the late 30s to very early 40s and then it was changed to a different number. The date code 8L15 tells me is probably was on a 39 model truck because of the very late date. This date code is just the build date of the starter and not the truck itself. The 8 is for 1938, the L is for November, they did not use the letter "I" on dates, it was skipped, and the number 15 was the day of the month.
That starter had very few differences all the way up until the end of its run in Late 53 for the first series 55s that were still 6 volt. It was completely interchangeable with any year model Chevy 6 cyl. truck from the late 30s until 50s. Your starter is still a 6 volt starter. The only way you could use an actual full fledged 12 volt starter from a 55 second production and up starter is to change the starter drive in the starter, as mentioned above by Cletis, different flywheels thus different drives on the starter. And yes, that is something that can be done.
Feel free to private message me for more info on the brushes, springs etc. Its all available and I can help you out.
Ken

OOPS, sorry, I meant late 54 for the first series 55s that were still 6 volt.

Gotcha!!! Thanks again! Looking forward to the info re:brushes and springs!