The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 6 volt parts in a 12 volt system?

I guess this should be fine, but I thought I'd ask your opinions:
I'm parting out a 1950 Buick. It has the same door handles and locks as my 1959 TF truck. and an original GM key. since I have different keys for all the lock in my truck, I want to install these Buick locks in my truck. also the iginition. but the Buick is 6 volts. and I will actually have to install the complete ignition switch off the buick, as my truck has some cheapo generic parts store iginition switch. the question is: this will work fine, right? 6 volt ignition switch in a 12 volt system.

seetz,

Yes, it will work fine. Generally speaking, the switch wouldn't be voltage rated, but if it were, it would be more husky in a 6 volt version than in a 12 volt version so you are extra safe now.

Make sure it has all the same functions, START, RUN, ACC etc. I thought the '59 switch had some double contacts that provided the bypass circuit for a ballast resistor.

Stuart

It does on V8 and automatic 6 cylinders that use a solenoid style starter. manual trucks still used the old style On-Off switch. If you have a concern using the Buick switch, you could just get a known good truck switch and simply swap out the lock set, it's really very easy to do. Just put the key in, then poke a stiff wire (a paper clip will do) into the small hole to the right of the key opening. Push in on the wire and turn the key to the left, then pull towrds you. The lockset will come right out. To put into the new switch, just insert it and turn to the right until you hear a click sound.