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#668874 08/09/2010 12:50 AM
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New Guy
New Guy
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Joined: Aug 2010
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Greets,

I have started restoring a 57 GMC that had the Pont. engine removed for an 69 olds engine and auto tranny.I understand these were pos. ground when stock?
The generator is still in place, so do I assume it is now a neg. ground? I haven't got it started yet, but cranked it by connecting each way, would that fry the volt reg. or anything?
So how do I know for sure which way to go? (gonna work on the points tomorrow).

Joined: Jul 2001
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Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,887
12V GMC's are neg ground '56 up, in 55 also if it was a V8 originally

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature we find it attached to the rest of the world" John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics & Rust-a-holics Unanimous parking lot
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New Guy
New Guy
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okay..thank you. Neg. ground it is.
(I don't remember where I read they were originaly pos. ground).

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Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
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lotsa possibilities because GMC 6 volters were positive ground, all before 55 2nd series

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature we find it attached to the rest of the world" John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics & Rust-a-holics Unanimous parking lot
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Bubba - Curmudgeon
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 29,269

Bill,

The use of a 6v electrical system in 1955 ("second series") trucks is not clear.

It looks like 6v batteries were standard through the 500 series trucks with 248-302 engines? If they were 6v, would you think they were positive or negative ground?

Here is the whole 1955 GMC brochure from www.1955gmc.com

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Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
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interesting [I like they call the brow above the windshield a "smart cadet peak"], I'd think polarity would be mentioned, especially if it was mixed, but they do indicate V8's all were 12V, and I've always heard the positive ground ended with 6V in 55

I see as well at Keith's, the shop manual listed as 55-59 has a date of 1956 [so it's actually a 56-59 manual], and shows neg ground in schematics with no mention of 6V ... always did think GMCs were haywire grin

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature we find it attached to the rest of the world" John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics & Rust-a-holics Unanimous parking lot
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 89
4
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Posts: 89
Careful squeeze or youll start geting hate mail.


theres a tool for every job,and that tool is a hammer. it's easy to give advice if it's not your pocket book at stake. A well thought out plan,Is nothing. Untill exacuted twice.
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Cruising in the Passing Lane
Cruising in the Passing Lane
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"start"? wink

Bill


Moved over to the Passing Lane

"When we tug a single thing in nature we find it attached to the rest of the world" John Muir
"When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" me
Some TF series details & TF heater pics & Rust-a-holics Unanimous parking lot
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 89
4
Wrench Fetcher
Wrench Fetcher
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Posts: 89
Not me. I'am a chevy man. Untell I work on my little brothers 53 GMC. LOL. Floyd. that is 6v pos. ground.

Last edited by 49 floyd; 08/15/2010 3:52 AM.

theres a tool for every job,and that tool is a hammer. it's easy to give advice if it's not your pocket book at stake. A well thought out plan,Is nothing. Untill exacuted twice.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,115
'Bolter
'Bolter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 9,115
If this thread started with a question about a Canadian truck, I believe all the Canadian 6 volt GMCs were Chev chassis and thus they were negative ground. I know my Canadian 51 GMC always was negative ground and according to GM, it has a Chev chassis.


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1951 1 Ton Completed


My Chevy Master 4 Door is on the Road!

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