The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 12 Volt Conversion

So my dad wants me to convert my truck to 12 volts because he thinks we aren't getting enough cranking power to start the truck. which makes since, my battery doesn't seem to hold a full charge anymore, but is it really worth doing so knowing that the truck hasn't started? I mean we keep getting closer and closer, but every time we try to start my dad stands on the starter for 20 seconds at a time and by the end of the day my battery is dead, so then i have to wait to take it to my auto shop and get it charged.

Ever sence we replaced the battery cables with 1 gauge and tried starting, my starter has been smoking once we let off the starter. my dad thinks that starter is "f*****" but i think its just from changing the wires we're drawing more currant through the starter. Who's right??

As for a 12 volt conversion, would i be able to keep my foot starter? if not then its staying a 6 volt system haha.

for the conversion what would i need?
so for what i think is: 12V coil, ignition resistor, 12V gen or alternator, and a 12V starter. am i missing anything?

Thanks everybody in advance!

The majority of the problem in operator error. Cranking on a starter for 20 second is bound to heat it up. A well tuned engine in decent shape should start within 5 seconds of crank time. It may take two or three 5 second cranks with maybe 15 in between to let starter cool. Think I would do a compression check on engine and then if needed new plugs and ignition and tune it up.

By increasing the wire size you lessened voltage drop giving the starter more voltage and thus more amperage.

Increasing to 12 volt only means you get to burn up a 12 V starter instead of a 6.


Dan Bentler

Unless you have 12v accessories to run the only thing changing to 12v will do is take money out of your bank account. If your cables are properly sized, all cable ends clean & tight, the starter sound, the battery good and the truck tuned properly you should light her up in just a few seconds of cranking. Dan is correct, cranking for 20 seconds continuous will unduly heat the starter. Get a new battery (buy or borrow and pay attention to the CCA rating) and try it again.

I fully agree with "leitmotif", you and your dad need to figure out why the truck doesn't start. Agreed that can be quite a can of worms, but these guys are here to help. Just give them a chance, then watch the grease fly.

Aright, no 12V system yet haha. What kind of spark plugs should I use? Its a 1951 gmc with a chevy 216 apparently. I put new AC Delco R45 in when I started working on the engine.

You did not get a bunch of dirt and crud in starter when you cleaned engine did you?

Dan Bentler

You have an amazing starter to have survived that kind of use. I would spend a little money on a battery charger. Then, I would run the coil off the charger when trying to start it and you will get a much better spark.

Leitmotif, no i did not get any crud in the starter. i took every precaution possible, taped off every single hole ect.

Truckernix, ill try using a batter charger on the coil but how would i set that up?

Thanks for all your advice,
Josh

Disconnect the lead that goes from the wiring harness to the coil.
Protect the end so that it doesn't touch anything. Now connect the negative of the battery charger to the block or head and the positive lead to the coil. Remember that if it starts, you kill the ignition by disconnecting the charger! The battery charger has to be one of the simple ones that doesn't need to be hooked to a battery to work.

ok, ill have to see if i can borrow a friends charger then. mine only works when hooked up to a battery