The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Advice on Starting a 1953 235 6 Volt

My uncle bought a 1953 Chevy Wagon with the original 235 engine. As far as he knows it is all original. He's been thinking of trying to start it but the starter is missing. Is there any way to start it with a 12 Volt 235 starter to at least see if it's going to start to make a decision as to what direction he is going to go with the motor? He has a 1955 235 starter laying around but those are 12 volt. He priced a new starter and solenoid for over $200 at Napa. Apparently the solenoid alone is $80. Just trying to help him out. Any advice is appreciated.

A 12V starter won't mesh with a 6V flywheel.

matt
The tooth count on the flywheel ring gear and the starter drive gear are different from the 6v to the 12v. And the 12 v starter won't mesh with the 6v flywheel... sorry.
Try a search on craigslist or Ebay, or this site, for a used one.
Good luck.

1949-54 Pass starters will interchange.
If it is a Power Glide car they used a 4 field starter. Stick cars used a 2 field starter.
A 2 field starter will work OK but may be a little slow turning over in some conditions, but not usually a big deal.

Don't start it on old fuel.

My advice? Always park it on a hill!

An original 53' w/ 235 would have been a PowerGlide car and it would take a mountain to get up enough speed to turn the engine. Maybe you could tow it but frankly I'm not real sure the early PG's could be pulled to start.

1953 was the first year a passenger car could be bought with a 235, stick or auto from the factory.
The Power Glide car had a full pressure 235.
The stick car had a splash 235.
Interestingly Sedan Deliveries were considered trucks and had 216's

Well this car is a stick/column shift manual transmission. So it has to be a 6 volt starter then huh? Is there any drawback in keeping the car 6 volt. I mean it wouldn't make sense to buy a 6 volt battery and starter if you even thought about conveting it to 12 Volt in the future. SO what is involved with turning this into 12 volt? I read somewhere that a 12 volt battery will work on the 6 volt starter. I also read that all you need is a different blower motor and some relays for the fuel pickup and gauges. Thanks....

There is a starter listed on Ebay that says 1953-1957 Chevy 235 9 Teeth. Hmmm, I wonder. I'm not familiar with this vintage of Chevy's

1955 went to 12 volts so the eBay starter is misidentified.
Yes you can use a 6 volt starter on 12 volts.
There is no good reason to convert to 12 volts unless you want a 12 stereo or cel charger...
To convert to 12 volts you would need to change the bulbs, gen/alt, heater motor, and put a dropping resistor on the gas gauge.

I'm with Dave, the 6 volt works fine, and has for 60 some years now. I actually used a voltage transformer to get 12 volts for a stereo long ago, but have since taken it out.

my advice would be to change to 12 volt system. Patricks has a simple step by step process to change over using either generator or alternator. Did it to my 51 3100 and was able to keep the 6 volt starter. I kept the generator because of the original look. I also went with a Petronic electronic pickup did away with points.

If you use pertronix, carry all your parts and tools to re-install the points with you at all times.