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I've got a 54 3100 with a 235 that has been converted to 12V..What do I need to do to get rid of the floor starter and install a regular ignition switch on the dash? Looked through my catalogs, but figured someone here would be able to tell me an easy way to do it...Thanks

I believe that to go to the 12v starter, you have to change the flywheel along with the starter. If you do a search, you will find some threads on this.

So what year did the 235 get changed to 12V in production? And I did do a search with no results..When they quit the floor starter?

12v trucks started in 55 - the floor starter went till at least 59 - whatsa matter w/ the floor stomp start? coolest feature you got! if you're wanting to change the starter cuz the truck is 12v now, the 6v starter will work fine on 12v

I imagine if all you want to do is change the foot stomp for the v8 style ign sw, you could get a later starter [60+] and bolt it in, change the sw - don't know about the bendix and ring gears, but I'd expect'em to be the same on any full pressure 235 - GM didn't waste money changing design details year to year - might even be able to just swap starter motor cases to get the one that mounts the solenoid

Bill

shooper,

Switch to 12v in Chevrolet trucks took place in 1955 2nd series.

It looks like the foot starter was available until 1959. From 1954-1959, the foot starter switch had a side terminal to send 12v to the coil during cranking (lead on 12v systems, the ignition to the coil ran through a ballast resistor).

I do not know if a solenoid driven started was available as an option during those years (or if automatic transmission trucks had a solenoid driven starter as was the case in 1954 6v Hydra-Matic equipped trucks).

I got a dash-mounted ignition switch from Chevy Duty for one of my '54 trucks that has a 1960 12v solenoid-driven starter. The switch is a little loose in the '54's original hole in dash. The part number might have been 53-411. Yes, a 12v solenoid starter must be matched with the appropriate flywheel (I do not know if the teeth were the same on 6v and 12v foot starters/flywheels).

Tim

For the record 6V and 12V starters have different size drive teeth and they must be used with the appropriate flywheel ring gear.

Get a starter from a car with selenoid on top.
49-54 6 volt will work fine. I too like the floor starter. Young people can,t believe it.

a young guy at the inspections station said he could start anything when I asked if he needed any help with my 52,,after a few min,, how do you start this thing, the key is on but nothing happens..

OK..you twisted my arm..Just got done putting a new boot and pedal pad on my floor starter..
Joker, had about the same experience, but just the opposite, it was with an older guy at a tire place..He asked for my keys to pull it in to the bay, and I asked him if he knew how to start it...Should have seen the look he gave me..We are good friends now..Take care

I thought about changing mine too but decided that the foot starter was kind of cool. It's also a good theft deterant- the only people that could start it would be a fellow bolter or someone over 50 so I think it's pretty safe in the driveway.

I agree, but just kept thinking about hooking two wires together and hitting the foot starter..So, I went out and bought one of those Club things that fastens on the steering wheel..They are gonna have to tow mine if they want it..Take care

or if they have a few hand tools, take off the steering wheel and use vise grips to get it on their roll back

Bill

I knew an old-timer who lived in LA and had a old oval window bug with a push button starter. He said many of people tried and tried to steal it but no one could ever figure out how to start it.

My 59 has a push button on the dash , but im going to convert it back to the floor. Mainly for security purposes, not to mention the nostalgia.

Those 50yr old steering wheels don't come off real easy with hand tools, and that old horn sure makes a lot of noise

Be sure to put the club ON the steering wheel. When I was in college, I had a friend who had one and forgot to put it on the night that his car was stolen. They used his club to break out all of his windows. OUCH!

I just thought- wire the horn to the starter with a switch under the dash to turn it off. Hit the starter- blow the horn. In the '70's when people were stealing gas, Dad wired his fuel tank door to the horn and never lost a drop again... but he did scare a few gas station attendents when he "forgot" to turn it off.

haha so true! I couldn't figure out how to start my truck either (I then found out it was seized ). Definantly a great security deterrant. One of the great features of these trucks we love (kinda like the cowl vent infront of the windsheild ).
AC

shooper,
here are a couple of search results:
http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000882#000007

http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=3;t=000757#000007

Shooper,
I switched over from 6 --> 12 about 3 years ago and I'm still using my original foot starter. Would never consider changing it. It is one of the coolest features of the truck.