Positive Grounding Vehicles

[nutz]

Yes too much for my 50
And don't care ...like it vintage
Remember people doing the conversation on old vw without a lot of parts
But they are neg ground

 

[Dana67Dart]

Yes too much for my 50

Iirc some people drop in a 12v battery with a center tap. 6v for running the car, 12v for starting

 

[shittyslant6]

Yes on mopars.

yes i know; i was saying i personally havent worked on any mopar positive ground systems.

 

[mopar head]

yes i know; i was saying i personally havent worked on any mopar positive ground systems.

55 and older had it. I never worked on those systems either, but I did the conversion on my 52. I couldn`t get any electric gauges working even with 6V reducers, any way they were hooked up. Did get the wiper motor working with voltage reducer, that`s it.

 

[shittyslant6]

55 and older had it. I never worked on those systems either, but I did the conversion on my 52. I couldn`t get any electric gauges working even with 6V reducers, any way they were hooked up. Did get the wiper motor working with voltage reducer, that`s it.

well i hear starters spin like hell with 12 volts hooked up

 

[mopar head]

well i hear starters spin like hell with 12 volts hooked up

My 6V horns work with 12 but it blows the fuse if I lay into it. I probably need heavier wire and a relay in the mix.

 

[dr dodge]

My 6V horns work with 12 but it blows the fuse if I lay into it. I probably need heavier wire and a relay in the mix.

heater motor speed resistance coils work well to drop the voltage on those
ballast resistors work well on low current light systems too
use a mid/med speed coil for high current stuff.
and many instruments don't realize +/- swap other than the ammeter
convert the generator/regulator, good to go
a convert can be cheaper than a high current 6v battery vs 12v

 

[Bewy]

This has been a very informative thread. I did not realise so many cars used [+ve] ground.

 

[65 Cuda 340]

1956 was the first year Mopars used 12 volt negative ground. (At least for USA and for cars.)

My 49 Wayfarer had six volt positive ground. I converted to 12 volt so it could run the same battery as the rest of my cars. And also because most six volt over-the-counter batteries you get at your local parts store suck.

My wipers are vacuum, I don't have a heater or working radio, I used something I forget the name of on the headlight switch, replaced all the lights and bulbs with 12 volt, switched ammeter wires, 12 volt GM one wire alternator, and a lightweight 12 volt starter from Hot Heads for a Dodge hemi V8 (had to re-clock it), Pertronix electronic ignition and 12v coil. I think that's all.

The six volt starter worked with 12 volts, spun real fast, but if you had to crank it for more than a few seconds, it crapped out.

Early Fords and Chevies also ran 6 volt positive ground until the mid-50s. I think they went to 12 volt negative ground in 55, but don't quote me on that.

 

[65 Cuda 340]

49 Ford pickup I owned just long enough to get it running and sell. Six volt positive ground.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Early Fords and Chevies also ran 6 volt positive ground until the mid-50s. I think they went to 12 volt negative ground in 55, but don't quote me on that

I had a 56 Ford pickup that was 12v negative ground,

 

[nutz]

49 Ford pickup I owned just long enough to get it running and sell. Six volt positive ground.

View attachment 1716490013

Some day want a flat head.....and a hemi

 

[33IMP]

Question of the day
To convert to neg ground 6 to a pos ground 12v ......
What needs to be changed?
Don't you mean from 6V+gr, to 12V-gr? Light bulbs, generator/alternator, gauges. Your six volt starter will spin like mad!
I've jump started my six volt batteries (they are CRAP, I haven't found a quality one yet!) with a twelve volt many times. My white 33 has had an eight volt in it at one time. If I could find another, I'd use one again!
I know to do a 6 to 12 its manly bulbs and a ing coil...

 

[33IMP]

I had a 56 Ford pickup that was 12v negative ground,

I have a 54 Ford that's still 6v, I think Chevy and Ford went to 12V in 55, and Mopar a year later. Could be wrong. But 55 chevies for sure were 12v-gr.

 

[nutz]

Yeah its swapping pos ground to neg ground is where im lost
I know anything that is a resistor works the same and switches don't matter
But starter and generator ?
Voltage reg ...not sure what else
Radio....
Not going to do anything to my 50 pu
Its to original to change
It just things I think about

 

[melcardona]

Yes. There were positive grounds on passenger cars.

model a's and t's...???

 

[65 Cuda 340]

I have a 54 Ford that's still 6v, I think Chevy and Ford went to 12V in 55, and Mopar a year later. Could be wrong. But 55 chevies for sure were 12v-gr.

That's my recollection. My 56 Plymouth is 12 volt negative ground.