|
Author
|
Message
|
|
oldcarmark
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 4 days ago
Posts: 3.7K,
Visits: 32.4K
|
o Florida_Phil (8/6/2017)
I have determined this '55 T-Bird has been converted to 12 volts positive ground. I pulled out the radio and it is a 12 volt positive ground conversion. I disconnected the clock as I read reversing the polarity will harm it. I suspect the generator, coil and voltage regulator are also 12 volts. The car runs great and everything works fine. The starter solenoid is the 6 volt style with only one small post. I disconnected the battery cable while the car is running and the engine stays running, so I assume the generator is working. It looks like all I need to do is to switch the polarity from positive ground to negative ground and I should be good to go to the next step. I know I need to re-polarize the generator when I do this. I have never done this before, but it doesn't look hard. Any pointers? After that's done, I am going to replace the 55 distributor with a rebuilt 57 distributor with points and change the intake to a 57 with a Holley carb. I will also replace the starter solenoid and reroute the "I" wire to the ballast resistor. I have a set of '57 "G" heads to go on the car later. My goal is to end up with a 12 volt negative ground car with a 1957 Ford ignition and top end. Does all this sound like I'm on the right track? That's very strange to convert it from 6 to 12 Volt + Ground. Wonder if this Car was in Europe at some Point in its Life? Many British Cars imported after WW11 through to early 70's were 12 Volt + Ground.
 
|
|
|
|
|
oldcarmark
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 4 days ago
Posts: 3.7K,
Visits: 32.4K
|
The Generator will work on 12 Volt + or - Ground. To repolarize Generator turn the Battery around and hook it up as - Ground. Take a Battery booster Cable or a Jumper Wire and connect to the "A" Terminal on Generator and touch the other end to the + on the Battery. Just touch it for a couple of Seconds. To polarize the regulator take the Wire Terminal off the "B" Terminal and touch it to the "F" Terminal. Couple of Seconds. Will Spark. Normal. This is done with Engine OFF. The Radio should work on - Ground as its not like the newer Electronic Units. It should not work on 12 Volts without a Step Down Resistor which must be present somewhere under the Dash because it works on 12 Volts now. On my 53 Ford which I converted from 6 + to 12 Volt - I just added a step down Resistor back to 6 Volts and it worked fine. With it already being 12 Volts a lot of the changes have already been done like Bulbs and Turn Signal Flasher Unit.
|
|
|
|
|
miker
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: Last Month
Posts: 1.8K,
Visits: 190.5K
|
I think your on the right track, with the proper conversion and the dizzy manifold work with the heads. I thought I'd seen just about every odd ball thing on parts swapped out on old cars, but this one 12v+grd just shows I haven't. I would be interesting to know why.
miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ
|
|
|
|
|
Lord Gaga
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: Last Year
Posts: 464,
Visits: 183.3K
|
IF; " The car runs great and everything works fine." why don't you leave it alone??
You'll have a car that fooled the experts! LOL
"FREE SAMPLE"
|
|
|
|
|
Florida_Phil
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 2 Years Ago
Posts: 1.2K,
Visits: 285.6K
|
I thought about leaving it alone, but I don't want to be running around with some weird setup. Might get me in trouble some day. I'm not sure why this was done, but it is interesting to see it works so well. I'm going to switch the battery cables and re-polarize. Do both the generator and the regulator need to be re-polarized? I thought this was done at the regulator? Thanks for all your help. It's been a long time since I worked on one of these cars. The good news is it looks like the engine has been overhauled. The rocker shafts are new and the inside of the engine is clean. It runs fine for a '55 with a teapot carb, just not up to it's potential.
|
|
|
|
|
oldcarmark
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 4 days ago
Posts: 3.7K,
Visits: 32.4K
|
I would do both just to be sure. Because the Generator has been running as a + Ground and the Regulator has to be done anyway.
|
|
|
|
|
Florida_Phil
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 2 Years Ago
Posts: 1.2K,
Visits: 285.6K
|
I spoke to an old guy (actually my age) who has probably forgotten more than I will ever know. He owns a garage in the area and works on a lot of old Fords. He told me to switch the battery cables, install a new voltage regulator, flash the voltage regulator and I should be good to go. He said the generator is usually the first thing everyone swaps when to they go to 12 volts and the fact that my car is running well, it probably is a 12 volt unit already. I think he's right as this car runs too good to be messed up. I'm not sure why he wants me to buy a new voltage regulator, but they're cheap enough. Hopefully I can get this issue behind me and move on to more interesting things.
|
|
|
|
|
oldcarmark
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 4 days ago
Posts: 3.7K,
Visits: 32.4K
|
No doubt the Generator is 12 Volts. Buy a new Regulator and Polarize it. Its not a big procedure to polarize the Generator just to make sure but that's up to You.
|
|
|
|
|
Y block Billy
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 7 Years Ago
Posts: 1.6K,
Visits: 5.2K
|
To tell the difference between a 6 volt and 12 volt generator, the 6 volt rear bracket fits inside of the mount and the 12 volt fits to the outside of the mount if I remember correctly.
 55 Vicky & customline 58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100 59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?
|
|
|
|
|
Florida_Phil
|
|
|
Group: Forum Members
Last Active: 2 Years Ago
Posts: 1.2K,
Visits: 285.6K
|
Mine is outside the mount, so I guess it's a 12 volt like we suspected. I'm wondering why the former owner didn't convert the ground while he was going to the trouble? It doesn't matter now. I've reversed the cables and installed a '56 and up style starter solenoid with the extra post. My car already has a ballast resistor so all I need to do is rewire the coil with the new "I" wire. The new voltage regulator is on the way. Hopeful, all will go well. Thanks again!
|
|
|
|