Hi all, I'm looking to buy a 49/50 Olds and many have the original 6 volt electrics still. I know that many owners will convert the system to 12 volts but I wonder what differences this will acheive, any ideas? I know that the dynamo will have to be swapped for an alternator and a 12 volt battery fitted but what other changes would be required? I'm thinking of two main areas, engine related components ie starter and ignition circuit and the rest ie lights, guages, radio and wiring loom. Please let me know and put me in the picture, is it worth concidering? Maybe someone has a link to a guide on this. I will be keeping the car for some time. Thanks
Stuart.

 

This sort of conversion is quite common, but as you suspect, every electrical component must be changed. The list includes the ignition coil, battery, alternator (well, here in the colonies it's an alternator...), all bulbs, and the gauges. You can keep the 6 volt starter and it will spin faster on 12V. You can get a voltage reducer for the dash so you don't need to replace the instruments. I suspect you have a vacuum wiper motor, but if you convert to electric it also needs to be 12V.

 

Thanks Joe. If the wiring is in good condition would it take 12 volts instead of 6 volts? To convert the lights is it just a case of getting the right 12 volt bulb fitted into the original holders? If I don't do the conversion I guess I can't fit anything modern like a stereo can I?

 

It's the current that sizes the wire, not the voltage. Wattage = current x voltage, so for the same wattage bulb, doubling the voltage actually cuts the required current in half, meaning that your 6V wiring is actually overkill for 12V. You should be able to get 12V bulbs that fit in your current sockets. Check street rod supply houses. You can run a modern stereo (assuming it does not have an insane wattage amplifier) with a voltage converter that you can also get from street rod suppliers. Speedway Motors is a good place to start looking.