Unregistered users may browse the website, but in order to participate in the forums and view select pages (such as "Club Contacts" and "Classified Ads") a user account is required. Click HERE to email the webmaster and request a free account. The National DeSoto Club uses real names rather than pseudonyms. Notify the webmaster of your user name preference (Johnathon Doe vs. John Doe, etc.), preferred email address, and password request.
I have a 55 fireflite and have already began a 12 volt conversion. I have fabbed a alt. bracket and installed it along with the single wire alternator, and a 12 volt coil withthe internal resister. My question is do i need to install voltage rwsistors for any of the cars electrical like the flashers or winsheild wiper motor to avoid burning them up?
Ryan
My first question is why do you want to change it?
My second question is have you thought of using the
12 Volt Generator that was used from 1956 to 1961'ish
by The De Soto Corperation? The Generator will use
the same bolts, Belts and etc as what you are removing.
The Pulley's will also line up the first time.
Not only are you changing the six volts to 12 volts,
you must change from A Positive Ground to a negitive
ground.
Light Blub's
Heater Blower Motor
Windshield Wiper Motor
Clock (?)
Radio (?)
Rodger & Gabby
COS
FltSgt@outlook.com
Ryan, in addition to what Rodger listed, you may need to change the voltage regulator, the carb switches may not like 12 v, the transmission relays and governors may take some exception to 12 v, the horn relay also. I guess you can cut resistors into the wiring to reduce the voltage. The resistors would need to be sized properly both in ohms and wattage. For that money and time I am not sure why you wouldn't just add the alternator and battery and have a second circuit for the 12 v stuff.
Old wiring may not like the 12v. The insulation is only designed for 6 volts. Most everything will work as is with 12 volts, it is just a matter of how long. The starter is a good example of just how long since I have started the 53 with a 12 volt battery every so often.
12 Volts to the 6volt starter can be very hard on the flywheel teeth. Bill
I have already made and mounted the alternator braket and alternator, and the 12 volt coil with the built in resistor. Just gave the car a tune up and runs pretty good, better so than it did on 6 volts. I know about the lights but have read and been told that the dash lights will last a long while on 12 volts. I figured needed to use a reducer on the wipers and blower motor. Already have plans to replace all the wiring in the car due to the fact that what hasnt already been wrapped in electrical tape has the insulation fallin off of it. Didnt know about the points though, the trans., or the carb. postrive to negative ground, im not even sure what that means. lol. Any other info would be great. Is there anyone who has actually done this?
You need to switch to negative ground. Are you using GM single wire alt with internal regulator? I'd stick with the original ignition and install a ballast resistor in line before hot to coil. Starter will work fine and spin the right way even though polarity is changed. Now the blowers won't! So start looking for '56 blower motors as they should swap right in. I think I got some. Do you have power steering? If so, how are you hooking that up? Nothing on the carb electrical on a '55. Change blinker to 12V, no big deal.
I'd have stuck to the original myself, but it looks like your going to do this.
Good Luck
Steve
yes im using gm one wire alt. with the internal regulator, and 12 volt coil with built in resistor. Blower motor seems to be turning in the right direction, enough so to blow the shirt off your back on high, lol. hence the reason I plan on installing a voltage reducer. But your saying I need to install a resistor in the hot line to the coil? I am electrically incompatent, but thought thats what the built in resistor in the coil was for. If im wrong and you do have a blower motor out of a 56 that will work for me I would be interested in it. Shoot me a message with price of shipping and price of the part and Ill get back to you.
Thanks Steve.
Steve, I always have wondered why an engine would turn in the correct direction after changing the polarity on a starter. A DC motor will want to turn in the opposite direction when the polarity changes - I believe. So with the engine crank and all moving in the opposite direction with its rotational momentum, the engine would want to rotate in that direction OR it has to change direction very quickly. So what is going on? I have never heard of an engine going in the wrong direction - so how does this happen?
The starter motor is double wound so both the field and the armature are energized. So even though you reverse the polarity, opposites still attract and the motor turns in the same direction whether hooked up negative or positive ground. Starters motors are made that way to produce a lot of torque to crank the engine. Most other motors on the car are single wound with the field being a permanent magnet. Thus, when you switch polarity, the motor reverses rotation, which comes in handy when you want to put the window back up.
Have a happy Thanksgiving
Steve
Thank you Steve. I will buy your explanation - sounds good. However, there must be some predetermined bias to spin one way or another.
