1st Dumb Question of many to come - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

prscotty · 10-08-2010, 10:45 PM

I am going to try and start my recently acquired 47 Chevy. It is a 6 volt. Just to try and see if I can get it to run do I need to buy a new 6 volt battery or could I jump it off with a 12 volt.

britnjc · 10-08-2010, 11:18 PM

do not jump it off with 12 volt. just take the 6 volt to the auto store and they will test/charge it for you. 6 volt bateries are tuff and will probably charge back up easy if not they arent that expensive.

Sillyoldman · 10-08-2010, 11:35 PM

Deka 901 http://www.dekacatalog.com/#

enick72 · 10-09-2010, 12:38 AM

The one unfortunate thing about the 6v bat is there are not many choices like 12v (24, 48 month etc.) The 6v I got for my truck cost me $90, it was the only choice I had.

dwcsr · 10-09-2010, 01:31 AM

Its not hard to convert to 12 volt on these. You need some voltage reducers for the gages and things like the heater and wipers if their electric.. Change the coil and resistor, change the bulbs. you then get the option of a 12 volt generator or an alternator. You can temporarily use the 6 volt starter

raycow · 10-09-2010, 05:51 AM

You can jump the 6 volt starter from a 12 volt battery, but you must use a 12 volt coil and resistor. Make sure lights and electrical accessories are off and stay off the brake pedal so you don't burn out the brake light filaments.

Ray

Dan Bowles · 10-09-2010, 10:09 AM

You can do it if you jump it right to the starter. I've done it with no issues but don't recommend it. 6V battery at Tractor Supply should be under $50 but there is only 1 to choose from!

If you don't turn on your lights and you pull your fuel gauge wire, you can get away with just swapping coil to 12V and skip the resistor if you get an internal resistor type coil. Cheaper than a 6V battery.

**mr48chev** · 10-09-2010, 02:01 PM

Some good and some wild guess info in the previous posts.

Yes you can jump the truck with a 12 v battery and even run it for a short period of time to see if it runs. That is just for a minute or two though. If you just jump it and then run it on the generator with the six v battery in place there shouldn't be a problem but the 6v may not take a charge.
If your charger will charge 6V try charging the battery and see if it will hold some charge for long enough to at least start and run the engine. Then jump start it.

Unlike an alternator a generator will operate and charge with completely dead battery in the rig. If you were so inclined you could push start it with the dead battery with a generator on the truck.

As Dan Bowles mentioned AG supply places usually carry six volt batteries as a lot of older tractors are still six volt. You might even check at WalMart to see if they have one. That is if you want to keep the truck six volt. I don't think I would buy a new battery just to run the truck and then plan on changing to 12 v soon after. But I wouldn't do a bunch of electrical changes on truck with an engine I wasn't sure of either. See if the truck starts and runs, then worry about what you want to do with the electrics and battery.

**WIDESIDE72** · 10-09-2010, 06:13 PM

This works. I have tried it.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/arc...-197445--.html

"Of course you should not jumpstart a 6 Volt car with 12 Volt..
And still ive done it many of times (Ok Ive owned a lot of junk cars).

The important part is not to connect the cables permanently.
Connect the plus pole to both batteries.
Then connect the negative on the 12 Volt battery.

And now for the important part Do NOT connect the negative cabel to the 6 Volt battery, instead try to find another grounding point.
Since the gases from the battery can give quite a big bang, if you are unlucky.

Get a friend to ground the cable at the same time you turn the engine over. And remove cable directly when it starts"

**WIDESIDE72** · 10-09-2010, 06:14 PM

My dad buys 9 volt batteries for his Farmall tractors. Since the generaotrs put out enough amperage to charge it, he doesn't have ot make any changes. I am not sure about the guages on trucks, though.

Dan Bowles · 10-09-2010, 07:09 PM

To run a 9V you've got to play with your regulator but yes, they will work.

prscotty · 10-10-2010, 01:02 PM

Thanks for all th replies. Since I am going to try and restore the truck as close as possible to original i am going to see if the old battery will charge, if not I am going to buy a new battery. Since this is my first project and my lack of skills, knowledge, and finances I will need to keep it as simple as possible.

10-08-2010, 10:45 PM	#1
prscotty Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Honea Path, SC Posts: 14	1st Dumb Question of many to come I am going to try and start my recently acquired 47 Chevy. It is a 6 volt. Just to try and see if I can get it to run do I need to buy a new 6 volt battery or could I jump it off with a 12 volt. Last edited by prscotty; 10-08-2010 at 10:45 PM.

10-08-2010, 11:18 PM	#2
britnjc Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Helena, Alabama Posts: 453	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come do not jump it off with 12 volt. just take the 6 volt to the auto store and they will test/charge it for you. 6 volt bateries are tuff and will probably charge back up easy if not they arent that expensive. __________________ 1950 GMC http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335667 1965 Frd Stang http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=399891 1931 Frd Model A http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=496016 1954 Chevrolet Pickup http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=486183

10-08-2010, 11:35 PM	#3
Sillyoldman #16876 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Auburn WA Posts: 12,266	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come Deka 901 http://www.dekacatalog.com/# __________________ Posted via Stationary Device '71 Custom Deluxe C-20 402. '67 Buick Special 455. '49 Plymouth Special Deluxe. *"I love that old car smell"* *Some people are like Slinkies... not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.*

10-09-2010, 12:38 AM	#4
enick72 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 202	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come The one unfortunate thing about the 6v bat is there are not many choices like 12v (24, 48 month etc.) The 6v I got for my truck cost me $90, it was the only choice I had. __________________ 55 Chevy 1st series 65 Chevy stepside short bed www.bigslikpokertables.com

10-09-2010, 01:31 AM	#5
dwcsr Hollister Road Co. Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 6,131	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come Its not hard to convert to 12 volt on these. You need some voltage reducers for the gages and things like the heater and wipers if their electric.. Change the coil and resistor, change the bulbs. you then get the option of a 12 volt generator or an alternator. You can temporarily use the 6 volt starter

10-09-2010, 05:51 AM	#6
raycow Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 2,454	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come You can jump the 6 volt starter from a 12 volt battery, but you must use a 12 volt coil and resistor. Make sure lights and electrical accessories are off and stay off the brake pedal so you don't burn out the brake light filaments. Ray

10-09-2010, 10:09 AM	#7
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come You can do it if you jump it right to the starter. I've done it with no issues but don't recommend it. 6V battery at Tractor Supply should be under $50 but there is only 1 to choose from! If you don't turn on your lights and you pull your fuel gauge wire, you can get away with just swapping coil to 12V and skip the resistor if you get an internal resistor type coil. Cheaper than a 6V battery.

10-09-2010, 02:01 PM	#8
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,731	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come Some good and some wild guess info in the previous posts. Yes you can jump the truck with a 12 v battery and even run it for a short period of time to see if it runs. That is just for a minute or two though. If you just jump it and then run it on the generator with the six v battery in place there shouldn't be a problem but the 6v may not take a charge. If your charger will charge 6V try charging the battery and see if it will hold some charge for long enough to at least start and run the engine. Then jump start it. Unlike an alternator a generator will operate and charge with completely dead battery in the rig. If you were so inclined you could push start it with the dead battery with a generator on the truck. As Dan Bowles mentioned AG supply places usually carry six volt batteries as a lot of older tractors are still six volt. You might even check at WalMart to see if they have one. That is if you want to keep the truck six volt. I don't think I would buy a new battery just to run the truck and then plan on changing to 12 v soon after. But I wouldn't do a bunch of electrical changes on truck with an engine I wasn't sure of either. See if the truck starts and runs, then worry about what you want to do with the electrics and battery.

10-09-2010, 06:13 PM	#9
WIDESIDE72 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 7,500	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come This works. I have tried it. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/arc...-197445--.html "Of course you should not jumpstart a 6 Volt car with 12 Volt.. And still ive done it many of times (Ok Ive owned a lot of junk cars). The important part is not to connect the cables permanently. Connect the plus pole to both batteries. Then connect the negative on the 12 Volt battery. And now for the important part Do NOT connect the negative cabel to the 6 Volt battery, instead try to find another grounding point. Since the gases from the battery can give quite a big bang, if you are unlucky. Get a friend to ground the cable at the same time you turn the engine over. And remove cable directly when it starts"

10-09-2010, 06:14 PM	#10
WIDESIDE72 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Cedar Park, Texas Posts: 7,500	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come My dad buys 9 volt batteries for his Farmall tractors. Since the generaotrs put out enough amperage to charge it, he doesn't have ot make any changes. I am not sure about the guages on trucks, though.

10-09-2010, 07:09 PM	#11
Dan Bowles AD Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Blissfield, MI Posts: 822	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come To run a 9V you've got to play with your regulator but yes, they will work.

10-10-2010, 01:02 PM	#12
prscotty Registered User Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Honea Path, SC Posts: 14	Re: 1st Dumb Question of many to come Thanks for all th replies. Since I am going to try and restore the truck as close as possible to original i am going to see if the old battery will charge, if not I am going to buy a new battery. Since this is my first project and my lack of skills, knowledge, and finances I will need to keep it as simple as possible.

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