Using a 8 Volt Battery on a 6 Volt system

[oilnsteel]

I have never liked where Studebaker grounded many of their v8 engines. The bolt on the water manifold is small and almost always corroded. I try to ground to one of the starter bolts if at all possible. As been stated many times before, 12 volt battery cables and clamp on replacement cable terminals are inadequate for a 6 volt car. With half the voltage, you need twice the amperage to do the job. That means a bigger 'pipe'

[SN-60]

You can also take the field windings from a Pontiac and adapt them to the Stude housing [Delco] this 4 field coil housing will give you more starting power. Also don't try to run 12 volt wiring on a six volt car! the current is higher on a six olt car even though the voltage is less. You must use larger wires.

This does help....My Speedster, (The Doctor's Car), has that update. Trouble is, those GM (Pontiac) starters are getting pretty darn hard to find!

[Corvanti]

i wouldn't go with a 8 volt battery, just fix whatever needs repair - even with 8V, whatever electrical problem will probably show up again at some point. my '40 (when i had her) & my '51 are both 6V - positive ground and have had no problems. i did put a extra ground from the frame to the engine when i had the '40 as suggested, and probably will on the '51 when i get "a round tuit".

[poweroptions]

I have added a additional positive ground cable that is attached to the mounting bolt on my starter. My Champion starts like a new car hot or cold. It made a HUGE difference.

[Commander55]

How are you going to charge the 8 volt battery? Will the generator on your car put out 8 volts?
My battery chargers will recharge 12 volt or 6 volt batteries; there's no 8 volt setting.

[SN-60]

How are you going to charge the 8 volt battery? Will the generator on your car put out 8 volts?
My battery chargers will recharge 12 volt or 6 volt batteries; there's no 8 volt setting.

Adjustable voltage regulators are available.....But the bottom line here is; By 1956, Studebaker (and all the other domestic auto manufacturers) had converted to 12 volt electrical systems.....They did it for good reason....and I hope no one thinks that reason was to save on copper wiring!!

[55 56 PREZ 4D]

Had nothing to do with saving copper wiring.
It was to save on the COST of copper wiring.
Automotive electrical systems were becoming more complicated. More circuits, more wire.
It would be interesting to see financial reports from the 40's and 50's concerning the cost savings from the change to 12 volt.
They probably read much like the reports in favor of higher voltages for todays future vehicles.
Cost savings were good enough reason for the manufacturers to make the change.
To not take the cost savings into consideration is unrealistic.

[poweroptions]

8 volts will ruin your radio too.

[TWChamp]

Good to see so much common sense just given here. When I bought my 50 Champion a year ago, the seller had just bought a new 8 volt battery and maintainer for it. The minute I got the car home I removed the new 8 volt battery and installed a 10 year old 6 volt I had laying under a tree. The car starts and runs great on 6 volts. I sold the $110 battery and the maintainer for $75 on craigslist.

Bulb life is also greatly shortened with an 8 volt battery.

[autoradiotech]

Either fix what's wrong with the 6 volt system or change to 12 volts! All 8 volt batteries do is relive you of cash and that's just the start. Think about it when you're replacing bulbs all the time and generators, regulators and accessories.