8 Volt Batteries
- Thread starter JAKEFORD
- Start date
I can't see why they wouldn't be available. Get a 6 volt battery and fix your electric issues, and all will be good.
No need to cover up problems by fitting an 8 volt battery, just fix it properly. There's many, many folk on here that use the stock 6 volt stuff, reliably for ever. One of there common denominators being properly maintained electrical parts and wiring.
Martin.
No need to cover up problems by fitting an 8 volt battery, just fix it properly. There's many, many folk on here that use the stock 6 volt stuff, reliably for ever. One of there common denominators being properly maintained electrical parts and wiring.
Martin.
redmodelt
Well-known member
The 8 volt is a mask, try cleaning your connections, esp the ground. Pull the starter and give it a good clean, maybe it needs new brushes. I dropped a 6 volt battery in my 48 226/6 cylinder that had been sitting for well over 15 years, cleaned the terminals and it cranked over fine. (did put some ATF in the cylinders before cranking)
BUBBAS IGNITION
Well-known member
That was the "standard" fix when i worked at the gas station. All the flathead chrysler products got one whether they needed it or not.
Only way to start a plymouth on a moist cold day.........rbg .....
Only way to start a plymouth on a moist cold day.........rbg .....
Ross F-1
Well-known member
Even when they went 12v, in Chicago winters in the 60's I had to jump all the Chryslers in the neighborhood.
Did the same thing when I worked on tune ups. After cleaning all grounds, checking starter and generator, points, condenser and plugs, timing and general engine condition, we always put in the 8 volt battery. It made the owners very happy on those cold damp mornings. If the old 6v was good they got a credit but usually it was on its last legs and they needed a battery anyway. Ford and Chrysler products were the worst. The old Chevy 6 seemed to like 6v.
Sometimes we installed double welding cable ground wires to different locations to ensure we had good grounds. It depended on where it was operated and if it was always splashing in water.
No unusual problems with bulb burnouts were noticed.
The customers always came back for other work.
Sometimes we installed double welding cable ground wires to different locations to ensure we had good grounds. It depended on where it was operated and if it was always splashing in water.
No unusual problems with bulb burnouts were noticed.
The customers always came back for other work.
BUBBAS IGNITION
Well-known member
If ya give it some thought it was a good thing for all.
Engine started better, ignition was stronger spark and the lights were brighter !!!!
Not a bad thing......
Engine started better, ignition was stronger spark and the lights were brighter !!!!
Not a bad thing......
FlatheadTed
Well-known member
Try a 6v optima it will crank as fast ,longer life ,Ted
corvette8n
Well-known member
We went through this on the tractor forum also, 8v battery just masks the problem of bad cables/grounds, even though my 8N is way simple compared to an automobile being 6 volts it still needs the proper sized cables, and "bright and tight" connections. It can't be over emphasized how clean and tight the connections need to be.
Kube
Super Moderator
Alan, I am in with you. Six volts. FIX the car - don't mask the symptoms.
Later Fords and Chrysler's inherently required more amps due to their starter designs. What they didn't require was 8 volts.
tubman
Well-known member
Yup! Old worn-out tractors are one thing. Anything driven on the road is another.
Keystone 34 3w
Senior Member
My electric golf cart has six 8 Volt batteries. My '34s crank very decent with 6 volts.
slowforty
BANNED
As said before Good connections,Good grounds, and a decent tune up.
My 40 has 65 pounds of compression on 7 cylinders and 35 on one.
Starts on the 7th or 8th turn. Goes down the road at 65mph. just watch the oil level.
Dont try to do 0 to 60 in 10 seconds.
See it go up the hill at The Newport Hill Climb on Oct 3rd and 4th
My 40 has 65 pounds of compression on 7 cylinders and 35 on one.
Starts on the 7th or 8th turn. Goes down the road at 65mph. just watch the oil level.
Dont try to do 0 to 60 in 10 seconds.
See it go up the hill at The Newport Hill Climb on Oct 3rd and 4th
flathead 53
Well-known member
good grounds and an optima 6 volt battery,your good to go
I am terribly confused. I just wanted to know if they are still available and I guess they are from different sources.
In rethinking my past we always thought 33% more battery power was good as long as the higher voltage did no harm. The cost of an 8 v battery was about the same as the 6v and the regulator adjustment was minimal. It was almost like going to 12v. The engine spun like crazy and started well. I never saw any harm in going to 8v. We never neglected connections, grounds or any of that other happy stuff but on the old grain trucks it made a big reliability difference. The grain had to move and the 8v system helped a lot. We had the Dodge but mostly Ford as they were cheap and very reliable. We probably had 6 or 8 trucks at the time. After harvest they were laid up and sat until the next year.
Optima batteries were not available then and these were not casual pleasure only vehicles. These were work horses that built our county and were driven hard and long. They were great and amazing trucks for the time.
In rethinking my past we always thought 33% more battery power was good as long as the higher voltage did no harm. The cost of an 8 v battery was about the same as the 6v and the regulator adjustment was minimal. It was almost like going to 12v. The engine spun like crazy and started well. I never saw any harm in going to 8v. We never neglected connections, grounds or any of that other happy stuff but on the old grain trucks it made a big reliability difference. The grain had to move and the 8v system helped a lot. We had the Dodge but mostly Ford as they were cheap and very reliable. We probably had 6 or 8 trucks at the time. After harvest they were laid up and sat until the next year.
Optima batteries were not available then and these were not casual pleasure only vehicles. These were work horses that built our county and were driven hard and long. They were great and amazing trucks for the time.
My dad went to an 8v battery in the Farmall Cub he had and used at the ranch...95% of the Cubs (think it was a Cub if I recall) running was at idle, pulling a grape trailer as the pickers were dumping the baskets in the trailer, seems the generator just didn't give out enough juice at idle for the extended periods of time it was run...seemed like every other day we'd have it on the charger to get it fired up, the 8v battery solved that issue.
I know he did adjust the regulator, maybe that helped?...or maybe the 8v battery had more reserve?...I dunno, but from that point forward, we always put 8v batteries in all of our 6v farm equipment.
I know he did adjust the regulator, maybe that helped?...or maybe the 8v battery had more reserve?...I dunno, but from that point forward, we always put 8v batteries in all of our 6v farm equipment.