6 volt or 8 volt opinions please

[Tinker]

Optima are nice and compact, can be laid on it's side, but expensive. Have one in my truck for about 4yrs now. Outlasted a few off brand maintenance batteries.

Last couple of standard 6v batteries I purchased were Napa batteries (#7224D). I run the napa battery in my A. Fits well and holds charge. So far, so good.

 

[Purdy Swoft]

Like Purdy,I also use ^ and 12 volt batteries in my A`s. A few years ago cant rember who it was made a 12 volt battery that was a two in one deal it was tapped at the third cell for six volts and a full 12 at the last cell. This was mostly made for street rod `s ..........Dave

Dave, your mention of a two in one battery reminds me of a trick that I was taught by an older guy back in the early sixties. I had a 55 Ford and changed it to 12 volt by installing a 12 volt battery and a few other minor changes that were similar to changing a model A over to 12V . The young gear heads of the day preferred the 54-55 six volt starters and run them on 12 volt in the old Y blocks because the quicker start of the 6 volt starter when run on 12 volt was a great advantage with the 292-312 engines. The 55 had a real good radio and that was a must so as to cruise while listening to the popular music of the day. I didn't want to fry the good radio so the guy showed me that you could count off the cells, about half way between the posts on top of the battery and screw a self threader screw through the tar top battery into the lead plates and this would give six volts. You could wrap the peeled end of an insulated 14-16 guage wire and make a good tight connection . You could then disconect the present wire from the radio and connect the wire from the third cell of the battery and presto, all was good with the six volt radio. The old tar top batteries were easier to work with for this mod but I see no reason why it wouldn't work with modern plastic top batteries. Again I make no recommendation Just telling my experience from long ago.

 

[CarlG]

Like Purdy,I also use ^ and 12 volt batteries in my A`s. A few years ago cant rember who it was made a 12 volt battery that was a two in one deal it was tapped at the third cell for six volts and a full 12 at the last cell. This was mostly made for street rod `s ..........Dave

I did this years ago on a 54 Ford 6 cyl when I installed Air Conditioning (I lived in Phoenix at the time). (bought the A/C kit at Sears)

 

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

While doing 12 V conversion on my '32 in the '50's using tar top 12 volt battery with exposed cell connector bars, my battery rebuilder would pour an extra post in the middle of the battery, so I could run everything on 6 volt except for the charging and starting system. ( SIMPLE )