8V electrical system?

Curt in AZ

Curt in AZ

Senior Member
An old-time mechanic told me about a truck they converted to 8V to keep stock electrical components. He said the VR will adjust up to 9V so it's no problem. The truck starts nicely according to him. I'm an electrician and know the extra volts will cause the gauges to read a little high, along with brighter lights, etc. Also slightly shortened life for lamps. Has anyone heard of this or was he smoking something? :confused:
 
I don't know how common a modification it is, but it has and is done. Not the best idea in the world, the 6v system works fine if maintained properly. If that is not what you want, a 12v conversion is fairly simple.
 
This was a very common thing to do back in the day. The 8volt battery was a marine
battery, you can still get them and the generator will keep up with the 8 volt battery.
Starter works great and lights are brighter and bulb life is not much different.
Edit: Bulb life is shorter but they guys I new that did it didn't drive much at night.
 
I put it on my 40 and it works great. Easy change alternator battery and move i wire on the voltage regulator. been on over a year.
 
Back in the early 60's I had a 53 Chevy that would not start when it got hot. Got tired of parking on a hill so the local mechanic installed an 8 volt battery and adjusted the regulator and it then started?
 
As Ken said, if everything is as it should be 6v works perfectly fine. IF not there is a problem, find it and fix it. 8v is a bad idea.
 
I ran my 1940 on 8 volts from 1968 until the total rebuild in 1982. I was not on the internet at that time so I didn't know the difference. It was just what people did back then.
 
I ran an eight volt system in my 34 for as long as I had it (18 years) and never had a problem. Always started in cold Connecticut winters and hot summers. Never burned out a bulb or any other electrical components. Pete/Ct.
 
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