So back story.I bought a 1946 Oldsmobile dynamic 4dr sedan with a straight 6 flat head all orignal at 50,000 miles has some rust but is easily fixable, it's my first project car but I have been working on cars for most of my life.
I am curious if I should convert the old six volt system to the now used twelve volt system, for some modern conveniences, such as brighter headlights, tail lights etc. Or should I keep it on the old system it rolled out of the factory with and just re run all the old wires?
Thank you.
Troy R.
The Dynamic is a beautiful car. Congrats on finding one with such low mileage. Would love to see a photo of yours.
Converting to 12V sounds like a good idea to me.
- It will allow you to use modern batteries, alternators, radios, starters etc.
- You will be able to use more powerful starters, headlights etc.
- The whole electrical system will be more reliable (from using less current)
- You can charge your phone, and plug in whatever modern devices you want
- You can reuse the wires, but you'll need to replace the fuses, and accessories.
Once I get it cleaned up a bit more I will defiantly post pictures, I live in Ohio and the little old lady left it sitting in a field after the husband passed away so some of the chrome and other parts are in dire need of work, like I said it's a project but will take some time. the body is straight and the frame is solid.
She's rough but will be worth it in the end.
wow everything looks original
Yeah she's all orignal, but I may have gotten in over my head, her fenders are hardly holding on and the motor needs a full rebuild, the original owners left her sitting without spark plugs so I need to try and unseize her. I am going to be trying to make a dog cage for the fenders to make them sturdy and kinda turning her into a uni-body front end. She wont be historically show car but seeing how she is going to be my daily driver she's going to be perfect to me. I am doing a mixture of restoration and rat rod. Without chop top and slamming her to the ground. Also I failed to realise untill getting a much better look that she actually has the 4.2L 257 L8 motor and the orignal hydamatic auto trans.
I would just keep the old six volt system.
If you'll be entering it in competitive shows where originality counts you'll want to keep the old 6 volt system. If it's going to be a driver rather than a trailer queen it will be more dependable with 12 volts and you'll be able to run modern accessories.
I am solely going for drivability over anything show worthy, I never could understand the idea of fixing up a car and never driving it.
I'm with you on that, cars are made to be driven, but there are people who go the trailer queen route. I think going 12V would be a good thing. There are even alternators available that look like an old generator to keep that authentic look.
he got a really solid car. Wish mine was that solid lol Mine was sitting in a field for 50 years and then a barn for 10.