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Classic/Antique Car Repair/1950 Chevy pickup truck

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Expert: - 1/5/2010


Question
Hi, I have just bought a 1950 Chevy pick up as a restoration project. I am have not been able to find out if it has a 6 volt or 12 volt electrical system or if it is positive or negative earth. After checking around it, the only clue that I have found is that one of the headlight sealed beams shows 12v on it.Can you give me any guidance? It does have black battery cable to the body earth and red to the starter solenoid which makes me think it is negative earth. Thanks Neil.  

Answer
When that truck rolled off Chevrolet's assembly line it was a 6 volt system NEG ground. But that does not mean that in the intervening 60 years that some one has not changed it over or attempted to change it to 12 volts. My next step would be to clean the starter and the generator off looking for a tag or a number stamped into the frame. This should also list the voltage. The voltage regulator should also have the voltage and polarity stamped in the base near one of the mounting screws if it is a Delco Remy original type equipment.
Good Luck, Brad

Classic/Antique Car Repair

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Brad Sears

Expertise

All automotive including antique and collectible. However if the car has been modified I can only answer in general terms and maybe get you pointed in the right direction.

Experience

Automotive tech instructor. Syndicated auto columnist 1970's though the early 1990's. Syndicated auto radio talk show, Ask Brad About cars, CBS Radio 70's through 90's TV Show "Last Chance Garage" 1980's PBS-TV syndicated. Auto instructor for the following companies: Fram Autolyte Holly Carter AMF Ford Motor University Of Conn Blue Hills Technical School Sugar River Technical Center Grew up in a family garage in Needham Mass and turned wrenches from the age of 14.

Publications
Manchester Union Leader, Nashua Telegraph, Motor Service Magazine, Yankee Magazine, Popular Mechanics (Saturday Mechanic early 80's), Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and lots more.

Education/Credentials
More than I care to remember. Basically Franklin Technical Institute in Boston, Northeastern University, Fitchburg State Teachers College, Tufts University, and a lot of factory schools along the way.

Awards and Honors
Moto Award winner. And much more.

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