12volt conversion

[shortwheelbase]

Perhaps a typical question (maybe I didn't go back far enough to see this question previously raised) but what is the typical cost of converting a 6 volt car to 12 volts, and how long would does it roughly take?

Hopefully someone can shed some light on the matter...

[Dakota]

Hi
the cost of conversion depends on how far you want to go, the original starter can stay though it does come in with a bit more of a thump , a chap in the states called Al Zim does a relay to help , the dynamo could be reworked or a 912 one used, the early 912 is the same outside DIA as the 6volt 356 whilst the later one needs its pedastal too as its a larger size but beware if using a screw top oil filler from a 912 engine in an A or a T5 B as the lid can get a bit close to the inside of the engine cover. The voltage reg can be a sticky one , Al Zim says a bug one is not up to the job , so I guess a 912 one (though they look very similar) should do though I did find a 12V reg that looks identical to the original 6V one and works fine , I have in the past run the wipers and instruments through a volt dropper the downside of routing them both through one dropper is when you switch the wipers on the readings on the instruments drop slightly, ho hum. The last one I did used a simple wound resistor sold by an american company for beetle and van wiper motors , you could slide the contact up the side of it to set the output voltage, crude but effective, I know Mr Zim does something a bit more sophisticated, as for overall cost the labour should not be too bad and the most expensive items to source would be the dynamo and reg, though there is a chap on here who designed an alternator kit for 356's and 912's and I have seen a kit from another source too, Bill.

[67vert]

I have a Zims voltage reducing module for the gauges, new boxed with instructions for sale and possibly a 12 volt regulator.
Regards Graeme

[rocket280]

I have got one alternator kit left from the batch of ten I made earlier this year. I may do another batch in the future but I haven't decided yet. The alternator has a built in regulator. Check it out here
http://www.ddk-online.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=26443

[onion]

Hi, in case you need one i have a couple of 12v 90mm dynamos. genuine bosch units NOS.

[cubist]

Onion - how much?

[Winston Teague]

When i bought my car it had already been converted, using lucas ignition balast resistors to drop the voltage in the feeds to the combination gauge and the wipers, all work ok. Seems cheap and easy! W