Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

The gauges being analog can use one of the "Chopper" IVR just fine, but you wouldn't want to use one of those with a digital circuit (like digital gauge). If you hooked that IVR up to an analog voltage meter it would show 5 volts. Hook it up to a digital multimeter and you would see it jumping between 0 and input voltage depending the scanning speed of the digital meter. The analog meter being much slower is response time is getting the 5v averaged output

Think of it this way, you can't dim an LED bulb, like you can a traditional light bulb. They are either on or off (binary). But cycle it on and off fast enough it will look solid but dimmer depending on how fast the on-off-on cycle is.

Geez Lex, I am about as unmillenial as they get as I am happily running 7 different cars quite happily on 6 volts, points, generators, the whole nine yards. But I do know from real live experience that I can bolt any pre 55 Packard starter into any pre 55 Packard bellhousing (excepting the big senior stuff from the thirties) and happily drive off to Wally's to get a cup of coffee. That is how I know that if the gentleman's starter will fit 49-51 if will also work just fine on a 53.

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The main reason I'm making the 12V switch is that I plan to road trip this car pretty extensively, and I want to be able to roll up to NAPA or the average neighborhood pick-a-part and get more or less anything I need. The old-school crowd, for whom I have tremendous respect, will be glad to know that I'm sticking with points ignition, because hey, NAPA still stocks the parts!

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I am willing to bet $220.50 plus shipping that you're right.

"Hopefully someone who has done a conversion will chime in with solid info that the 51-3 regulators will work on 12v without issue."

Yes, the 51-53 instrument voltage regulators work just fine on 12v, and operate just as demonstrated above. 12v in, 5v out, gauges work.

@HA- This is very helpful info and very timely for my upcoming project!