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I am nearly complete building a complete '48 Wire Harness. My customer just informed me that he wants 12V instead of 6V. Who out there knows which wires I need to pull from my harness, and what new ones I need to add?

Wiring harness should be the same-difference is all the other stuff that connects to wiring harness-light bulbs/generator/starter/coil etc

Is he switching to a 1-wire alternator, 12 volt generator or what? If you built the harness using the heavier 6 volt wire gauges, it's probably overkill for a 12 volt system. But I guess it's his money.

He is going with the alternator. The harness was built for 6V, and will remain that way.

Thanks for responding.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but usually 6-volt wires are much more robust than 12-volt wires, so I would guess there is no problem. Your customer will have a problem with his light bulbs, though, if I remember correctly.

Why is he going to 12 volt? Certainly not because it's better. The usual reason is to hook up air conditioning, or to have a source to charge modern Ipods, GPS or radar detectors. That, in my opinion, is a LOT of work and expense just to charge a phone. It would be cheaper and easier to just put a spare 12-volt battery in the trunk for that kind of stuff.

For phone charging,GPS and even a hidden AM/FM radio you can always install one of those 6V pos grnd to 12V neg grnd converters. I have one in my 38 (6V) and it works fine.

Phil and t'others are right. Tell your customer not to butcher his car. Nothing wrong with six-volt systems so long as everything's up to snuff. In the bargain, six-volt wiring is heavier than 12 volt harnesses. Just make certain he has 00 gauge battery cables, and that any master disconnect switch is rated for more amps than the starter draws. I got a good brass, marine quality one at a local auto parts house for $24 years ago, doubt they're much more now. Husky build quality. Simple, easy. Stick it under the dash through the firewall.

Personally, i like driving my Packard so i can escape cell phones, gadgets, electronic small talk. But doing what Phil suggests will let your customer neatly straddle both eras.

I agree as well. With the possible exception of adding A/C, converting to 12-volt is just nonsense.

Amen. And we've got air conditioning. They're called vent windows, for and aft, and a cowl vent. Have never understood why people want to burden these beautiful engines with air conditioning.

No cup holders in my Packard, either. Hallelujah!

Once upon a time in America, people drove Packards and other automobiles long distances, over the hills and far away, without cupholders, air conditioning, power seats, seat warmers, and without constantly eating whilst behind the wheel. But then, most Americans weren't clinically obese, either.

If your customer persists on 12 volts, ad nauseum, sell him a retro rod with a Packard grille plastered on the front.

Gawd, you wonder why some of these loons want a Packard. Or if they've an idea how fine Packards were and

CAN BE.

Sadly, while many people get excited rebuilding an old engine, getting all the linkages and fittings up to snuff is beyond them, what separates the men from the boys,
draws so many to modern conversions, short cuts, retrorods.

Fun4, if your customer has something like a soul, and drives a fully rebuilt, fettled Packard, he'll understand the above.

Once upon a time in America, people drove Packards and other automobiles long distances, over the hills and far away, without cupholders, air conditioning, power seats, seat warmers, and without constantly eating whilst behind the wheel. But then, most Americans weren't clinically obese, either.

Lets see. driving any car in 100 degree heat is fun? Cup holders are frivolous? The word that crosses my mind is curmudgeon....

As a licensed old fart, hydration and comfort are two key parts to the senior triad of pleasure and satisfaction. Since someone is bound to ask, the third leg of the tripod is of course regularity......

Going two hours to an event in hot weather is debilitating; driving home is exhausting. Adding air can certainly be seen as adding safety; in any event it's far less desecrating than leaving a car in a leaky barn for umpteen years meaning to get to it someday.