Inliners International Forums General Discussion Electrical pos to neg ground efforts

I am in the process of converting my Positive Ground electrical system to a more conventional negative ground system. I changed the battery poles, flashed the generator, and confirmed proper starter rotation. When started ,the generator quickly cooked itself. Did I miss something?

Not much help but I think a read that something must be done with the field coils. Hopefully somebody here knows for sure.Also, in the Tech Tips here it has some info on doing just what you did. Maybe that will help you.

Dear Mr. Dyer;

Yes it can be done. The gas guage, radio & other acessories are the concern. Sometimes they have to be 'isolated'.

A gen/reg will work either way.

I'll need more info to help more.

Is this going to 12V as well?

JM.....

It is a '62 chevrolet which was 12v to begin with. I have a second generator, but am hesitant to put it in til I can isolate what Idid wrong.

W;

Are you trying to go from 6V +G to 12V -G??

JM....

Greetings . . .

'62 Chevy? What's to convert? Unless I am mistaken Chevy has been a negative ground system since '38. Delco started to take GM to 12 volts with Cad, Olds, and Buick in '53. Chevy and Pontiac followed the move to 12 volts in '55 . . .

I'm with John, can you clarify the application and what's being converted?

stock49

1962 chevrolet truck
235
HEI
Dual progressives from langdons

12vdc Positive ground at time of purchase

I dont know how or why the electrics were changed, I am just trying ot change them back to support the HEI. This was a farm truck in Miss. which means she got passed around from father to son to uncle. The positive lead off of the battery went to the front of the engine block, and the negative lead went to the starter.

W;

Okay, "Micky Mouse" has been there.

First; Test generator, then install & wire it up normally, making sure the field wire is NOT grounded. Also, make sure the Arm/Fld wires arn't interchanged on Gen/Reg. The field wire is the smaller of the two. You could run a ground wire from the Gen. to the Reg. too.

Second; Remove the cover from the regulator & inspect. You may find the 'cut out' relay welded/ burned up. If so replace the Reg.

Third; Install a new regulator & polarize it acording to the instructions inside box/Motors Manual.

Forth; When starting make sure voltage is set 13.6-14.2. Coil will/should have 'ballest' resistor that drops to 6.8-7.2 when in run position (12V to start).

Dash guages may be toasted but easy to get/replace.

Good luck, JM......