MTFCA Forum

As some will be aware we've got a community project going to design a voltage regulator for the Model T (and Model A) generator. The thread on that is here: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=25609

As part of what we're doing it'd be useful to know if anyone still uses 8V in their vehicle? It'd be useful to hear from you if you actually do...

Thanks, Luke.

YES. A good % in our chapter do also. Several of us are pro 8V & encourage this over 12V conversions for new folks.

Yes, 3 with 8v and standard 6v cut out, never had a problem, never blown a bulb and 1 with 8v and a bittner magneto charger and one on 12v with a bittner magneto charger..

One with 8 volts to turn a 16 valve Type C Roof.
The others are 6 volt.
Harry

I broke my starter solenoid spring before I even noticed I bought a T with an 8 volt battery.

Where can you find a GOOD 8 volt battery , Rural King and Napa are Junk, I haven't been able to find one that will last for more than a year!

RichJ wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 6:54 am

Where can you find a GOOD 8 volt battery , Rural King and Napa are Junk, I haven't been able to find one that will last for more than a year!

Interstate. My last one is on 8 years. Still charging up.

Why, exactly, would one use an 8 volt battery in a 6 volt system?

Why use an 8 volt? It keeps you in practice at changing bulbs.

If you have a lot of battery issues, your system may be overcharging your battery.

Tim Rogers wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:01 am

Why, exactly, would one use an 8 volt battery in a 6 volt system?

Better starting (helpful if you have decent compression) No bendix/ring gear damage. Brighter lighting. No conversion. 6V stuff is all rated to 8V. Hotter spark running on battery. (some T's will run as well on battery as mag.) Helps cover the voltage loss in the connections. Hides some of the starters weakness.
You asked.

A better question would be what's the down side. Takes some finess to use a battery charger if you dont have an 8V charger. More expensive harder to find battery, But if it fails on the road, a 6V goes back in with no needed changes to the system.

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 9:04 am

Why use an 8 volt? It keeps you in practice at changing bulbs.

I have had NO issues with new light bulbs burning out sooner. Bulbs are rated 6-8V. Old stock bulbs might be another issue, but I believe the fault would be the loss of inner gas or vacuum.
Been running 8V batteries for at least 25 years.

An 8 volt battery will require close to 9 volts to charge at any significant rate.

I think my 1951 Dodge truck had a defunct 8 volt battery when I bought it in 1986. The battery I bought for it was 6 volt, and the batteries it's had since have been 6 volt. Easy start. My 1946 Allis B and my 1923 Ford touring are both 6 volt and start just fine. I was...uh... What was the question?

Steve Jelf wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 10:46 am

I think my 1951 Dodge truck had a defunct 8 volt battery when I bought it in 1986. The battery I bought for it was 6 volt, and the batteries it's had since have been 6 volt. Easy start. My 1946 Allis B and my 1923 Ford touring are both 6 volt and start just fine. I was...uh... What was the question?

I think they wanted to know how much Marvel Mystery oil a water pump needs

Add 2 tablespoons full of MARVEL MYSTERY OIL to the radiator to lubricate water pump seal and prevent rust and scale. PS: It smells pretty and keeps radiator hoses soft and pliable, too!

A six volt system is perfect. All new wiring, a good starter switch and you're all set.

Ditto what Larry said. Go to a truck shop and have them build you 2/0 starter cables. My '26 arrived with an 8-volt battery and modern cables. I got the 2/0 cables, switched to a new 6-volt battery, and the engine actually cranked faster. More voltage is not better. Just fix the reasons you think more voltage is needed. My 2¢.

Original Ford Model T Battery cables were 1/0 guage.
Ron Patterson

Do you use 8 volt battery? No
"IF" I were going to change (don't have any plans to do so), would not screw around with 8, would go to 12.

Mark Gregush wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 8:18 pm

Do you use 8 volt battery? No
"IF" I were going to change (don't have any plans to do so), would not screw around with 8, would go to 12.

Then you either modify a starter or destroy bendix's & your ring gear.
Plus changing ALL light bulbs. A way worse choice if you think about it.

If you need 8 volts to compensate for problems, that in my book is even worse. Do things right, and you don't need 8 or 12.

Why assume that fitting a 8v is to rectify a problem, it's the cheaper way to go, no changing of anything other than amp adjustment, in my case it's for making it just that little bit better, starting high compression engine with out breaking anything, lighting and running turning signals with 12v can and bulbs (the last time I looked for a 3 prong 6v can, it had to come from England) with no problem, GPS and phone.

So, it appears some folks are using 8 volt batteries to compensate for worn out parts and bad wiring. Hopefully the folks who are new to the hobby don't buy into this.

I'm a little more fussy about wiring than most. I'm fortunate to have a wiring company less than 100 miles away, and have original examples of Ford wiring. I took every wire to this company, and they made me all new looms, and even wove the Ford tags into the looms like Ford did. I also used a NORS starter switch which is important. The earlier switches can be taken apart and rebuilt, but I don't know about the late style. I use a modern group 1 battery concealed in an authenic Ford battery box too. I don't have problems. Draw your own conclusions! Do things correctly in the first place, and you will be rewarded with the results, rather than trying to cover up mistakes.

Frank, yours (and others in the same situation) might be a different case re the modifications. Most people that install 8 volt batteries do so because the whole electrical system needs attention, or have been hearing too many urban tales that it was needed and was a quick way to fix. That is my OP and am going to stick to it.

I had a '52 Cadillac with a 6 volt system that started very easily. 331 V8 with about 230 HP. '54 Ford with a 292 with 239 heads and a Western Auto 6 volt battery... easiest starting car I ever had.

My ‘24 touring came with an 8V battery that worked fine when I drove it at the seller’s location, but was completely dead on delivery. I have no means to charge an 8V battery, so I moved the 6V from my express wagon to the touring and it worked fine.

Well, I had no intention of starting a debate, but thanks to those that responded.

I have to say I'm surprised at the number that appear to be using 8V, albeit those with mag chargers aren't going be wanting generator regulators

FWIW here in NZ there are essentially no 8V batteries, and with 6V batteries being around three times the price of 12V I'm quite happy to be pragmatic and use 12V - with suitable changes to the starter field coils of course. Maybe that goes with the territory, our mains voltage is twice that of the U.S. too!

Luke.

Luke, it's an interesting question re cost and availability of 6 and 8V batteries. Just had a quick look at what's available in Australia re 8V https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/cen ... 82658.html
6V is much cheaper https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/p/cen ... ry&start=2
Surprisingly, neither of these is available in the NZ Supercheap stores. And it seems that 6V Red Top Optimas are almost twice the cost of what they are in Aus.

John H That 8V battery is for a golf cart. Not a standard group 1 battery. I use 8V batteries in three of my cars.

John, that's more than twice the price I pay, but then my nephew owns a battery shop.

FordFool wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 5:52 pm

That 8V battery is for a golf cart. Not a standard group 1 battery.

That may be, but try and find a proper 8V starting battery in this part of the world. The term 'group 1' is not something that seems to be used here, but I gather it's to do with physical dimensions.

John, A place in Sydney lists the Federal brand on Ebay, more than 10 in stock, I had one of those last more than 12 years.