12v conversion, what to do with overdrive?

[Anderson]

So yesterday I converted my 51 deluxe over and now I'm wondering what I should do with the overdrive as far as hook it up and use the 12v or do I need a special resistor? I've done a lot of reading but still not quite convinced to go one way or the other. I don't wanna risk destroying my solenoid. Thanks everyone

[Terry T]

you will now need  a 12 volt one with the proper throw

[Anderson]

Do you know who makes them or where I can get one?

[Thomasso]

They are occasionally available on Ebay.  I don't think anyone makes new ones.  Pretty much all Borg Warner solenoids are the same.  Ford 57 up, Studebaker 12V.  You will also need a 12v relay also, same story on them.  Not cheap.  Still see some in vintage wrecking yards, usually broken.  Why the 12V conversion?  Just asking.

[HJ-ETEX]

Actually, I am not aware of any 6V/12V problems. That is to say, any problems you have after switching to 12V would have shown up if the system were still 6V.
Use circuit breakers or a SlowBlow fuse on the relay.
The OD was supplied by Borg-Warner so if you need replacement parts, look first to Studebaker and AMC. Chevy and especially Ford also used BW Overdrive.

[Fid]

I am not aware of any 6V/12V problems.

Nor am I. We converted two Henry Js to 12 volt way back when. We never upgraded the OD components and drove them for years we never had any problems. But, I won't go as far as to say  you shouldn't change them.

[WillysTom1]

  In 2004 I took my 9 year old grandson for a cruise around the state of Florida in my 55 Willys Custom. When we arrived in Lakeland my generator decided to stop working. Club member David Horton, who lives in Lakeland, took to us to several alternator shops to find parts for the generator and none were available. A local shop installed a six volt alternator instead. They told me that it actually puts out 7.8 volts. Since it puts out almost 8 volts I installed an 8 volt battery. The starter spins a faster and the lights are a brighter. My bulbs do not burn out any quicker than they did with the 6 volt battery and no other problems from using the 8 volt battery since then.  This is a whole lot easier solution for upgrading the electrical system compared to 12 volt conversion.

[Corsairdeluxe]

I've done it twice . If it was me...

I would use a modern 12 volt ,Bosch type relay ,!2 $ on ebay. if you do not like the looks, put it behind the dash.
12 volt solenoids show up on ebay all the time from $50-$300. Wait till what you want shows up.

Change out the 1 gauge battery wire for a 4 Ga. It will drop some what the voltage to the starter.


I also changed a HJ over to a 6 volt ,60 amp alternator with an Optima Battery. It performed as good as any 12 volt change over and was a lot less work.

[kaiservagabond]

Anderson. Save u're money and don't do anything with the overdrive, period.  I changed my 50 Vagabond over to 12v about 15 years go and the overdrive has never given me any problems at all.  And for about 5 years after I changed to 12v I drove it every day.  Enjoy it like it is.