12 volt conversion

Jim,



In 1951, Hudson began using a gauge supplied by King-Seely for both fuel and temperature (part no. 225948). Its operation required a voltage regulator known as a "constant average voltage (CAV) regulator" to supply the gauges with an "average input of 5V." This device is a metal box about two inches long, an inch wide and 3/4 in. thick. It has positions on it for the connection of a wire from the ignition switch, and to supply current to the gauges. Look at the box on your gauge module, if it has a small, faintly stamped circle with the letters KS in it, that's what you have on your '54. (I'm not that familiar with the '54's, so keep that in mind.)



If it is a King-Seely unit, the Mechanical Procedure Manual states that: “input voltages in excess of 8.0 volts will not affect gauge indication accuracy, but will overload the regulator contacts and may result in premature wear.” Some feel it may affect reading accuracy as well.



Neither the CAV regulator nor the part no. 225948 gauge is affected by polarity. Your fuel and temperature "senders" are simply resistors in the gauge circuits, and are not affected by polarity. There are also steady state devices which will put out the 5V used with the above gauges, but they do generate some heat.



King-Seely units were used on a lot of Ford models, and are compatible with some the Ford fuel sending units.



Walt-LA

Jimalberta wrote:

Ok, I have decided to switch my 54 wasp over to 12 volts. What I need to know is :





I have already modified a spare generator bracket to take the alternator and am in the process of modifying a generator pulley to fit my alternator in order to continue to use the wide belt pulley.

7.Anything I'm forgetting?



Thanks for your help.



Jim

Jim,



Actually, the stock Hudson pulley will fit on the alternator as is. You can always go one step further for a few bucks and buy a new pulley for your alternator, and leave your generator as is. You can get aluminum, chrome, or plain zinc plating;



http://www.speedwaymotors.com/GmSearchResults.aspx?q=pulley&SearchTitleDescr=True



Good Luck

Perhaps this will help clarify......

I bought a '68 Chevy Coil (which is 12V) and the Chevy External Ballast Resistor to ensure the coil had no Internal resistor. Then I ran the 'hot' lead from Ign Switch into one side of resistor with the other side out to the + Coil Term. The Coil - Term goes to the Distributor. This Hudson motor has a Crane Electronic Point conversion Kit but directions are 'typical' ...............

Jimalberta wrote:

my understanding was that I have a regulator on the back of my guages that keep it to a max of 8 volts to my guages. I keep getting different messages from people. Its getting frustrating.

Jim,



The instrument voltage regulator for '51 and later stepdowns was meant to take up to 8 V input in regular service. It will take more, and many are run on 12 V now, mine included- for the last two and a half years. That said, operating them at over 8 volts increasesthe likelyhood of the unit failing because the points in the unit are more prone to be burned. Ditto clock winders.



The instrument regulator devices put out what Hudson described as 5 V "constant average voltage," not 8 V. The operation of this device is described in the Hudson Mechanical Procedures Manual for 1951, and again in some of the Hudson Service Merchandisers in '51 and '53.



Walt-LA