Posted by Keith on Tuesday, December 07, 2004 at 2:17PM :
In Reply to: Dodge M37 or PW Brush Truck posted by Dean Wilkinson on Sunday, December 05, 2004 at 7:54AM :
It is highly unlikely that your 50 something year old truck will not require a complete rewire anyway simply because old rubber (or fabric or whatever) does not make good electrical insulation. If you are bent on original equip, then you may not want to covert to 12v. However, if you want to be able to buy cheap 12v halogen headlights etc at any auto parts store or Walmart in any po-dunk town, put in a modern radio, electical wipers, and so on, then going 12v has its advantages.
IMHO building a complete new electrical system is tons easier than trying to convert existing stuff, and when you completely strip an old system and rebuild it new you know everything is connected right, grounded good, and nothing is rubbing itself raw on a frame edge or skanky grommet hole. Plus, you can build in whatever you want (back-up lights, electric fuel pump, master disconnect switch) without having to trace wiring, guess on loads and such.
All of the existing light buckets (headlight, tail light) will accept some version of 12v bulb. I used an aftermarket street-rod fuse panel to begin my conversion, although I have seen '70s and '80s vintage OEM fuse panels in junk yards which would not be too hard to adapt.
Want to trust your critical engine functions on 50 year old gauges and sending units? A complete new gauge kit will run about $250 +/-.