electrical and ignition how to determine if a '67 1600 is 6 volt

[rockhead]

I have a 1967 BMW 1600.     Vin #  1519968,      I think that it has a 6 volt electrical  but I am not sure.  how can I tell what the voltage of the system ?  And is it worth converting to 12 volt?  or should it be left original?

[Simeon]

Visually? Or definitely?

Apply a volt meter to the battery?

 

6V do not have an alternator, they have a 'generator' (dynamo) from memory. Post some pictures and we can take a look.  

[esty]

is your battery still labeled

[rockhead]

the battery is dead so I can't check,  It looks like it has a generator  instead of an alternator

[rockhead]

the battery does not say the voltage, and I am not sure if the battery is the correct one , this was a barn find

 

 

Edited November 9, 2016 by rockhead

[MOJOJOY]

6 volt car!!

[Simeon]

Yup 6V. Is it worth converting? Definitely if you are more interested in driving experience and reliability than original looks. Even then, I am pretty sure that there are specialists who can basically put 12V alternator internals into the generator body. 

 

You should research the details first  of what you need to change out and what can be left. The list may still put you off. 

 

 

[rockhead]

thanks  Simeon ,I am  still undecided  about the switch but  we would like to use the car on a tour of route 66 some time, so will probably do the switch. I suspect I may be able to  fit a later model 12V alternator and its brackets if I can find them. then there will be all the bulbs blinkers and gauges, the electric fuel pump needs replacement, I  suspect someone  may have used a 12v battery instead of a 6V battery and fried it

 

[TobyB]

Ha.  

 

3 cells in the battery x 2 volts each = 6 volt.

 

t

[Mark92131]

Parts you may be interested in...

 

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/pts/5858602647.html

 

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/pts/5861817129.html

 

Mark92131

Edited November 9, 2016 by Mark92131
More links

[Conserv]

A 6-volt car is no less dependable than a 12-volt car in the same condition.  And VIN 1519968 is quite an early example, perhaps February-ish 1967.  (Emailing your VIN to BMW Archives will provide you with the original manufacturing date: info.grouparchiv@bmwgroup.com.)  So it would be very nice to preserve the car's originality.

 

Downsides to 6-volt systems?  You sometimes have to look for 6-volt parts.  If you want a radio in the car, you either use a period-correct dual-voltage (6 and 12 volts) radio or an inverter to use a 12-volt radio.  My experience with my 6-volt 1600-2, back in the '70's, was that at temperatures at or below 20 degrees F., the first cold start of the day (actually, the cranking) was iffy unless the battery was kept on a battery tender.  Thus, I probably wouldn't use a 6-volt car as a winter daily driver in a cold climate.  But for a weekend car, I certainly wouldn't mind a 6-volt original car.

 

That's my experience.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited November 10, 2016 by Conserv

[Mike Self]

I'd leave it six volt due to its age and rarity.  I drove six volt cars (a VW and a Renault) as daily drivers for many years--in such places as Denver (where the cars lived outside) and upstate New York (unheated garage). I found a six volt CD ignition box and installed it on the Renault and it would start every time.  And once I installed a relay in the VW's starter wiring, it started reliably every time.

 

If you convert you'll also have to change out the heater blower motor, the windshield wiper motor, the clock (or tach) and the gas and temp gauges and their senders.  As for a radio, you can find an older Blaupunkt or Becker that has polarity and voltage switches on the back side, allowing it use in either 6 or 12 volt cars, negative or positive ground.  

 

The starter, generator and voltage regulator are first cousins to those used on pre 1967 VW Beetles so you should be able to get parts; usually both need nothing much more than brush replacement, and Bosch brushes come in only a few sizes.  

 

You've got a neat car there...try and keep it as original as possible.  Does it still have the embossed hood trim and all chrome instrument surround?

 

mike

[NickVyse]

what the others have said about 6 volt, and also, don't underestimate what's required to change to 12 volt. Obviously every bulb, but every relay and motor too - heater box, wiper motor, horns, fuel and water gauge, and probably more, just woke up :-)

 

keep her 6, there are easier options for adding a radio than all of the above. 

[rockhead]

thanks All.  most likely I will leave it a 6 volt, as long as all works, the intent is to use it on a drive on Route 66 when it is mechanically restored.  it is a rare vehicle after all.  but it does need to be driven.  

 

[darrinm1]

Post some pictures. I am very curious now. I wanna see!!


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