Changing a 1950s Willy's 6 volt system to 12 volt

Maintenance/Repairs
21

@‌ old_timer11

I thought about the cars my parents owned and that I owned that had vacuum wipers. My Dad’s 1939 Chevrolet, his 1947 Dodge, 1949 Dodge, 1954 Buick and 1960 Rambler had vacuum wipers. My 1947 Pontiac, 1955 Pontiac, 1954 Buick 1965 Rambler Classis 550,1950 Chevrolet pickup truck and my 1968 AMC Javelin had vacuum wipers.
Interestingly, Chrysler and AMC put electric wipers on the higher trim line. My Dad’s 1947 Dodge was the lower trim line (the Deluxe), while my upper trim line 1948 Dodge (the Custom) had electric wipers. The 1949 Dodge Meadowbrook (lower trim line) had vacuum wipers while the higher trim line (the Coronet) had electric wipers. The same was true with AMC products. Why it was cheaper to put in vacuum wipers and have a vacuum booster section on the fuel pump as opposed to having electric wipers with a single diaphragm fuel pump is a mystery to me. My 1950 Chevrolet pickup truck didn’t even have a vacuum booster on the fuel pump–the wipers ran directly off the manifold. The wipers on this truck were interval wipers- they only wiped the windshield during the interval that I released the accelerator.
I know that electric wipers were available before WW II. My Dad had a 1940 Chrysler that had electric wipers.

22

Thanks for everyones opinions.
I think I’ll recommend the one wire alternator and the step down resistors at all the guages and motors that need it.
And “Kmccune” hit it on the head. This truck will not be on the road long if used as he expects to use it. Someone that will plow with a little care and tenderness might get away with it, But I know he’ll try to push that 4 foot high snowbank back 6 inches by ramming it at 15mph.

I always wanted something like this for my last years of my career (Horseshoeing). I’m 60 now and I’d just take my time getting to your barn at 45mph max. I’m at that point where taking a little more travel time gives my back just that much more time to rest, before getting under the next clients horses.
I never had the truck or the space to do a restoration, so that idea never panned out. And now it’s a little late to think about doing that. 35 years of having my head below the level of my butt is starting to wear on me.