12 volt conversion

feel the need to change or modify your mutt? This is the place to discuss it.

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Carboarius
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12 volt conversion

Unread post by Carboarius » February 27th, 2016, 2:21 am

I am converting my m151 to 12 volt. I plan to convert to an electronic ignition, and most of the conversion is switching bulbs. The difficulty I am having however, is finding a suitable 12 volt starter. Does anyone have any experience or ideas?
Thank you, Carboarius
"If a sign of certain victory were needed, this is it, the Jeeps have arrived."
- Robert Sherrod, Time correspondent

1969 Ford M151A1 ex MRC108 Forward Air Control
1965 Ford M151A1 ex Civil Air Patrol
197? AM General M151A2
1954 GMC M211
1953 GMC M220
1967 Jeep M725

kmam
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by kmam » February 27th, 2016, 2:57 am

Have you considered the issue of your fuel, oil pressure, temperature and volt/charging gauges? And your turn flasher unit? Also the issues if you later decide to fit radios? Obviously you would have changed the alternator.

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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by rickf » February 27th, 2016, 8:49 am

I just saw someone advertising 12 volt starters. I don't remember where but they are out there. Try a google search.
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Fil Bonica » February 27th, 2016, 10:59 am

Frontline has a 12 volt distributor for only $550.00!!!!
I think Rapco had a 12 volt starter at one time.
technically and financially it makes little sense to go through all that work for a conversion like that.
Its your Jeep.
Just my humble opinion!!!

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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Carboarius » February 27th, 2016, 1:43 pm

Thank you everyone for the ideas. I don't have any plans for mounting radios, so 24 volts isn't needed for that. I had planned on converting to 12 volts for the cost and the availability of the parts. The gauges and turn signal unit won't be too hard to replace, so I think I'll still go ahead with the conversation.
Thank you, Carboarius
"If a sign of certain victory were needed, this is it, the Jeeps have arrived."
- Robert Sherrod, Time correspondent

1969 Ford M151A1 ex MRC108 Forward Air Control
1965 Ford M151A1 ex Civil Air Patrol
197? AM General M151A2
1954 GMC M211
1953 GMC M220
1967 Jeep M725

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Horst
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Horst » February 27th, 2016, 2:26 pm

does not make any sense. Just another Bubba jeep as the result.
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1962 M201 and trailer
1966 GTO,1982 E350 Skoolie, 1987 SJ413, 1987 911
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Mr. Recovery
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Mr. Recovery » February 27th, 2016, 3:39 pm

You can keep the 24 volt starter if you use a Parallel Battery switch.

http://www.gonefcon.com/trucktcom/parallel_sw.htm

http://www.texasindustrialelectric.com/ ... switch.asp


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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by kmam » February 27th, 2016, 4:57 pm

Fair enough: your MUTT. Don't forget the fuel pump and wiper motor depending on A2 or not. Also you may need to change the temperature and oil pressure sensors.

Seems a lot of trouble and expense to save on one battery. Friend of mine has one from Vietnam that has been converted and he wishes it hadn't. He is still trying to find gauges that look correct...

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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Carboarius » February 28th, 2016, 3:25 am

It's more about ease of finding needed electrical parts; for better prices rather than saving on buying batteries. My MUTT is a m151a1 with an a2 engine and windshield.
Thank you, Carboarius
"If a sign of certain victory were needed, this is it, the Jeeps have arrived."
- Robert Sherrod, Time correspondent

1969 Ford M151A1 ex MRC108 Forward Air Control
1965 Ford M151A1 ex Civil Air Patrol
197? AM General M151A2
1954 GMC M211
1953 GMC M220
1967 Jeep M725

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Horst
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Horst » February 28th, 2016, 4:46 am

think about it a second time. Converting to 12V will result in a hard to find starter and a hard to find ignitor. The gauges will need to be replaced. All this for getting the bulbs easier to find? Does not make any sense at all. You will end up with a lot money spend and in the long run it will be more expensive to maintain it. How often do you change bulbs? Probably every 5 years or so. But do whatever pleases you, but you can argue as much as you want, facts are facts.

If you want to spend money on upgrading, spend it rather a little more wisely. By H4 inserts for the fronts and remove the sealed beams. Then you can change out the bulbs and you have better lights. Or even better, change to the military LED headlights. You will never need to replace them. Change out your rear bulbs to LED replacements and achieve the same thing (as you have an A1, you cannot use the new style composites with LEDs).

Lastly, buy a good pair of batteries and a Ctek battery maintainer. Hook it up when you don't drive the jeep. The batteries will last for many many years.

That makes sense, not hacking your electrical system. There are plenty of guys on this forum having their jeeps for many years. None of them would even think about converting to 12V.
Horst

1972 USMC M151A2 w/ROPS (ex Barstow) and M416
1962 M201 and trailer
1966 GTO,1982 E350 Skoolie, 1987 SJ413, 1987 911
Gone: 2xM35A2c, Unimog 404S, Hanomag AL28, DKW Munga

SturmTyger380
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by SturmTyger380 » February 28th, 2016, 10:03 am

I have had good results getting bulbs from this place. http://www.bulbtown.com/default.asp

I found this place when I was working on my friends M37 turn signal arm and dropped the 24 volt bulb and had to replace it. :oops:
45' MB, ??' MBT, 47' CJ2A, 48' CJ2A,
51' M38 #1, 51' M38 #2, 51' M100,
52' M37, ??' M101A1 (1st Gulf War Vet),
53' M38A1, 53' M211, 65' M151A1, 67' M416,
MVPA #31724

Carboarius
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Carboarius » February 28th, 2016, 10:18 pm

Thank you everyone for the ideas. I already have an electrical system that was hacked by the previous owner, so I have to completely redo everything. I plan on converting so the system will have easier parts to to find as a whole, not just for the bulbs.
Thank you, Carboarius
"If a sign of certain victory were needed, this is it, the Jeeps have arrived."
- Robert Sherrod, Time correspondent

1969 Ford M151A1 ex MRC108 Forward Air Control
1965 Ford M151A1 ex Civil Air Patrol
197? AM General M151A2
1954 GMC M211
1953 GMC M220
1967 Jeep M725

Cobra5
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Cobra5 » March 2nd, 2016, 5:21 pm

If your looking for converting for affordable parts, why not go totally in and gut it down to the tub and replace the engine, drive train, diffs, electrical system and gauges with something else. I don't know if any of the CJ series vehicles would work.

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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Mr. Recovery » March 2nd, 2016, 5:35 pm

Hey Guy's, lets all keep in mind that this is in the M-151 " Mod's" sections that was added with everyone's knowledge and most everyone's approval so, lets not be too harsh. :)
After all I myself am doing some mod's on one of mine. 8)

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1963 M151 Willys DoD 10-63 in Baltimore
1989 Alley Cat. "work in Progress"
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US Army 6 years 2nd Armored Cavalry Bindlach Germany
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Carboarius
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Re: 12 volt conversion

Unread post by Carboarius » March 7th, 2016, 10:24 pm

Thank you everyone for the concerns and ideas. This forum houses a wealth of information and all the members impress me on how much they are willing to help others. The mods section is probably my favorite as it is interesting to see the creativity and imagination of the different forum members. So far the conversion is going well enough. The hardest part thus far is the starter as was previously mentioned by a board member as being the most difficult. I have found a shop, however and it looks promising.
Thank you, Carboarius
"If a sign of certain victory were needed, this is it, the Jeeps have arrived."
- Robert Sherrod, Time correspondent

1969 Ford M151A1 ex MRC108 Forward Air Control
1965 Ford M151A1 ex Civil Air Patrol
197? AM General M151A2
1954 GMC M211
1953 GMC M220
1967 Jeep M725

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