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circleburner12
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Joined: May 16, 2011
Posts: 385
Location: arkansas
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 Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 3:38 pm Post subject: 24 to 12 volt |
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hey guys been away for some time now. finally got the m38 to the point of either purchase a $800 wiring harness or changed to a 12 volt setup.
ive decided to go the 12 volt way. although i will keep 24 volt components.
my question is, is there a tuturial on changing from 24v to 12 v.
im sure this question has been ask a million times. but if anyone could point me to a step by step process with 12 volt part numbers, it would be much apreciated. thxs michael
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1953 m38a1 1953 m100 |
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Hawkshadow
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Joined: Oct 10, 2012
Posts: 310
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 4:47 pm Post subject: |
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Go to the downloads section of the site. Under "electrical" there are several items that you should find helpful.
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Jordan
M38 CDN
52-30718 |
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circleburner12
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Joined: May 16, 2011
Posts: 385
Location: arkansas
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:05 pm Post subject: |
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ok thanks i went therew but didnt find much. might have over looked it also,
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1953 m38a1 1953 m100 |
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wesk
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Joined: Apr 04, 2005
Posts: 16250
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:16 pm Post subject: |
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Just because you don't wish to buy an $800 harness is no reason to abandon 24 volt. You still need to build a harness either way 24 or 12. To do a nice job on either a 12 or 24 V harness will take about the same amount of time. If you are thinking 12 V but are keeping the 24 V components you may find that this will only make the task tougher. The military standardized with 24V in 1948 because it was a step up from 12 V. Now you are making a step down. 24 V accessories will not operate correctly with 12 V. Gauges will read incorrect values, the starter will turn slower, the lamps will be dim and the horn will be weaker. The 24V generator and regulator are useless on a 12 volt jeep.
If you are thinking buying a civvy CJ 12 V harness because it is cheaper then start shopping the ebay and surplus dealers for NOS Rio M35 harness for about $100 to $140 and adapt it to your jeep.
Here is the link to our copy of the US Forest Service pamphlet on 24V to 12V solutions.
http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=148
Here's the link to Novak's conversion guide:
https://www.novak-adapt.com/knowledge/12-volt/
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Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php |
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4x4M38
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Joined: May 30, 2014
Posts: 3447
Location: Texas Hill Country
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jaycee
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Joined: Feb 23, 2014
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 4:54 am Post subject: |
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| how you plan on doing this i'd be most interested in reading. especially the part about not changing any components save the harness! once you discover the flaw (s) in your plan that 800$ harness will seem to be a bargain at twice the price. |
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Bretto
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Joined: Nov 24, 2010
Posts: 1390
Location: Orem, UT
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:16 am Post subject: |
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I'm guessing your saying your keeping the 24V comps but I would assume that to mean, keep on them on the shelf. It'll be a good amount of money to gather and replace them with their 12V counter parts.
I'm for keeping it it stock at 24V. If your existing harness or wiring is there, its a task but doable, to just trace out and replace wires one at a time. It's only wire after all.
Brett
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Brett
'51 M38
PHOTO DIARY OF MY BUILD |
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skyjeep50
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Joined: Feb 20, 2007
Posts: 606
Location: Illinois
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:25 am Post subject: |
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A 24v M38 will be worth more down the road than a 12v M38. What you save now, you may lose in the future.
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1951 M38
Last edited by skyjeep50 on Fri Mar 04, 2016 8:27 am; edited 1 time in total |
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OKCM38CDN
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Joined: Feb 17, 2012
Posts: 530
Location: Del City, OK
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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To convert to 12v you will need to acquire the following if you do not already have them:
New Gauges (all of them) possibly senders (can't remember if they needed changing too)
New lamps for all lights including headlights
New Starter
New Generator / Alternator
New Coil (if you have the Military Distributor there are 12v coils available, but they are expensive
If no coil available you may need to modify the distributor to get the coil connected... or a new distributor
I went from 12v to 24v ten years ago and it was a painful experience, but well worth the hassle of getting the jeep back to original...
If you do not want to spend $800 for a harness do your research and order the materials and build your own... most everything can be reused except for the pins on the wires and any rubber parts that may have dried out. The parts are available if you are willing to research where to get them...
The decision is yours to make, this is my experience in going from one to the other...
Good Luck and be patient...
Hope this helps...
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Hal, KB1ZQ
TSGT, USAF (Ret)
1952 M-38 CDN CAR 52-31313
1952 M-100 Strick #104
1951 Willys Wagon (For Sale)
1954 Willys M38A1 201001205
Tornado Alley
Del City, OK |
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Hawkshadow
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Joined: Oct 10, 2012
Posts: 310
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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And even the crimped wire ends "can" be saved. It's just labor intensive involving drilling and soldering.
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Jordan
M38 CDN
52-30718 |
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circleburner12
Member
Joined: May 16, 2011
Posts: 385
Location: arkansas
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| Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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I understand that I have to change the components. the jeep wiring was almost completely gone. ive got a dist and trying to find a 12 volt starter. the part stores that ive checked with today cannot catalog a cj5 starter. wanting to keep the taillamps and replace bulbs. yes I understand the m38 will be worth more if I go back to 24volts. ill shelf store the 24v items incase I ever sell. thxs
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1953 m38a1 1953 m100 |
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4x4M38
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Posts: 3447
Location: Texas Hill Country
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aforests
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Joined: Oct 06, 2014
Posts: 252
Location: South Dakota - Aberdeen
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wesk
Site Administrator
Joined: Apr 04, 2005
Posts: 16250
Location: Wisconsin
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 11:16 am Post subject: |
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Just about any M series harness for a 1949 thru 1960 M series truck can be adapted to an M38 or M38A1 or M170. Just how much converting depends on which harness. All you need to make a decision is to compare the the wiring diagram of the donor to the jeep you have and note the differences in vehicle lengths and positioning of terminal ends.
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Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php |
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circleburner12
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Joined: May 16, 2011
Posts: 385
Location: arkansas
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2016 1:03 pm Post subject: |
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very interesting and may consider it to keep 24volt components. shortning the ends wouldn't be a huge problem. wes what else kind of trouble would a person face if he tried a m35 or m35a2 harness on a m38?
Wes what is a rio m35 harness?
HAS anyone tried or has did this by using a m35 harness?
thxs
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1953 m38a1 1953 m100 |
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