Re: IML: Battery for a '55

He rebuilt the radio as original and it works fine. What he said was that if a radio had been used with an 8 volt battery he couldn't (or wouldn't) work on it. He told a story about a Thunderbird radio that he got that was used withan 8 volt and it was not usable.

Jan

----- Original Message -----

From: A. Foster

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Sunday, March 12, 2006 8:53 PM

Subject: Re: IML: Battery for a '55

Jan;

Did the fellow who worked the radio in your 55' rebuild the original tube circuitry or did he replace it with modern innards? If it was the tube circuitry I can't see 8 volts harming it with the exception of it burning up a solid state vibrator, many of those vibrators will work on 6 or 12 volts but some won't. Tube circuits won't normally be destroyed by running them at a slightly higher voltage for short periods but it will wear out the tubes faster much like it would a light bulb. Contemporary solid state circuitry, especially using chips, can pop instantly unless there is some form of voltage regulation or surge protection inbetween the circuit and the power source. This is why I like the tube radios over solid state, blue smoke from a tube radio means repair time whereas blue smoke from a solid state unit means the garbage can.

Best Regards

Arran Foster

1954 Imperial Newport

Needing A Left Side Tailight Bezel and other trim parts.

----- Original Message -----

From: Jan Harmonson

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 10:02 AM

Subject: Re: IML: Battery for a '55

Hi

I have a 1955 Sedan that I have been using a 6-12 starting system in for several years. It spins fast and starts well. I just replaced the 6-12 battery with two 6 volt Optimas that really spin it. I have a 6 volt Optima in my 1952 Plymouth that works well for the 6 cylinder but one was too slow for the V-8 in the Imperial. John Lazenby says that a properly tuned 6 volt is Ok but I didn't find that so. Also, I had Bob's radio in Pismo Beach, CA. rebuild my 1955 radio and he said that if I had ever used an 8 volt battery the radio would be "toast".

Jan in Ojai, CA

1955 Imperial Custom Sedan

1952 Plymouth Suburban

----- Original Message -----

From: randalpark@xxxxxxx

To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 5:31 AM

Subject: Re: IML: Battery for a '55

'55 takes is a 6 volt, positive ground system. It isn't as easy to find a nice big battery for that car as it is for the 12 volt cars. It can be done, it just takes a little more looking around. Again, the largest most powerful is probably a great rule of thumb.

One of my non-Imperial's with a similar system takes an 8 volt marine dry cell very nicely. I needed it to give me a boost when cranking the extra four cylinders on that car's old L head motor, especially when cold. It gave everything a little more life, including the hydraulic windows, and has had no apparent ill effects. Everything works as it should including the charging system, which leads me to wonder if voltage regulator adjustments were made in the past to accomodate this for another owner. I am certain that others may have experienced shorter life on light bulbs and radio tubes with these batteries, but nothing like that has happened on this car. Again, it isn't an Imperial, and my '55 Imperial cranks and functions just great with a fresh, huge, 6 volt battery.

Paul W.

-----Original Message-----
From: wbinegar@xxxxxxx
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Fri, 10 Mar 2006 00:10:04 -0500
Subject: Re: IML: Battery for a '55

What kind of battery goes into a 1955 Imperial sedan? Where do you get the battery?

W Binegar

1955 Imperial Newport

1955 Imperial Sedan

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