12volts with foot starter

[Kyle]

How do I wire up a 12v 3wire gm alternator to my current 6 volt foot starter button system?  I have a 12v coil and 3 wire alternator and brackets.  I want to keep my recently rebuilt original starter.  I see that there is a wire from the voltage regulator to the firewall, what do I do with that now connect it to the Alternator?  And do I just drop a wire from the alternator down to the Hot post on the starter.  Really not wanting to hack anything or add a starter solenoid and drill a bunch of holes, or buy another starter...
Thanks.

[squidtone]

Hi Kyle,
You can wire your alternator "BAT" terminal to the battery post on your starter. The voltage regulator on your Jeep fender is no longer needed if you use the 3 wire internally regulated alternator. Google how to wire up a 3 wire Delco alternator, and you should be good to go. There is another discussion on the TECH section about wiring up an alternator with more detail.
Of course, you'll have more work to convert your lights and fuel gauge to 12V. Good luck!

[aboyandhisdog]

Somewhere in the distant past I remember hearing that the voltage of the fuel gauge is a non-issue (6v to 12v no problem).  However the sender and gauge must have the same ohms rating. Of course if the gauge has a 12v bulb in it, ya gotta have 12v.

[squidtone]

Yeah thats not clear to me either. I did test my old gauge with a new sender and when I tested the combo outside of the tank with a variable power supply and I seemed to get best "accuracy" with 5 volts so I used a little 7805 voltage regulator just to power the gauge. Doing the figuring outside the tank might not have been best for accuracy though. So just trying the fuel gauge with 12v might be the best strategy to start with!

[Gunslinger]

Hi guys
I converted Triple X to 12 volts some time ago.  I also used a single wire alternator so that hook up was pretty straight forward.  I did have to convert the headlights and marker lights to 12 volt, as well as the coil and the dash light and tattle tail, fuel gage I did not convert and it has worked well, no problems. maybe just lucky?

[Kyle]

I understand that the original 6volt regulator on the fender is not used nor the three wires to the generator, but the wire leaving the regulator that then goes to the firewall?  Does this wire just go unused with the 12volt conversion?

[squidtone]

Ahh,
I see what you're saying...the wire you're speaking of should go from the regulator, through the firewall, and to the load side of the ammeter gauge. If you take out the generator, yes, that wire can be removed. However, if the wire is in good shape, you can leave it connected at the ammeter, take the end of the lead off the regulator and wire it to the #2 terminal of your Delco Alternator. (It will now be the "sense" wire for you Delco alternator)