Voltage and Polarity Unknown on 1948 Dodge

Thank you so very kindly HMAC300, I have to admit I feel really stupid! I have been working on old cars since I was around fifteen and I am fifty six now, how could I not have heard about positive ground? The past three years I have had two back surgeries, both of which have left me a hundred times worse off than I was originally. I can no longer work a job, I need a cane to walk with, and the doctor says a wheelchair is in my immediate future. I tell you this so you and all others understand why it will take weeks to months before I can test any information given to me by wise folks like you. I will find the strength to test this Positive ground within the next week. The last time I tinkered with the old girl was over two years ago and at that time I began preparations to pull the engine. Thus I have a lot of parts to reinstall before she is going to run again. But I have a new found purpose to resurrect her because of you. I will be in touch again to let you know what happened. Again I thank you so very kindly. Warmest regards, Jeff PS: Is it against the rules on this forum to post my telephone number?

Ok, Thanks

Hello CJ MEDEVAC. The 1948 Dodge Sedan four door I have is all original. EXCEPT! When I purchased the car I got it from a young kid that was going to chop it by eighteen inches with twenty two inch wheels on it. He got the wheels on it by kinking one of the rear fenders (Dumbazz) but it was when he tried to install his big bang boom box crap or whatever is it called whereas he lost interest. He installed a twelve volt battery as well as destroyed the ignition switch trying to get the stereo working, also lost the key. Anyhow that is when I came along and purchased the car. I gave him his wheels back and put the original wheels and tires back on it. I cannot say the kid was all stupid as I followed right behind him assuming it was twelve volt and negative ground. Long story short I gave up on it for now as my 59 Cadillac was calling for me. The Dodge has be sitting covered inside my shop since with no new headway. The car will be a Sunday driving beauty when I get her going. I have purchased a six volt battery but the cold weather and my back says I will have to wait to play with it. I will post photographs of it soon. Do not know what else to tell you at this time so. Take care and God bless. Please stay in touch as I will need help on the ignition switch. Warmest regards, Jeff

I am back on but only for a short time. I have a pending deal on Craigslist to trade my 1980 CJ5 for a 1926 Ford two door, however I am confident the deal will fall through. That is the only reason I forced myself to sit in front of the computer. Since I am here I will post the few photographs I have of the 48 Dodge at this time. Warmest regards, Jeff

Good Afternoon CJ MEDEVAC Come on now cut me a little slack. The Jeep was my number one toy when I was a younger lad. Age and two back surgeries gone bad I have little choice but to get rid of it. Many of my toys now are far to painful to ride/drive. Sold my Yamaha 250, the sand rail and my Honda Recon four wheeler. I need to sell the Jeep, the Suzuki DR350 and the Polaris Magnum 500 4X4 four wheeler, and I want to sell the 73 Mach1 but the wife wants me to keep it. We dated in it and 39 years this July I still have it. With a few modification I added over the years. I would be glad to sell you any of them you want. My 59 Belair, 59 Edsel, 59 Biscayne, 60 Pontiac, 59 Cadillac and 57 Chevy "Inferior" automobiles as you call them, give me my greatest pleasure and joy next to our eight grandchildren. Number 8 being born any minute now. Well I guess I had better end this as I have noticed that folks on this forum frown on long winded replies. I leave you now with good wishes and blessings as well as a few photos of the Mustang. Take care, regards, Jeff

Good Afternoon CJ MEDEVAC As bad as my back pain is I do not complain about it. A person cannot complain their shoes are to tight when there are people that have no legs. Quote "I RECKON I' LL JUST HAVE TO ENDURE ANY PAIN TO HANG WITH MY BABIES!" End quote. I pray you never find out what sort of pain will force you to give up your babies. Now moving on, It is still to cold to work on the 48, but since you seem to be replying to my every post, I guess it is time to cover another nagging Dodge question. When I thought it was 12 volt I had a brand new 12 volt battery in the Dodge, It turned over as if the battery was nearly stoned cold dead. I then hooked up the jumper cables from the new battery in the Bronco to the new battery in the Dodge. I would attach the cable just as I hit the starter thus throwing 1700 cranking amps to the Dodge. Results were the engine turned over just as sluggish and dead as it did before. Now in light of this forums new information in that the Dodge is 6 volt and positive ground, my question is: Are the experts on this forum telling me that the new 6 volt battery when hooked up correctly positive to ground is going to turn that engine over like it should? Or should I be removing the starter and having it rebuilt? Lastly I thought I did post photos of the Jeep, anyhow I will attach the only ones I have right now. Take care all. Regards, Jeff

Good Afternoon CJ MEDEVAC I cannot believe how often I log on to this site, I find myself daily wondering if you replied and just cannot seem to stay away. To address the CJ first, I have the soft top and bikini tops to it as well. The hard top on my jeep is rare indeed. I have been looking for a top for nearly twenty years before I stumbled onto this one. And yes it has molded pockets on the doors, I cannot say if they are on the cab as I never sit back there, I would have to look see. The only small problem with this top was the previous owner cut a sun roof in it but never installed a sun roof. When I got I it I had to install one, I should have taken it to a body shop and had them fiberglass the hole closed as It leaks. Not if your driving in the rain but if it sets and rain water pools on it.

The 48 Dodge to my knowledge is 100% original. The kid that had it before me bought it from the original owner in Texas and when he purchased it he drove it on the trailer to bring it back home. Then he tried to install a huge stereo in the car. Now here is where I assume what happened. The stereo would not play with a 6 volt battery so he installed a 12 volt, he tore out the ignition switch assuming it had to be switched from a 6 volt to a 12 volt switch. This is when I found the car as he lost all interest. I can tell he did not change anything else as what ever he touched turned to crap! So I have no doubt the car is all original. Now moving onto the starter. When I turned it over with the 12 volt battery and even with the jumper cables from another new 12 volt battery, the car turn over (IE the fan was turning in the proper direction) but the car turned over like raow. R. R. Raow. R. Raow. R. R. Raow. And this is why I suspect the starter to be bad. I think a 6 volt or a 12 volt battery should have turned it over like one would expect. Its turning over so slow that it is obviously she is not going to pop off and run. I have brand new points, condenser, plugs, wires, coil and battery for 6 volt as well as I have had the carburetor rebuilt. If I can just get the old girl to turn over, I guarantee I will get her started.

Lastly, is it positive ground? Is it negative ground? I do not know! I asked the question on this forum about a month ago a someone said it was 6 volt positive ground. That is why I asked the question as to: do well really think by me changing the ground from negative to positive that she is going to whip over like it should. Oh and how do I know the starter is original with no changes made? Because there is 68 years of oil and Texas dust and dirt on the bolts. And the dirt is still there. Ok man. The ball is in your court! Take care, regards, Jeff