1954 6 Volt Battery and 6 Volt Lithium-Ion Jump Starter

[Thomas G.]

I purchased a Group 2 battery from Restoration Battery Co. a few years a go. My understanding is that it contains a 6 volt Optima battery in a correct Delco case with correct caps. The battery has never been significantly discharger but will now only recharge to about 6.32 volts. After about a week the charge will read about 6.26 volts. While the battery will start the car when cold, after a run and shutdown, say after a fuel stop, particularly when hot after a run on an expressway, it is difficult to restart.
I tried to contact Restoration Battery Co. but apparently it is no longer in business. Any one know who took over this business?
There are number of 12 volt lithium-Ion jump starter but I've not been unable to find a 6 volt one. Anyone know if one is available?
If not, any suggestions on how to make one?
Any help or suggestions would be most appreciated
My car is an early 1954 (S/N E54S001526) with the 2-field coil starter. Also would like to purchase a 4 field coil starter.
Tom Gamache

[Brad H.]

Re: 1954 6 Volt Battery and 6 Volt Lithium-Ion Jump Starter

Hi Tom...My 54 was #1530. I never had any luck with a six volt battery in my car as far as being strong enough to do the job in any situation. I bought a delco 8-9 volt battery for it and had my Electrical apparatus guy adjust the volt reg to that. I always put the car on trckle charge after a run and never had a problem. Hope this helps you and maybe others. Brad.

[Edward B.]

Re: 1954 6 Volt Battery and 6 Volt Lithium-Ion Jump Starter

There are several reasons why automobile manufacturers switched from 6 Volts to 12 Volts. You have just discovered one of them.

[Thomas G.]

Re: 1954 6 Volt Battery and 6 Volt Lithium-Ion Jump Starter

Hi Tom...My 54 was #1530. I never had any luck with a six volt battery in my car as far as being strong enough to do the job in any situation. I bought a delco 8-9 volt battery for it and had my Electrical apparatus guy adjust the volt reg to that. I always put the car on trckle charge after a run and never had a problem. Hope this helps you and maybe others. Brad.

Hi Brad thanks for your interest and comments.
When I purchased the car in May 1999 it had a 8 volt battery in it due to the owner's inability to get it started. The car was cosmetically OK but it was a disaster mechanically. I don't have enough space to list all of the problems. But as near as I could tell, all of the numbers matched and so I bought it. Got a good price but it took years to get it to a point where it was reasonably reliable. Starting was an issue and I was going thru a 6 volt lead-acid battery every two years. I contacted Restoration Battery Co. in search of a 12/6 battery and switch. These were popular in the 50's when a large engine was installed in a 6 volt car. They way they worked was that the switch would crank on 12 volts but in the run position the switch would put the 12 volt battery into 2 6 volt batteries in parallel and charge them as 6 volt batteries. They actually work pretty well. Tom at Restoration Battery Co. said rather then the 12/6 switch, try an Optima 6 volt battery, which I did. It worked great and I never had a problem starting or restarting.
The only problem was it didn't look good. Got to run. Will finish later.