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neg ground...again

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tahoe healey

tahoe healey

Yoda
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The PO changed my car to neg ground. I purchased an original (AM only) BMC radio (I know,"why"?) Can it be converted easily to be used with neg ground? Or, is it easier to reverse the ground? Third alternative is to have the radio converted (read $$$) to an AM-FM sterio using the old shell?
 
Assuming that listening to music isn't a high priority while driving then a + earth AM radio is a reasonable thing and very period correct.

Conversion to positive ground should be dead easy if nothing non-stock has been added that requires negative ground. Apart from reversing the battery connections you should also repolarize the generator -- instructions can usually be found in the Moss catalog on one of the electrical pages.

Your ammeter may be reversed -- to get a correct reading you just reverse the connections on the back (or learn to read it 'backwards'.

Disclaimer -- my experience is with TRs so you will want a confirmation from one of those great Healey gurus that it is just that simple.
 
FWIW, I agree with George.
The old radio can not be converted to neg. ground.

Be careful with the SU fuel pump polarity. It may be the type with a diode type contact arc suppressor. If connected backward, the diode will blow & the pump contacts will have a short life. Sometimes people reverse the car polarity & don,t think about the pump until later when it quits working. A diode for negative ground pumps is available from Moss #377-145. A pos. gnd. pump should have a red sealing tape around the body. If in doubt note the pump part number.

We can pursue the pump issue separately if it turns out to be a problem.
D
 
What do you intend on doing with a radio in a healey???

---GNB /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif There are some period radios that can be switched between neg and positive ground ,Becker is one that comes to mind,Might advertise for one.
 
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