Pos to Neg Earth

[Galwaylotus]

How hard is it to change from positive earth to negative earth? I'm looking for answers from those who have made the conversion. What would I need to replace as opposed to rewiring? I'm thinking of going to an alternator and possibly an electronic ignition system and I'd have more options with negative earth.

[dgently]

How hard is it to change from positive earth to negative earth?

Researching the same question this week. Here's a great link that was posted here before http://www.lotus-cortina.com/electric/convert.htm

There are those who would say you're better off replacing rather than rewiring the old RVI tach as a switch to electronic ignition will play hell with the originals. www.speedycables.co.uk seems to be the preferred source.

Switching polarity seems very straightfoward. Alternators are v. cheap. Sourcing suitable mounting brackets and then wiring in a new alternator is neither.

Good luck!

[Galwaylotus]

Thanks very much for the info. Looks great. regarding brackets for an alternator, there may be some Ford part that will work with little or no modification as the block is Ford anyway! I haven't decided for certain whether to do the conversion but with the information from the link you provided I'm leaning more in that direction. Thanks again.

[wojeepster]

I converted a 850 mini to negative ground. I did not have a tach and all I had to do was disconect battery cables polarize the generator for negative ground and then hook up battery cables the other way round. It worked fine. I was rather hesitant but my father assured me it would work, and it did.

[denicholls2]

I converted a 850 mini to negative ground. I did not have a tach and all I had to do was disconect battery cables polarize the generator for negative ground and then hook up battery cables the other way round. It worked fine. I was rather hesitant but my father assured me it would work, and it did.

Did the people on the radio sing backwards?

[oldokie]

In North Carolina it's called "Bluegrass"!

[wojeepster]

No people on my radio, only songs.. you must have a different radio than me. That was way back in the dark ages (1979?). 850 mini didn't have any power or a radio, but it did have the "magic wand shifter" I can see how a transistor radio, or/and ammeter would not work or complicate the process.

[ncm]

Information and pictures on alternator fitment from the archives..
http://www.lotuselan.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16002.

Brian.