Just my opinion & a ?

[Lild]

So a few days in after buying the beast, the starter went out, no choice needed a civi one put in. (I highly suggest anyone who buys these, to make this a first check on your list, mine was missing a bolt.)Hooked the starter wire to the front batt. To keep it from burning it up. then i was having problems with start ups after the truck was warm.

if it didn't start after a couple starts, i would have to switch the batteries around then it would start. I felt like the starter was pulling to much from the battery & it wouldn't recover well enough after it warmed up. & the second battery did nothing but get a good charge. i also felt like the starter could benefit from both batteries for start up. Cold starts were fine.

so any ways, i did the roscommon 12v conversion today, pretty easy diy, & now i feel like the starter can take advantage of both batteries for start up. (& i return the starter wire back to the positive junction block.)
i took it for a test drive, got her all warmed up. Stopped a few place, **** off, restart on first try no problem. I can even hear the starter turn faster.
only scare i got was the gen light came on, but then i found out it was the sun that made it look like it came on.

It could be just me or just certain problems with mine, but imo, if u need to put a civi starter, i suggest u also do the 12v conversion as well.

My question is, that now the volt gauge doesn't work since i took the drivers alt out. I notice a push on connector (black rubber cap on it) next to the red hot wire, i assume this was for the gauge in the truck. Is it possible to splice in to this wire, & run an extended wire to the same connection point on the other alt, if that would make the gauge work again? I noticed that on the rt side alt, it had a black cover on the same spot, no wires to it, but a cover on it.

 

[Warthog]

That is not a voltmeter wire. The voltmeter runs off the "former" 24v fuse.

why assume? The TM and wiring diagrams explain what that wire is.

with the new starter did you use GM starter bolts? What about the support bracket?

 

[Lild]

Yes I used new gm bolts & I modified the existing bracket. & thanks for the answer.

 

[Warthog]

A resistor is added to the back of the voltmeter to make it work with 24v. While I have never done it you might try removing it to see if the meter will work with only 12v. Also check for voltage when you have the dash cover off.

 

[M1008driver]

I just bought a 12 volt gauge and used the original hot with a good ground which just happened to be dangling under my dash if I remember right. I don't regret converting using the Roscommon method. I need a reliable truck when I am way back in the woods in Montana. For me 12 volt is more reliable and now I can buy my parts in town.

EDIT- No problems all last winter too as I am cranking off two batteries now on a Duralast Gold starter. And I carry a jump starter behind my seat because I like remote places when I am hunting. I would get the right starter bracket because the starter can mess up the flywheel meaning flexplate.