The '55 Imperial is a six volt, positive ground car. It should not have 12 volt
power window motors or anything else. Even though the rest of the car is
original, someone must have added that box. If someone had once added a modern
12 volt negative ground accessory, a convertor would have been necessary. From
the description, that's what it sounds like this box is.
I once knew of a '55 Chrysler in which the radio was replaced with a '56 model
so that it could accomodate a Highway HiFi unit when the car was nearly new. A
convertor was required since the '56 model was 12 volt and negative ground. I
doubt that this is what actually happened to this car, but if it did, it could
explain why the car has "never had an extra hole drilled" or appear to have any
incorrect equipment. The '55 and '56 radio appeared to be identical from the
outside.
Some people have claimed that the '55 Crown Limo was a 12 volt negative ground
car. I don't know if this is true or not, but I do have a '55 shop manual, and
don't remember reading anything about it. I'll take a look the next time I am
at the storage building and report back. This would be explained in the shop
manual.
If you can take a photograph of the box and scan it into the computer, maybe
one of us could identify it for you.
Paul
In a message dated 1/3/2004 2:29:08 PM Eastern Standard Time,
rcrabshish@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>
>
> The box is stainless, not black. It has nothing to do
> with the points, coil or radio at all. The car is
> original without extra options. Lights, radio,
> electric windows, seat, and heater are standard for
> that year. It has a dual blower hot water heater, no
> air and a dual point ignition. At first I thought it
> had something to do with the dual point but doesn't.
> Then I thought it was for the radio because of the
> amplifier. It too is factory and not connected to the
> box. The button under the dash is red. It is located
> next to the E-brake. It looks like it is a electric
> trunk release, but is not. There are no holes drilled
> in the dash for stereo equipment or extra speakers.
> When you push the button it does nothing that I know
> of. Everything works in the car. The lights do not
> get brighter. It starts the same. The horns are the
> same with or without pushing the button. It has three
> wires going to the box, one back to the generator,
> then back to the button on one side and to the
> ignition switch from the button. The car is in
> storage right now. I don't remember a name on the box.
> It say something about 6-12 volt on the side of the
> box. Everything looks factory with it. Could it be
> something that converts electric window or seat
> motors? I understand that some of these 55s were 6
> volt and some 12 volt. I have no clue what it is. RC
> Billings Montanaaaaaa
>
> --- WBinegar@xxxxxxx wrote: > In the 60s and 70s you
> could get a form of
> > electronic ignition for 6 volt
> > cars. It could be a black box.
> >
>
> =====
>
>
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>
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