VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Vacuum wipers to electric

Has anyone converted their vacuum wiper motor to an electric wiper motor? If so can you share some tips on that conversion along with positives and negatives?

Camile,

Best I recall there are companies that sell the kits for the conversion. Maybe COF or FS has them. I would expect they come with instructions.

I have never thought much about making the conversion on my 41s. All you have to do to get them to work like beavers is to let up on the accelerator a little.

How about using a double action fuel pump?

You do know that the Fulton bunch (see any 47-48 Fleetline) uses the Fulton to keep the rain from hitting the windshield. They claim it's like sitting in a rocker on the front porch at home and letting the rain just come on down on the tin roof and keep on a-snoring away - whether in the car or not. They ain't just right, you know.

Good luck with finding more and better information.

Charlie

This company makes a nice setup.

https://www.newportwipers.com/

I love my vac. wipers .....look forward to the occasional rain to use them . Can I get a Fulton for my `40 Charlie?? .....

I guess electric wipers would be OK, after all, we are a modified club now, but the vacs have been working on my cars for many years now with no problems. lol

If your vac wipers are working properly,no reason for making a change...Why do you want to change to electric??

Mine currently are not working. But I'm really not sure how to operate them. Maybe I'm not doing something right. Can anyone share tricks to get them to work?

We would need alot more info..and maybe some history..do they turn on at all?Have they ever worked?Have you checked the vac.lines?Does the valve"switch" do any thing when turn left or right?...etc.

Strangely enough all the Australian Chevrolets had electric wipers. When the Holden came out in 1948 it had vacuum and that held up into about mid 1962 when they went over to electric. A lot of the vacuum Holdens got converted to electric because it was a cheap fix. The advantage of electric is that the speed is constant whereas the vacuum varies. I remember my Dad driving up a hill and the wipers were crawling but when he braked they sped up a lot. The Sydney cab drivers did not like the change over. Most cabs were Holden and with the vacuum wipers they could leave the wipers on in light rain. With the electric they were always turning them on and off otherwise the motors would burn out. That really does not help you but maybe it is of some interest.

Good support for the trusty old vacuum unit!The wiper man can fix your motor to original performance

Check and recheck the vac lines and all fittings to make sure they are not leaking. The slightest leak will cause problems. If the hoses are old, it may be best to replace them. Sometimes, squirting a small amount of automatic transmission fluid into the wiper, at the vac lines connection port can help too. If none of this helps, then repair or replacement will probably be needed.

I've had the truck for over a year and it hasn't worked since I had it. I'm not even sure exactly how to turn it on. Mine only had 1 piece of metal sticking out without the actual knob. Do you push, pull or move left or right to turn it on? Does the truck have to be moving to turn it on? I'm gonna give a look at my hoses and see if I have a leak.

If its close to the 48 this is how the hoses run.Ignor the washer unit...the switch turns left and right..the motor must being running for the wipers to work,"needs vacuum"

The engine needs to be running to create the vacuum. Turn the button on the dash clockwise for "on." Use a pair of pliers, if needed.

Charlie

Consider the double fuel pump..Wipers work very well.. That under the dash conversion can cost you pain and tears of frustration. Been there

The vacuum type wiper motor is pretty simple to work on.

The only obstacle is the screws which hold it together because they appear to be a reverse torks type and I didn't have a socket that fit it. I used a small needle nose vise grips and took it apart laying everything out on a shop towel. If you're careful, it will separate without tearing the gasket.
The problem with mine was the paddle was stuck with gunk. Cleaned everything with brake clean, lubed the paddle with trans fluid.

Started up the Suburban, opened the hood and found a vacuum line with constant vacuum and attached it to the wiper motor. Flipped the switch......Ta Da.....it worked.