I drove my panel truck the first year with no windshield wipers. Surprising how much wind whistled in the empty cowl holes! When it inevitably came time to install wipers I vacillated between using the original vacuum motor and an electric conversion. I have installed electric systems before, so I'm familiar with them. Nonetheless I chose to retain the original vacuum motor because 1) it's smaller, lighter, and simpler, with fewer underdash conflicts, and 2) my truck never gets intentionally driven in the rain, so a minimalistic wiper system is more than adequate.
Before reinstalling the 70-year-old Trico motor I performed the standard process of rehydrating the seals with brake fluid: pour brake fluid in the intake port, cycle the mechanism, repeat as necessary. To my surprise, the wipers worked perfectly - for about 6 months. Then they stopped working again. A quick call to Trico expert Rob Ficken confirmed that the brake fluid tactic is indeed only a temporary bandaid. He also advised that the best way to keep your wiper system limber is to use it regularly, something in which I'd been negligent. Rob is the acknowledged expert in vacuum wiper motors. Every review of his rebuilding service is glowing: fast turnaround, reasonable price, better-than-new performance. He charges $135 USD, and that includes return shipping. His business is in West Babylon, New York. He can be found online at wiperman.com
So today I mailed my original 1949 vacuum wiper motor off for a rebuild. I'm on the West Coast so Priority Mail postage was $14.90, plus it will take a few days to get there. I'll let you know how it goes and add a full report here when I get it reinstalled.
