Ok one of the last things to get working on my 54 Chevy 3100 is the wipers. It has an engine from a 57 3100 and I got rid of the road tube and replaced it with a PCV valve. The PCV valve is vented into the intake where the wipers are suppose to hook up. I can tee that intake port and hook it to both the wipers and PCV but I wasn't sure if the PCV reduced the amount of vacuum to a point the wipers won't work. I am only assuming the vacuum motor works and is in decent shape because most things on the truck was in good shape. I just have a feeling the wipers may not run off the engine very well. One option is to do the electric wiper conversion. I have also seen some 12v DC vacuum pumps and was wondering if I could use one of those piped into the original wiper motors. Has anyone ever done this or seen it done? I have heard some bad things about those expensive electric conversion kits so I am leaving that option as my last resort. Thanks
The PCV restricts the flow idle, and light throttle to keep the vacuum high anyway, but I would think a reservoir tank with a check valve might help, or like you said a electric pump that came on with the wipers should work I would think. A vacuum gage can tell you a lot, and anytime the engine is under heavy load there is no vacuum either.
I have done the expensive electric swap on a 53 (not sure if its the same) and was not impressed with the conversion, the arm wouldn't lock on to the shaft well But it worked. I thought I was going to break the allen wrench tightening it enough. Back in the day we used to add a vacuum tank to the system and it helped the wipers out a lot. When Vacuum wipers are working like they should, they do a pretty good job. But not as good as electric ones. I'm not sure how well the vacuum wipers will work unless you can control the vacuum loss from being hooked into the crank case. These engines were not emission control friendly. If you are good at a little fabricating you can put a rear window wiper motor from a mid 90s s10 chevy blazer in there. They are cheap enough, and you gain intermittent to boot. Just have to make a couple brackets. You could use the same arm that's on the vacuum motor, but the sweep is just a tad short. But the expensive kit the sweep was short also.
Thanks for all the replys. Sounds like the S10 blazer conversion would be my best bet and second would be rebuilding the original vacuum motor and running it from a vacuum pump. Anyone have a specific year blazer I need the motor from or will any mid 90s work? Also how about a Wiper switch that fits the place of the original vacuum switch?
On second thought maybe I will try to use the existing vacuum motor and power it off a pump. $100 is not a horrible rebuild price but does anyone know if a rebuild kit is available? It took about 10 mins and I already got it cleaned up and disassembled. After rebuilding carbs this thing would be a walk in the park. I see a few gasket kits out there but it would be really nice to get a new flapper valve.
Ficken rebuilt mine has to be nearly 20 years ago. Runs perfect even with a 261 Chevy with a fairly radical camshaft in it. As for the pvc set up affecting the vacuum wipers, might very well be the case so a external tank or source may be the ticket.
Just got my wiper motor back from Ficken...super fast turn around. I took it to the Post Office last Saturday and I think it was back Thursday looking great! Will be awhile before I get to test it.
