My 1959 Viking 40 has vacuum windshield wipers which, of course, don't work. My donor truck, a Viking 60, has electric wipers (which don't work either, but there is a place locally where I can get the electric motor fixed). I'd much prefer to have the electric wipers in my truck if possible. Just wondering if anyone has ever changed from one to the other, and is it a bolt in swap? Seems logical that it should be (aside from the vacuum and electrical connections) but thought I'd ask. The way they're tucked up under the dash makes it nearly impossible to even see them, let alone work on them. I may have to enlist the services of someone who is younger and more agile than I am these days!
Last edited by Peggy M; 07/28/20245:34 PM. Reason: added more info to the title
It might be like comparing cumquats to persimmons, but '59 GMC electric wiper motor is a different part number (5044251) than '60 GMC (5045407).
'57 GMC 102, Original 347 V8, HydraMatic, 3.08 rear gear, added A/C, disk front brakes, HEI, AFB carb, '98 Honda Black Currant paint. T-boned and totaled 10/12 '52 GMC 152 Stake Bed, Original 228, SM420, added A/C, HEI, disk front brakes, '67 Chev 3.55 rear gear. Gets used as a real truck.
Rich, What year is your Viking 60 donor truck??? According to what I could find through my resource documents, the 1958-59 Chevy medium and heavy duty trucks had electric wiper motors (see pics below). 1958-59 Series 3 (Light Duty) trucks show with vacuum motor in the parts book. Medium and Heavy trucks in 1957 came with either the vacuum or optional electric. Anywhich way, perhaps the diagrams may help on placement of the motors.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
Be aware that the wiper arm links are different for vacuum vs electric. Shown in Dan's picture as group 16.063 LINK ASSY, the motor end of the Links is not in the same place under the dash between the vacuum and electric motors...so you'll need to swap them from your donor as well.
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
The Viking 60 donor truck is a '59 also. Thanks to Dan for the pics and Mike for the heads up on the linkage. This is still in the idea stage at this point, but you've provided some helpful information.
Rich, since you're still in the idea/search stage, beware, all of the TF truck electric wiper motors are not the same....it's easy to get excited when you see one advertised for sale that's miss labeled with the wrong year.
1955-2 and 56 share the same motor. 1957 is a one year motor. 1958/59 share the same motor.
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
Both my donor truck and my good truck are '59's--it's just that one is vacuum and one is electric. My main concern was if the electric motor would bolt right in where the vacuum motor was, or if the mounts were different. If it's not a direct bolt in swap, I might not bother with it. We've got all the other linkage for the wiper arms, etc.
Knowing how GM was/is into keeping as many parts as possible that could fit several applications, I would have to say that the mounting tabs under the dash would be the same for vacuum and electric. As long as you can acquire the complete system, as noted by Mike B, I would think it would bolt in.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
They only made one cab, it just might have added brackets to make it work (been a long time since I've looked at 1959 / 1959 wiper motors). You'll have everything you need from the donor truck to make the swap!
Mike B
Mike Boteler
1956 Chevy 3100 Resto Rod 1952 Willys M38 Army Jeep 1983 Jeep CJ7 Laredo 1984 Jeep CJ7 +++++ Silver Spring, MD
Newport Engineering makes an electric unit they advertise for the light duty trucks. I believe I have seen a listing for the Task Force years. The various vendors sell them for about $200 bucks. I bought one for my 51 about 15 years ago and it was a bolt-in. Works well, though I wore out one switch coping with drizzle so I bought the delay switch.
1951 3800 1-ton "Earning its keep from the get-go" In the DITY Gallery 1962 261 (w/cam, Fenton headers, 2 carbs, MSD ign.), SM420 & Brown-Lipe 6231A 3spd aux. trans, stock axles & brakes. Owned since 1971.
I've had a Newport unit in my '47 for years and it works great. Haven't looked into one for this truck. Thought I'd pursue this option first, since I already had it on hand. We'll see how it goes.
