The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Electric Wiper Convertion

If anyone is interested, the January 2006 issue of STREET RODDER magazine has an article on installing electric wipers on 1939 to 1946 Chevy/GMC trucks.

Randy B.

Randy,

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm interested, and don't usually read that mag.

Are they installing off the shelf electric wipers from a classic parts supplier or are they engineering/re-purposing some other electric wiper motor to work?

I've often thought it would be possible to rig a rear wiper motor off an old blazer rear window.. but I haven't actually worked on it yet.

Fumblin,

I haven't had a chance to see the article yet. However, I'm most curious to see how they deal with the wiper motor cover.

I'm struggling with trying to figure out how to do a conversion, yet leave the stock appearing cover.

The electric replacements they sell don't let you use the stock cover?

I put an electric in mine and it was no good, so I reinstalled the vacuum one. I suggest getting your vacuum model rebuilt. I am about to do that with mine.

That's the problem I've been running into. I don't want to lose my stock cover, as I haven't figured out how to make it work without looking "cheesy".

I think I'm gonna take a look at the article and see what they did. I've been trying to figure out a way that I could adapt a fiberglass repro cover to work with an aftermarket motor.

That way, if I ever wanted to put it back, I'd still have the original that hadn't been hacked up.

I got some electric motors from RB's in WA that had them for 'topless' rods [6 or 12V] of the type that mount on top of the windshield frame - fit right in the space of my 46, and the covers still went on, put a toggle sw in an original hole - they accepted the stock style arm and blade and worked as good as the vacuum ones - looked like the ones here by Newport Engineering , tho this site doesn't list pre47 application

Bill

The article is a system offered by New Port Engineering. I've checked their web site and this application is not listed, maybe their web site needs updating. The article shows the wipers installed in a 1946 COE.

Randy B.

Has anybody tried Specialty Power Windows Power Wiper Kit? It has a cable system that places the motor under the dash. I'm not sure if there is room for the cable to go up the A pilar and across the top of the cab.

I work at a shop building street rods, and have used the speciality wipers on several vehicals. Two of them,a 1934 dodge coupe, and a 1937 Plymouth sedan, have the wipers above the windshield and the moter behind the dash. These work beautifully, and have more adjustment than anything. If you go this way, get the extra long drive cable. If I can scrape up the cash, I will use one of these on my 46 suburban. Lack of funds may lead me to modify a VW bug wiper setup. However you do it, have fun.

Tinman, Thanks for the tip on the extra long drive cable. I want intermittent too. I agree that it's expensive but it seems like the best way to go.

I used the individual electric wiper motors on my 47 Dodge pickup and they were lame. But that was twenty five years ago and the motors are probably better now.

Are you thinking about putting the VW wiper unit above the windshild? That's a very intersting idea.

Yes I was thinking of using the VW wiper above the windshield. I may have to modify the width. Or I may create my own with a single moter and a mount like a VW wiper. I also intend to make stainless steel bezels for the wiper shafts. (yes, I have a metal lathe). On the intermittant wipers, it is not the moter, but the switch that controls the intermittant. And if you use the speciality wipers, you have to use their switch, as it is wired different from the switches that are sold by most suppliers. Have fun