The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Vacuum wipers on 54 Chevrolet

ADVICE:

On my 54 1 ton, it has the old original vacuum wiper motor. Like most vacuum type motors, going up hills and or accelerating they slow down. No, let me correct this, they stop.

The way I see it, I have maybe 4 options here.

A. Install a dual action fuel pump.
B. Install an electric replacement wiper motor.
C. Don't drive in the rain.
D. Simply just live with it.

Option "A" doesn't sound to bad or too expensive, plus it probably wouldn't hurt to replace the fuel pump anyhow. Option "B" is to purchase an electric wiper motor, but they are not very cheap, but are they should be more reliable. On the other side of the coin, I have read where this may interfere with the original radio, if so equipped. (mine's not, but it is going to be)

How about this thought. Has anyone ever thought (or had heard) of using a small reserve vacuum tank reservoir with a small check valve so the engine won't suck the vacuum back into the intake manifold. Would this gain anything or is this just completely a supid thought???

On my truck the passengers side wiper control arm has been disconnected. I think it was to give what power it had to the drivers side wiper. I don't know know for sure, but sounds good to me.

I know that I am not the only one that has this problem, I would like to see how others have fix this little problem.

I bit the bullet and bought an electric. Mine was built by Newport Engineering and has too speeds: Too fast and way-too-fast.

I think its a adequate solution to the vacuum wiper problems, but I'm thinking someday I'll adapt something more sophisticated in its place. No radio problem on my GMC, but then I've got no radio problems at all...

John N,

Here are the choices you listed:

A. Install a dual action fuel pump. $80-$100+, especially if you want an original-style glass bowl dual-action fuel pump.

B. Install an electric replacement wiper motor. There are no after-market electric wiper motors that do not interfere with the original radio (unless someone has started making one in the past few years).

C. Don't drive in the rain. Might be an option in some places but would require excellent weather forecasting in IL.

D. Simply just live with it. And, hope for the best.

Or, here are two other options:

E. Find an original 1954 optional electric wiper (RPO 320). These are rare and sell for $150+.

F. Rebuild your [wiper vacuum] pump or have it rebuilt.

If you search in this forum for "fuel pump" [correction: "wiper vacuum pump"] you will find a few threads with advice about reconditioning fuel [correction: wiper vacuum] pumps and/or having it rebuilt ($65). The following company was highly recommended: Wiperman.com

Some people have reported excellent results on having their pump rebuilt.

Tim

He means having your vacuum motor rebuilt, not the fuel pump...

Tony M,

Thanks for the correction. My brain became tongue-tied. I will note the corrections above.

Tim

They did have electric motors on the wipers back then? I was not aware of that. I will have to check out some in the ditches in the area, that I am getting parts off of.

I have one original glass bowl type fuel pump, it has a busted glass, I am sure I can get replacemnt glass bowels for it, but it's not dual action. The one I have on it now, is just the style that has a steel cover plate on top with a screw in the center. I guess it may be some sort of filter or screen in it. Haven't taken it off yet. It works and doesn't leak, so I figure leave well enough alone.

Thanks for the note, I will give that site a try.

John

PS. NO, they can't predict rain in this town if they can look outside and SEE it raining....LOL. I got caught today, when they said, "NO RAIN
IN FORECAST" right!

Wiperman is good! He rebuilt my motor. He asked me if I had the felt washer and the such & such which I didn't have and didn't know I needed.
He sent them with the rebuilt motor.
My vacuum wiper motor worked ok bu the p.o. brazed a hex nut on the end of the shaft to fit a later model wiper arm. Wiperman replaced the shaft and sent the extras. He even took a vacuum motor that I didn't need anymore to cover the postage.
It was refreshing to talk to the guy that did the actual work, although there was a little of a language barrier, which we worked through. He's in N.Y. and they talk a little different on the phone than we do down here.
I put the motor in two weekends ago and she wipes just fine.

Theres a guy here that does nothing but old stuff. I mentioned the vacume wiper thing to him. He said what he and the guys did when he was young(a long long time ago) was put vasaline in the bowl of the wiper motor. I went through 5 motors looking for a good one for my 54 and found one. A good one can take your finger off. Don't put your finger in it to see how strong it is. I know somebody who did that.

Roy,

I have heard about that trick, but forgot all about it. I think I might just try that before sending it in for repair. Last night laying in bed after reading all the suggestions (all great ones, I will add) I thought to myself I just wonder if the vacuum motor is just slugish and gummed up from sitting and not being used for so many years. I have checked the vacuum and it is running just over a tad over 13 inch pounds.

I thought I read that's where Mr. Wiperman test them at after rebuilding them. SO, that leads me to think the motor itself has a bad seal or gasket or even a warped cover plate.

YES, I have heard about watching them fingers and such parts around them wiper motors, both electric and vacuum operated.

I think that I will try that vasoline first, no sense in spending money on things that I can live with, when there are SO MANY other items I need to spend my time and money on.

Actually, I just started driving this old truck this past weekend. I bought it a few months ago, but really haven't ran it, especially on the highway. There was no exhaust system on it when I bought it. The hrydraulic pump had a small leak and I figured now would be a good time to take it off and rebuild it and install new packing in the pump, new hoses and u-joints on the PTO driveline. It's bad enough being under a truck with dirt and everything else falling down off the frame in your eyes, then have to fight getting around the exhaust system.

I don't know if it's just because it's something different or new (to me), but it's really a total joy to drive. I could not beleive how well it ran and handled at 55/60 MPH. I had the new exhaust system installed early last Saturday morning, the kids and I put about 60 miles on it. My youngest son (8 year old) kept wanting to go again and again. He really didn't have to twist my arm, LOL

First time it's been on the open road for many years. Best part of all no problems what-so-ever. Nothing come flying out.

THEN it started to rain, I was like _____, (you can fill in the blanks)

OKAY, I admit it, I loved it. ALL OF IT! EXCEPT maybe for them darn wipers.

John

Yes, by all means try lubricating the wiper motor first. Mine was all dried up and a bit of air tool oil applied to the intake was enough to get it going strong again.

Air tool oil, WD40, vasoline, etc are all possibilities, but to resolve the motor permanently for performance, go with a rebuild. It's well worth the money IMHO

Also, check the hoses. I saw a leaky hose that was undetected and it behaved like a tired motor, when all along the problem was just the hose! Vacuum hose is a cheap way to make sure you are all tight.

Double action fuel pump will keep constant vacuum for sure, but it's a RPITA to plumb up neatly.

My two cents are: RainX frequently and rebuild the motor.

I'm a strong supporter of RainX and I actually don't even turn my wiper on at all anymore and would rather polish up the glass when I know I'm running in rain. If your truck is a daily driver, then a rebuild would be a starting point. If it's a weekend driver, I think you'd be surprised how well RainX works.

In addition, RainX Anti-Fog is excellent on the interior windshield. It will keep those windows from fogging now matter how much breath you throw at them and how much moisture is getting in the cab.

I have seen a cheep electric wiper motor in JC Whitney. 71UG9906T is 12 volt single speed for 41-48 chevy cars. Looks like it could work on AD trucks with a little work. Its $42 not the $120.

Originaly posted by John N ..... "I think that I will try that vasoline first, no sense in spending money on things that I can live with, when there are SO MANY other items I need to spend my time and money on.

THEN it started to rain, I was like _____, (you can fill in the blanks)"

Good stuff hear.... Is this " Chief " ??

Well, it looks like I will just have to send the vacuum motor in for repair. Lubrication helped some as long as I leave the passengers side control arm off, it works half way decent.

I don't know why I am worried much about using an electric motor wiper. I don't have an original radio to put in it anyways. I will probably put in a newer style radio anyhow.

Speaking of radios, is there anyone who makes a newer style MODERN radio that will fit into the 54 dash? I have seen them for other years, but no one list one for mine.

I was hoping to find a old junk origianl radio and use the front part of it (face)and modify it to a new radio. That was until I saw what "junk" ones were going for, especailly if the face and dials were intact and good shape. HIGH $$$$

John

John,

The 1954-55 radio is a valuable item because it is rare and because there is no aftermarket radio that fits in the original hole. A non-working truck radio recently sold on eBay for around $400.

The 1953/54 Chevrolet manual tune (not push button) car radio fits in the truck radio's cut-out. The push-btton car radio has a different dial bezel (rounded not rectangular) and it has no speaker mount on the case. This one recently sold for $50 on eBay.
[img]http://home.nycap.rr.com/lederman/images/5354carradio.JPG[/img]

A reproduction rectangular bezel used to be available but no one seems to sell it now.

By the way, if you use the manual-tune car radio with the speakers not mounted on the case, there is most likely no problem using an after market electric wiper.

Has anyone seen an original electric wiper for sale? At what price? Is a mounting bracket built into the wiper or is it a separate piece (is it a bolt-in replacement for the vacuum motor)?

Tim

This one is on Ebay right now.

[img]http://i20.ebayimg.com/02/i/00/e8/35/3d_1.JPG[/img]