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[Bruce Porter]

We got our '55 wagon registered & insured.
One of the first things we need to fix is the wipers.
I was surprised to see the old vaccum powered wiper motor.
The cable that operates it is frozen, and the vaccum hose is missing.
I see places offering electric replacements for $75 and up.

Does anyone have experience with the old vaccum motors?
I'm thinking it would be nice to fix or replace the original, instead of
going electric.
Any comments?

[Leon Rowell]

Hi Bruce,

I've never had much luck getting the vacuum wipers to work "correctly"
so I converted my '57 Chevy over to original electric's. I guess it
depends on how much or how far you are going to drive it. If you decide
to stay with the vacuum wipers I would purchase a rebuilt one from one
of the professional rebuilders that advertise online or in Hemmings
Motor News. Just type "rebuilt vacuum wiper" into Google, with or
without the quotes.

Just my 2¢ worth.

Leon Rowell


Bruce Porter wrote:

[Bruce Porter]

Thanks for the reply, I didn't know if electric wipers were an original
option.
I guess there's an original switch I can get too.

Leon Rowell wrote:

[Guest]

I think I worked on this motor. If it looks like a donut cut in halve, I
have. They are very simple. You have a paddle on a shaft and a sliding
valve. Vacuum sucks the paddle to one side (wiper moves one way) and the
sliding valve moves to the closed position, opening the other halve of
the chamber. Now the vacuum sucks the paddle back in the opposite
direction
(moving the wiper back to park.
I am betting is just gunked up. I think you have to pull the glove
(just move all those gloves aside) box to get at the motor...Good-Luck
Hope this helps
Dan
Milw

[Ralph Shapiro]

I don't know if you're trying to restore to stock. If not, have you ever
driven a car with vacuum wipers? Every time you step down on the gas, the
wipers stop!
"Bruce Porter" <b.a.porter@att.net> wrote in message
news:j7xBe.1140528$w62.527071@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

[Leon Rowell]

Yes, electrics were an option. It's a bolt in replacement and uses the
same cable. Just needs a power source.

I've had good luck with these folks http://www.hhclassic.com/Index.html
or http://www.56chevy.com/ but shop around.
You might check e-Bay for an original too.

Leon

Bruce Porter wrote:

[Leon Rowell]

Dan,

Better yet, the motor is on the firewall.... :^)

Leon


LAIKA1@webtv.net wrote:

[Robin Banks]

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 14:40:16 -0700, "Ralph Shapiro" <ralph.shapiro@sonoma.edu>
wrote:

[Bruce Porter]

Thanks for the replies.
I'll save the original vaccum motor for when I have more time to play.
I oredered a replacement electirc with delay; I still haven't found a
delay unit for my 68 Camaro & I miss it.

Leon Rowell wrote:

[v8z]

The Caddie probably has a vacuum reserve cannister with a check valve. Guys
running big, lopey profile cams in cars with power brakes have to add a
cannister to prevent the same loss of vacuum to the brakes.....
V8Z

[Tom Kieffer]

Get hold of these guys. I was just out there and they have at least 50
Camaros and Firebirds from the 60's. Unless you are looking for something
new.

http://www.allamericanclassics.com/

"Bruce Porter" <b.a.porter@att.net> wrote in message
news:AjNBe.1145000$w62.292430@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

[Guest]

Robin, look at your fuel pump on your Caddy....is it huge? If so it has
a vaccum pump built into it. I am sure the 53s had it.

Dan
Milw

[Eugene Blanchard]

On my 55 chev that I owned in the mid 70s, the vacuum wipers would stop
always when you needed them. Like when you are at a stop sign and its
pouring rain, then you accelerate and the wipers would stop working.

The other funny thing about the 55, was that the windshield washer pump was
a foot pumped and located under the clutch pedal. If you pushed the clutch
in too far, you would press the manual washer pump and squirt the
windshield. Many friends who drove the car couldn't figure out why the
windshield washer kept working.

Robin Banks wrote:

[Leon Rowell]

My '57 Ford has a vacuum booster on the fuel pump too. I suspect because
of the power brakes...

Leon Rowell


LAIKA1@webtv.net wrote:

[ron whitaker]

Bruce Porter wrote: