Electric Wiper Motor Assemblies

[grey beard]

I have two wiper motor uniits, both from 1948 Dodge B series. One is from a half ton and the other from a one ton. Both motors are Auto Lite units but what a difference. One has a horizontal armature and the other is vertical. Part number for the vertical unit is EWH 4001. Horizontal motor is part number EWJ 4002. Both seem to work well. Both mount to the dash identically, use identical arm assemblies and the same switfh. Only the motor/trans units are different. Anyone have any idea which is the better quality of the two units?

Thaniks

[grey beard]

I'm not one to usually post a reply to my own thread, but I have since noticed that Eric (Mr. Townwagon) has the larger of the two electric wipermotor examples I have shown in this post advertised on that auction site - and he calls it a two-speed wiper motor. Here I thought both of these were two speed. Does anyone know more about this?

Thanks for your help.

[Guest P15-D24]

is a two speed from the factory. Don't know about the larger trucks.

[Dodgeb4ya]

In all of the 1948 to 50 trucks the vertical motor is used, especially in the 2 ton and up models because of low engine vacumn-- wide open throttle under heavy loads. Vacumn wiper motor was most common on 1948-50 light duty trucks. Vertical motor is the same motor assembly W/O bracket as all 1941 to 1948 DeSoto and Chrysler cars. Cars use a different mounting bracket than the trucks.

Horizontal electric motor was used on 1951 to 1953 trucks is also same wiper motor as used in 1951 to 1952 Dodge, DeSoto and Chrysler cars. Possibly 1949 to 50 also. Most all B3 and B4 series used electric motors from what I own and have seen in the last 30 years. Although my 1952 2-1/2 tonner has vacumn wipers W/factory fender well vacumn tank.

Bob

[townwagon]

Grey Beard,

As far as I know both the electric motors are two speed. There are actually at least three different motors used in the 1948-53 era, even though the later 1951-53 motors (just the motor, not the arms) look much the same as the one style of 1948-50, the numbers on the motor are different.

As far as the two different motors you have pictured, I have pulled both from various trucks of all different sizes from 1948-50, so I am not sure why there were two styles. All I can think of is there were two different options, and whichever one came in is what got installed.

I used to think the more barrel shaped one was early, and the other one was late, until I found a barrel shaped one in a B-2.

I have never tried either one in a truck, so I can not speak to which one is better, but the style with the gears on both ends of the motor is the one that was used until 1953 at least, so maybe it was better? It might also have been cheaper, it is hard to know why Dodge made some choices.

Good Luck,

Eric

[Paul Beard]

Dave the biggest problem you will have is the linkage that goes from the motor to run the wipers. My experience has been that the electric wiper motor has shorter rod from the motor to the wiper arm attachment under the dash. I would check and see if your current pieces will fit with the second motor pictured. My exp. is that the first motor pic. needs shorter linkage.

[Norm's Coupe]

Dave,

The first motor (horizontal one) looks identical to a motor I took out of a one owner original 52 DeSoto a few years ago. It was also a two speed. As mentioned any time you change motors you should try to get the same arms that go with it, so they line up. As to which type motor works best, I have no idea.

[norrism1]

My 51 B3B had a 6 volt electric vacuum pump mounted to the firewall.