Need vacuum windshield wiper info for 47 Plymouth.

[central52]

My vacuum operated wiper on my 47 Plymouth works just so-so. The Plymouth Service Manual I have only discussed the electric set-up. Where can I get information on the vacuum operated system? The wiper stops and goes, it just doesn't run continulously steady. Thanks, Ed P.

[John Mulders]

I read in the past that a rebuild would get you great results.

http://www.wiperman.com/

is the company to use for this.

No experience myself ( S&H would be to costlty and we hardly have rain anyway).

John

[1940plymouth]

Go to the home page of this website, click on the links and you will come up with Tod Fitch's website. He has a great write up on the

Vacumn wipers of our old Plymouths.

Hope this helps,

Bob

[greg g]

First thing to do is to makesure your vacuum source is good with o leaks. I bit of cracked hose will just about kill the works. Norm of Norms coupe fame reported he had some luck by squirting some oil in through the hose which may help make the old bellows more pliable. If those fail, you probably need a rebuild. Also they don't like to work o dry glass, to much drag. And they don't work well if you have another vacuum leak somewhere else like in the intake manifold or carb to manifold mounting. YOu can also bypass the on off valve to see if it is working correctly.

[Niel Hoback]

Central52, what do you mean by "doesn't run continuously steady"? When vacuum wipers are working right, they don't run steady. Any change in the engine vacuum has an effect on the wiper speed. Mine will stop on heavy acceleration and run really fast going downhill.

If they run steady at idle, there probably isn't anything wrong.

Lubing the linkage and towers wouldn't hurt anything either.

[martybose]

if you add a vacuum reservoir with a check valve you can improve the operation of vacuum wipers considerably. Most cars have such a tank connected to the power brake booster, or there are commercial aftermarket tanks.

Marty

[Don Coatney]

if you add a vacuum reservoir with a check valve you can improve the operation of vacuum wipers considerably. Most cars have such a tank connected to the power brake booster, or there are commercial aftermarket tanks.

Marty

I bought this tank on the bay for less than ten bucks. I can get about

5 good swipes after I kill the engine. The wipers will stil stall when I

drive up a long hill.

[central52]

Thanks guys for all that info. To Niel, it runs fairly smoothly on level ground, but on hills, it dies. You are right about the vacuum load with engine speed. So, going up a hill, I occassionally let off on the gas pedal to get the wipers going. I guess this is the way these vacuum wipers worked back then.

That being the case, is a rebuild necessary? As stated, it runs o.k. on level ground, only struggling on hills.

Also, do they have electric wipers that can be fitted in the old cars like mine, that run on 6 volts? Ed P.

[Niel Hoback]

Sounds like its running about as good as its going to. I call part of its "character".

Also, don't fix it if it ain't broke.

I have not seen a 6 volt motor that will swap into a

p-15, but that doesn't mean they dont exist. I'm sure there are people out there looking for one a lot harder than I am.

[Howard Tarnoff]

New Port Engineering makes a bolt in replacement for your wiper motor that is excellent. Very easy to install and the switch mounts in the stock location as well. You will have two speed electric wipers, no delay is available for your year.

https://www.newportwipers.com/products.php?year=1946-48&make_id=15

[Howard Tarnoff]

New Port Engineering makes a bolt in replacement for your wiper motor that is excellent. Very easy to install and the switch mounts in the stock location as well. You will have two speed electric wipers, no delay is available for your year.

https://www.newportwipers.com/products.php?year=1946-48&make_id=15

Oh, this assumes you have converted to 12 volts.