Newbie Help
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Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 35
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From: beautiful Jersey Shore
Newbie Help
I just pulled the vacuem (spelling ?) wiper motor out of my '48 F-1 after checking for vacuem, and turning the switch did nothing. I tried to move the arm assembly and it feels like the motor may be siezed up. Can anyone explain how to take one apart to fix it? Who sells rebuilts at a reasonable cost. I'm making this truck into a basicily stock driver to tow my Crosleys to Shows here in the good old "flat" garden state. '47 Crosley Convertible towed by a '48 F-1 should look cool !
Thanx !
Thanx !
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Spartanburg, SC
You need to can that vacUUm wiper motor for a good electric. If you're gonna pull a car, Crosley or not, that sucker will quit on every hill or every time you step on the gas.
Somebody will dispute what I just said as sure as I'm sitting here! LOL!
I knew a guy who put a flat head Ford in a Crosley in the '50s. Pretty little car
Somebody will dispute what I just said as sure as I'm sitting here! LOL!
I knew a guy who put a flat head Ford in a Crosley in the '50s. Pretty little car
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,765
Likes: 547
From: Kalispell, MT
Not to dispute the kid - 'cause he's right, but after problems with electrics I went back to vacuum. Although you'll have to convert to 12V too 
They feel locked up if you try to move them by pulling on the arm. Put a hose on the vac port and suck - it will probably move. If it doesn't the shuttle inside might be full of crud. It's not too tough to service them - you need a small screw driver if I remember right..... Take it apart carefully and clean it - lube with a small amount of petroleum jelly (vaseline).
Usually the trouble lies with the rubber hose from the intake manifold as it dries out, it cracks and loses its ability to pull vacuum.
They feel locked up if you try to move them by pulling on the arm. Put a hose on the vac port and suck - it will probably move. If it doesn't the shuttle inside might be full of crud. It's not too tough to service them - you need a small screw driver if I remember right..... Take it apart carefully and clean it - lube with a small amount of petroleum jelly (vaseline).
Usually the trouble lies with the rubber hose from the intake manifold as it dries out, it cracks and loses its ability to pull vacuum.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Spartanburg, SC
And there you go. LOL! He's right, but I still lean toward electric.
The day I picked up my '56 it was drizzling and I asked the PO about those vacuum wipers(I grew up with them) and he assured me they were as good as electric. I turned them on and they slung out like crazy, but then they just sat there for what seemed like minutes. It was that way all the way home, about 25 minutes.
I went to a junkyard the 1st Saturday and got a motor off a Ford Fairlane. That was in 1976 and I'm still running the same motor.
The day I picked up my '56 it was drizzling and I asked the PO about those vacuum wipers(I grew up with them) and he assured me they were as good as electric. I turned them on and they slung out like crazy, but then they just sat there for what seemed like minutes. It was that way all the way home, about 25 minutes.
I went to a junkyard the 1st Saturday and got a motor off a Ford Fairlane. That was in 1976 and I'm still running the same motor.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,906
Likes: 82
From: Oregon
LOL. Yeah it's a CAT. It should pull something anyhow. It is rated at like 210 HP, but I think I saw the plate that said like 500 something LB/FT of torque. I know it doesn't move fast, but it has some serious grunt behind it.
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
From: Spartanburg, SC
Many years ago, before the Supernats moved to Gatlinburg, a Californian showed up at Chimney Rock, NC in a diesel powered '56. I think it was out of a Mercedes.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 785
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From: Canada
Vacum Wipers
Awhile back this came up in discussion, and I tend to lean to the original Vacum operated ones.
There is a way to overcome the drawback of the stalling of the Vacum Wipers.
First off as all other moving components on your truck the do need service, from time to time. This is easily done as another member described how to. Another method is the in my opinion useless oil filter that was stock OEM equipment, can be made into a usefull item.
Hook it up to be used as a vacum reserve tank, you can still retain the original look of the stock equipment, yet have a usefull item.
If you want and need a working oil filter as is a good idea install a full flow one, then you have the best of both without converting to 12 volt.
Awhile back this came up in discussion, and I tend to lean to the original Vacum operated ones.
There is a way to overcome the drawback of the stalling of the Vacum Wipers.
First off as all other moving components on your truck the do need service, from time to time. This is easily done as another member described how to. Another method is the in my opinion useless oil filter that was stock OEM equipment, can be made into a usefull item.
Hook it up to be used as a vacum reserve tank, you can still retain the original look of the stock equipment, yet have a usefull item.
If you want and need a working oil filter as is a good idea install a full flow one, then you have the best of both without converting to 12 volt.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 8,813
Likes: 13
From: Littleton, New Hampshire
I try not to drive my 48 in the rain but I kept the vacuum wipers as an economy move with the idea of changing them to electric later. However, I have been pleasantly surprised at how well they work and have decided to keep them. Yes, you will occasionally have to let up on the gas to see where you are going but for a truck that is seldom driven in the rain they are okay.
