I’m at the point where I’ve have to make some decisions on wipers on my un chopped 5 window. Currently I have two penetrations for wipers. Some ideas I’ve got kicking around my pea brain…..2 studs with acorns, weld one pen up one acorn, one acorn one motor (drivers side) with wiper etc etc etc. then I saw this…..
Just run Rain- X Screw the wipers. If it rains that hard, good time to just take a break and sit it out.
With the number of times a HAMB car is used in the rain I would just use original wipers. Charlie Stephens
Yep, just install a wiper and never use it, looks pretty good too, tuck it out of the way over the windshield lip.
If you were in the south-eastern US or Washington state... maybe run a wiper. But Norcal? Nah. But... I've been known to not want a fuel gauge either, so.... hahaha.
The hood appears to have louvers........are sure you want to drive it on a rainy day? Looks too nice to drive in the rain. I'd just carry a tarp or car cover in the trunk for emergencies. Like someone mentioned, might be different in certain climates, but Kalifornia not so much.
I’ve got a ‘32 roadster with a 3” chop and no wiper and a “32 5-window with a 4” chop and a single wiper. Personally I like having a wiper on a closed car, especially one that gets driven. I got caught in the rain on a highway in the coupe a couple of weeks ago and it was nice having the wiper.
I’ve had cars that had them and some that didn’t and it’s up to the owners preference really. If they are vacuum operated then skip it or do the Rain-x with the wipers either way Rain-x is the way to go
I live in a state where it rains. Since I drive my stull a lot, I have functioning wipers. My son lives a few miles from me, he doesn't currently have wipers on his 57 Dodge wagon, and he has been driving it for a few years. He just found out he can get the wiper motor updated on his wagon for around $200. He was telling me today " I missed out on driving my wagon all these years because I was concerned about being caught in the rain, and I could have had functioning wipers all this time for a messily $200? I'm sending that wiper motor off next week." Compared to functioning wipers, Rain X is a very distant 2nd choice, unless you live where it doesn't rain, or you are afraid you car might melt if it gets wet. Your car, your choice.
I hate to be Miss Contraire. Debbie Downer. Safety Sally. Legal Louise. But aren't wipers one of the minimum equipment requirements to even be able to register the car? I'm all for the minimum, though.
I live in sunny San Diego and daily drive a 56 Chevy pickup. One of the best things I ever installed on it was a New port engineering wiper kit. I use it constantly in the winter because believe it or not ....it does rain in So Cal
Required in Washington state if you have a windshield. Personally I don't know of anyone in this state who has received a no wiper ticket. That probably comes if you are at falt in an accident in the rain. I know that I had to have a wiper on my T bucket in Texas and used a stock Model T manual wiper on the stock windshield frame. It wasn't worth much in a gully washer Central Texas rain storm though.
general wiper information stainless wiper blades, you can buy them 10 inch 11 inch 12 inch you can choose from single early style flat rubber OR sprung for curved glass in both fitment style stainless trico style wiper blade arms you can buy the wiper arms 1. telescopic adjusting, they slide in and out for length 2. you can buy them with the hockey stick either way depending on where you want them to park 3. you can have the blade mount for flat blades or curved glass blades if you buy them for a trico lucas style wheel box and you need to have them pin style, you use the grub screw splined to pin conversion bits from a land rover what you cannot unfortunately do with regards the FIRST STEP is guess what is what until you buy 'for example' two 11'' curved glass wiper blades, bayonned fitting and two left hand park wiper arms with adjustment from 10-14 inches. it firstly depends on where your original wiper holes are situated. IF you choose to go lucas style wiper motor and cable, note the max length of cable is 5 ft 1525mm you need 2 inch of pokey pokey out the last wheel box note, wheel boxes are available in three lengths, dependant on the curve of the foot of the body. the escutcheons and rubber pad that sit outside on the body can be ground to sit nice , or they have to be really as they look stoopid sticking straight out and upward. the best situation is to start with long wheel boxes, however in the header above the screen it may not be possible to route the bundy tube and inner cable ......... so you buy two blades - even though you have a flat screen you buy the 11'' curved screen blades you buy some adjustable arms 10-14 inches - get a used lucas set up from somewhere take out the wheel boxes buy two austin mini wiper escutcheons and rubber pads mould the escutcheon into the body so its plane is the screens buy a 1525mm 5 ft inner drive cable fit the wheel boxesand bolt them down you will be making aluminium inner cylindrical wedges / spacers mount the 2 speed drive motor down on the a pillar on the other side from the steering wheel use your brake flaring tool to make some new bundy tubes from two lengths of 1m aluminium tube - and hope you have the formers. grease it all up good. then comes the really hard part and why no one bothers with wind scrren wipers the drive wheel in the lucas style motors will sweep or pull the cable at a set distance this is changed by the location of the pin on the circular drive wheel if you like the farther out the drive pin is on the wheel, the further the cable pulls you can buy the wheels in differing sweeps 120 degrees 100 90 ets, the pin is spot welded to th ewheel. whats groovy is you can dial in the wipers with this system 1. 2 speed - auto matic park - important 2. the wiper motor noise can now be muffles down at the a pillar and covered so its silent, no whirr whirr ag above you head - or 2 feet from your ear holes 3. you can set the sweep so the blades do not run out of the screen area 4. have the blades sit out of view as best as possible when at park, either way 5. reverse the park position just by turning over the wheel boxes it all be shiny stainless 6. find a 2 speed switch with a momantary push in for the water squirters. its easier me thinks on a pre 37 flat screen , 37 has the bar down the middle. sod that , just looked on us ebay for a lucas wiper motor used, damn! i have got four of them in the shed. you want to go for a two speed later model before you even start looking and it may well be impossible to jab up the bundy and bend it with the spring inside up a 32 upper a pillar ...... - forgot that bit its just about possible on a 36 pickup
Being in Minnesota and driving both my coupe and 53 PU alot during the summer I like having wipers. I have the Speedway universal above the frame kit in the coupe and a Newport kit in the PU. Both work great. I also use a lot of Rain X. It also kind of surprises me in the coupe between Rain X, the flat windshield and the holes in the visor how clear the windshield stays in the rain.
I still have the vacuum wipers on my truck, they move OK since the engine makes a lot of vacuum. The blades don't clean much due to the low tension springs, short arms, and more plastic than rubber blades. The few times I've been in the rain, the flat glass stayed fairly clean even with out the wipers running. Mine are just like the one pictures above.
Good write up nobby. On my '50 Austin I was able to find the wheel boxes, but no motor. I adapted a later two speed by making an adaptor to fit the smaller diameter cable. I operate it with a double pole double throw switch. Since I don't plan on driving in the rain I have toyed with machining a blank cover, and carrying the arms in the trunk just in case.
In my old Ford in California experience, RainX can handle all but the biggest downpours, but you aren’t likely to take the old hot rod out if there’s big rains in the forecast. My problem has always been the windows fogging up with dew if I stay out too late on a fall/winter evening. It’s wipe before leaving, and stop once or twice for a re-wipe even with working wipers. That’s a tough decision but these days I kinda like the look of an old style wiper assembly as opposed to the smooth, no wiper look.
I’m with you on that. I’m leaning towards welding up the passenger side and having a vintage wiper parked. I am on the “if it’s on the car it’s got to function” camp. Otherwise it’s a useless decoration. Thanks Bob.
On my 32 sedan I use a single Mighty Wiper. I’m going to be measuring it up so my Dad can order the same for his 32 5-window. I have the tapered shaft style so it takes the arm like a 40 would use. Seems to work well for me over the last 13 years. When we head to Minnesota each summer for BTTF’s we usually go through some rain. Rain X isn’t good enough for me at 70 MPH.
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