Quick question. I'm finally getting around to connecting my vacuum wipers on my 48 Chevy and I want to know if I should connect them to the manifold port on my intake(currently has a brass plug) or connect to 1 of the ports on my Holley 600? I'm thinking the intake is the better choice but want to make sure.
I had to drive my Merc in the rain last sat with vacuum wipers, get electric wipers. Vintage is great but I couldn't see and had to get home.
Yup, I had vacuum on my 51 Merc, NFG in the rain going up hill or with the pedal down (this was while towing an RV trailer through FLA and TX)...
Ditto intake,...and for good measure, add a small vacuum reservoir in the line between intake and wiper motor. 4TTRUK
I have vacuum on my rambler and I really like them. A bit finicky but work fine. I would add a vacuum reservoir though.
Yes, if you can find a 67-70 Cougar in the pick-a-part it's behind the left front fender splash shield, a good sized reservoir. The other Fords with AC have a smaller one with a built in check valve to operate the vent ducting. Looks like a small coffee can
I like vacuum wipers. My 56 Ford has vacuum wipers. They worked well with the 6 cyl so I got a dual action fuel pump for a Edsel to use on my 352 Ford engine. I grew up driving with vacuum wipers. If I was driving it to work everyday, Id probably go with electric but for a weekend warrior that may never get caught in a driving rain storm I like mine. You learn to drive differently in the rain if you have vac. wipers. A quick lift of the pedal will get a quick wipe and really have no affect your speed even on a long grade. If you want a Lexus buy one.
Lube your wiper motor and add a vacuum reservoir, you can make one out of an apple juice can like Ford did. Don't forget the 1 way valve. If you have a 12 volt car there are plenty of 12 volt vacuum pumps in junk yards or you can buy one brand new for $40 up.
I pull mine off the intake. Here is a thread with lots of good information. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=653105&highlight=wipers
The biggest problem with vac wipers is that the motor is shot. If it's over 30 years old and hasn't been replaced, REPLACE IT!! There are leather and rubber seals and valves inside. They dry up and crack. Pulling the "bowl" and greasing will help, but only for a short time. Get a rebuilt motor and it will work as good as electric for the next 20+ years. #2 problem is not enough vacuum when pulling hard. A reservoir helps for about 60 seconds if you have a big one. 1990s Ford F-250s have one or two 1/2 gallon "juice cans" under the hood -- those are vacuum reservoirs. They have built-in check valves. The line you can blow into and can't suck out of goes to the wiper motor, the other to the intake. Vacuum MUST come from the intake! Ported vac from the carb only pulls under certain conditions, not all the time. #3 problem is a bad vac booster on the fuel pump. You can get by without the booster if you don't drive the car in the rain much, just the can will do for short hills and passing. If you drive it a lot you probably want to spend the money on a rebuilt vac booster fuel pump. Almost all engines have one available that used a mechanical fuel pump. If you're using an electric fuel pump or can't get a booster pump that will supply enough fuel put the booster pump on and don't use the fuel side, just loop a line to the inlet and outlet to keep dirt and moisture out. Rain-X or just plain old car wax on the windshield helps, but it's no substitute for wipers. I know it works good in light rain, but you still need working wipers by law, and for your own safety. Rain-X can only do so much -- it's there to HELP the wipers, not REPLACE them!
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