Before I go scouring the junkyards, has anyone replaced the vacuum wiper setup with a 2-speed electric wiper motor? I'm sure some fabrication would be involved but I don't shy away from that. Don't particularly want to dump $250 into the Newport version. Anyone?
The problem you're going to run into with most later model wiper motors is they go roundy-round the full 360. I don't know what you're working on, but '57's wiper motor go back and forth, and that's where the conversion kits like Newport come into play.
I didn't feel like dumping the dough for the Newport either, but like Texas57 says, you are going to run into "action" problems. I bit the bullet, bought the Newport kit, and was very impressed. So much so, I did a full write-up with photos and videos on my personal site here: https://www.hotrodreverend.com/post...part-40-windshield-wipers-wiper-motor-upgrade
To actually answer your question....yes, I did, sorta, but not just a 2 speed. Not what you're looking for, but I used a 97 Mustang wiper motor so I could use the universal multi function switch on my steering column. I wanted to make my late model steering colum/wheel fully functional, and wanted to clean my firewall off, so.....Had to cut open my cowl so I could build a "base" to mount the motor in the "rain gutter" area. I added a weathertight door inside the cowl so the wiper motor comes out from under the dash. Had to design and build a hard arm system to compensate for the roundy-round motor. The hard arm setup also had to reverse the direction of the p***enger side wiper arm so one is going clockwise while the other is going counterclockwise, as our old cars did. (The new cars both go in the same sweep direction) Required modifying the oem wiper pivots to attach all the new stuff to instead of the old cable and pulley system. Had to build a special harness to connect the motor through the electronic control module to the multifuntion switch. BUT I now have multi speed intermittent wipers, and a very clean firewall/cowl area. Probably cost less than the Newport setup, but MONTHS of combined work, esp. the hard arm system. Definetly not a job for someone who doesn't like tinkering and challenges. Only for a car in the construction stages.
OK, sounds like it'd be best to just spring for the Newport unit. I love design and fabrication but sometimes it makes more sense to spend a few dollars on a well designed product than spend a few weeks building something that may not be as efficient! Thanks for the info, everyone. That's exactly what I was looking for! danman55, your write-up has been bookmarked!
and I believe they're made not too far south from you.....I use to drive by Newport Controls on my way to work.
Alot of my decision on how to approach the project was based on the fact I was trying to clean off my firewall and one of the things needing removal/relocating was the wiper motor. The second factor was my '97 Mustang steering column/wheel. For it to be totally functional, I was told by Ron Francis the only way that would happen was to match up the multifunction switch on the steering column with it's oem partnered wiper motor. The Mustang wiper motor is controlled by that switch thru an electronic control modul. It's that module that gives the intermittent speed control. Those factors got my project a lot more involved than it could have been otherwise. With that said, I've said in the past the oem pulley and cable system wouldn't work with a motor that didn't go back and forth, but I'm not so sure of that.....and as previously stated, I don't know what your working on or what system it currently has (cable and pulley, or hard arm). One neat silver lining with a late model setup........you can go to O'reilly's and pick one up should it need replacing. One last (?) note: if you do give it some more thought and go to a wrecking yard, you'll find Lincoln Mark Viii and Mustang, at least, have the wiper arms and motor ***embly all neatly bundled up as a unit that just unbolts. If you go with one of those late model setups, also grab the control module from under the dash. I have no clue how to wire it all up with a conventional switch.
I believe they're in Missouri now. It looks like I have the 'hard arm' system. I ***ume it goes back and forth instead of roundy-round. Never got around to testing it before I stripped the car down. Also, thanks for the info on the Mark VIII's and Mustang. I'll have to take a look at my donor '93 before I write the whole idea off! Oh yeah.....working on a '54 Customline…..
In my opinion [which is worth every cent charged] just get the Newport and install it while the dash is out.
Cannot seem to find it, but I have read where using the rear window motor from some late model SUV have been used to convert some. Go to youtube. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=vacuum+to+electric+wiper
I've heard that also about the rear window wiper motors. I'd have to look at the oem linkage, but I'd suspect they're a full 360 motor as well. I had no idea the wiper was under the dash. I'm sittin' here almost crying since what you have to work with is so much simpler than what I had to deal with. The biggest problem for me on your car would be figuring out the electrics. I'm not sure if a wiper motor from a car that had the typical steering wheel multifunction switch/lever could be adapted to operate off a simple rotary switch. My guess is yes, you might just lose the variable speed intermittent function if it has it, and there isn't a rotary switch available with that (rheostat)feature. As I said, the mechanics would be relatively simple to figure out and execute because everything there is wide open. Places to weld new brackets, supports where necessary would be a piece of cake. First, I'd make sure anything you're going to alter doesn't interfere with anything else under the dash such radio, braces, future a/c, defroster ducting, etc. An Air Conditioning evaporator's space requirements could very well put a damper on changes. Let me think a while on the hard arms, but basically what you'll need is an arm off the motor for ONE wiper pivot. Being a roundy round motor, you can't hook up both sides directly off the motor as you could with a back and forth motor. Next thing I'd do before you remove anything is measure how much full lateral movement the arms on the pivots make at the point where the linkage to the motor is attached..in other words, the arc it makes at the pivot arm when the pivot makes it's full sweep.. Your final back and forth movement off the motor's arm as it goes around in circles should duplicate that arc movemnt at the pivot point. That's determined by drilling your motor's arm at a point on the radius from the center that will be 1/2 the arc on the pivot's arm. At no point should the arms be approaching a straight line.......in other words, you don't want to go past a point where it could go the wrong way around pivot points. More to come, I just need to think about it for a while. Am I losing you? It would be so much easier if I could draw sketches as I was trying to explain.
I have had a couple of the motors similar to the ones like Newport sells, that i had in boats. The motor looks identical to Newports and the pivot goes back and forth , just like the 54 vacuum device. The gearing inside the boat units ( which i suspect is identical) has 2 or 3 pins than u can move to widen or narrow the sweep. The only thing you would have to do is figure out how to get the arm that is on the vacuum unit mounted to the motor, and then make some sort of mount. I picked one of these up at the swap meet a couple years ago for about 20 bucks..and then decided to just keep the vacuum unit, as it works just fine. I will use a vacuum motor i picked up at the junk yard for cheap. Good luck
A back and forth motor as shortshift described would be so much simpler. Probably just a matter of adapting the old hard arms to the new motor and new mount for the motor. What I was discussing is going to be required if a full 360 motor is used requiring replacement of the old with a new more elaborate hard arm system.
I used a vw beatle wiper motor on my 46. but this was 20 yrs ago so i dont remember what i did. if i can get a pic of it installed i will post it. KENN
I had my son take a pic but it doesnt show the arms. I think we used stock 46 arms and the wipers work well. Im sure we had to do some bending and such to make it fit.KENN
I have Newport units in my three fords, one on my 38 Plymouth . have given many years of trouble free service. Well worth the money.....
Newports go for around $225 + another $10 for the dash switch extension. I have one in my car and it works fine.
If your going to install Newports in 55-56 Ford. Ask me how to do it in 20 minutes instead of 2-3 hours.
Ditto - The one in my 56 Bird went in quite easily, but I had the dash out. The one in my 54 was more of a h***le, but the dash was in. Don't remember on the 48. But in all cases, it was a lot more than 20 minutes. Then again, I may be a little bit **** about installing something that is a ***** to access once finished.
Infinitely easier with the dash out and easy to screw up the arms. Take pictures first before you take it apart.
If you go with any new unit, either electrical or vacuum, take the front seat out first. Much easier to work under the dash this way.
The problem comes from trying to put the screws thru the Newport wipers into the holes since the motor attached on the opposite side from the original vacuum motor. After fighting 2 hours to get the two screws in and only getting in one. I took the unit out and put two 1/2" long screws into the bracket from the top down making them studs. I had the twos nuts that fit the screw/now studs and put the motor up on them and tightened the two nuts and star washers I had. That took about 2 minutes with a nut driver. All the rest was ez with all the arms working as intended. All my original parts needed were good including the double clip with the spring in the middle. If you have the deluxe heater remember to use a cap on the vacuum tee or put in a straight coupling so your heater valve on the engine will work. The left defrost hose on mine was also too large diameter to get around the linkage so I got a PVC adapter from Home Depot that necked it to a smaller size I could get around the linkage. I believe I had to wrap some tape on the large end of the adapter so it would fit tight. I used "friction" not vinyl for this. I also unbolted my seat and moved it back to the rear seat before I started and my radio was out to a friend upgrading it. The 20 minutes I referred too was after the original is out and "studs" are in it really was quick. I was so frustrated I even removed my glove box to get lighting up behind to see; that never needed to happen. I sent a letter to Newport on how I made it so ez to mount the motor but I have no idea how the responded to it. I do remember in their instructions that on a 55-6 Ford this was not an ez job.... To me that was wrong; they just needed longer screws and put them in from the top to make studs and add to nuts to fit the screws. Good luck
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