Technical Windshield wiper vacuum

Next question I have - I'd like to keep the original vacuum system on the windshield wipers and get them working again. I've found a few articles/discussions on how to lubricate the motor, which I will be doing.
The real question is where exactly would the vacuum hose attach to on the engine? Intake? Carb? The car has a Carter 4 barrel carb, and a Fenton intake manifold to match. On the intake there is a plug that I'm wondering is for a vacuum line? Hopefully the picture uploads, I have the plug in question circled.
Yes yes I know there are electric motor conversions out there - I'm trying to preserve this vacuum motor for now and if it proves futile than I'll consider swapping it out.

 

Here is another angle...

 

that fitting should be perfect for vacuum wipers. Assuming it has a hole through it. Pull off the cap with the engine idling, and see what happens, does it get suction?

 

Anywhere after the carb. That fitting should be fine. I don't know about them Furd motors, but you can get fuel pumps with a vacuum pump attached to suit Chevy 6's. A vacuum tank like the go-fast boys use is also a handy thing when using vacuum wipers.

 

I would look for a fuel pump with vac pump on it. Otherwise you’ll loose wipers up hill.. vac wipers are no fun in the rain but rainx will also work better in everything short of a downpour

 

Another way is to get an electric vacuum pump. I know a least some Volvo's had them so I am pretty sure other makes must have had them.

 

Any diesel vehicle with a vacuum brake servo should have something adaptable.

Another idea I've had was to run the vacuum wiper motor on positive air pressure, e.g. if you've got air for bags etc. It'd require some creativity to feed air to the vent side of the valving. Venting to the supply side should be obvious. You'll only need about 7psi of air to emulate stock operation, but in theory it opens the possibility of increased performance using higher pressures.

 

When it comes to vacuum wiper motors; you almost always have to take them apart as they usually always need more than just a lubing. I found a working motor for my 40 off this website for a good price and the motor worked as advertised. I don't mind vacuum wipers at all as I rarely get caught in the rain.

 

In almost 50 years of playing with old cars, I've never encountered satisfactory vacuum wipers, with or without mechanical or electric pumps attached.

But Rain-X often works pretty well. Not always.

Have fun!

 

or a potato!

 

Potato??

Ben

 

Heck, they were marginal when new! My "old" car now has an electric wiper.

Ben

 

Originally my 272 y-block came with a combination fuel pump vacuum pump, my early 170 6 Bronco also came with the same setup. I’m not sure if flatheads had the same style pump?

 

AMCs also were late to adapt electric wipers. That won't help on a flathead, but you can lurk and see what they use to get adequate wipers.
What is your goal?
Pass inspection, never use?
Enough to get to the next overhang when caught out?
Occasional normal use?
Daily driver that gets caught regularly?

 

Goal is to simply have it working... passing an inspection in order to never use!
I'll be trying out the fitting suction test next time I run the car. Thanks for that!
Investigating the fuel pump possible solution: I learned something new about the 50-51 models, they had a fuel pump/vacuum booster ONLY on the cars that came with overdrive - which mine does not have.

 

I find this interesting. I think they also came on Mercury's. I wonder what the reason is for offering them only on OD cars? I would think it would be the other way around, since when in OD, the engine speed is lower and produces more vacuum.

Anyone have any experience with a vacuum reservoirs?

 

There was a article I think here on the hamb,vacuum wiper should have cork resister with a pin hole in the lines to the wiper motor,the old ones crumble and get sucked out with time.You were supposed to lube them but no remembered the they disappeared .

 

I have thought of doing exactly this. I have a 5 gallon tank for my air horn and air shocks.

 

there aren't any small Japanese diesel pickups in the US, unfortunately.

 

Are those alternators 6 volt?

 

The vacuum may be needed for a vac. operated overdrive servo?
I installed a vac. tank and it helps smooth out the wiper operation, just enough so they are useable, but it doesn't rain here over the "cruising" months, so it will stay like that.
A few drops of brake fluid into the vac. port of the wiper motor will swell the leather seal and they usually come back to life after a while.

 

R10 overdrive units as used in "shoebox" Fords are all electric; no vacuum involved. I did the brake fluid trick and it helped. My vacuum wipers are adequate except for one steep hill on the way out of town.

 

You could possibly adapt one of of these to work. 1983-1992 Ford F150 250 350 Ranger
E150 Econoline Mechanical Vacuum Pump

 

In case you need it...

https://rebuildingtricowipers.com/

 

Adding a reserve vacuum can , can help vacuum wipers ,particularly on accelerating up hill. I think we used a can from an English ford pilot.

 

Another source for a junkyard electric vacuum pump is any Chrysler product since 2013 with a 3.6L V6. They have made over 3.5 million of these engines and they are in Jeeps, Rams, Chargers, 300's etc. Get the vacuum lines as well as they have one way check valves in them that can come in handy. A vacuum canister can help as well. Worked with a guy that had a 1960 English Ford with vacuum wipers and a large canister. He would shut the car off when it was raining and walk away, the wipers would continue to run for about two minutes!

 

an Original 1949 to 1953 Mercury, combination Fuel & Vacuum Pump.

 

I think you have that backwards. The wipers run like crazy going down hill, it's up hill that they slow down or stop working.

 

On my truck, the engine makes enough vacuum to run the wipers good enough, its the spring tension on the glass that doesn't work. By design, the tension is low so the blades barely clean the water off no matter how fast they run, on top of that, the rubber isn't like modern blades, its some reproduction off shore junk that drys up.
Ceramic spray wax on the glass works pretty good.

 

How big was the vacuum tank?
Thanks
Tim