How To: Install electric wipers in 49-54 chevy

[Boones]

Thought I would post some info on how I installed a SPW wiper system in my 53 chevy. I think this would work for 49-54 chevy and maybe other years. I know it will work slick for the 53/54 years. I chose the SPW because I did not want to run a cable system when I switched over to 12Volt and because the guys I hang around with use their products and have had not problems that I am aware of.

I may say thanks for Bob and Dave at Boros for some help in welding the bracket and for the idea of using the factory transmissions (I looked at this system for several weeks trying thinking of a easy way to make a bracket to go between the dash and new wiper transmission).

Here are the pics and narrative...

I started off by taking a set of factory transmissions and cutting off the pulley section and drilling out the center to the same diameter as the SPW transmission (see pic).

[Boones]

Here is how the factory transmission interacts with the bezel and the curved contour of the dash

[Boones]

Next is a pic of the SPW wiper trans and how the factory transmission slips over it now

[Boones]

put together for fit check

[Boones]

Next I went and did a trial fit, here it is looking from under the dash. you can see how the factory transmission helps it seal against the bottom of the dash and the jam nut provide space. the biggest problem was how the dash curves.

Note: this pic does not show the factory defrost duct (removed for install of transmission). when reinstalling the duct you can either flip it over or trim one of the tabs to clear the tranmission gear box

[Boones]

Next I decide to mount the motor in the passenger side kick panel so I trimmed the metal and fab'd up a bracket to hold the motor.. I had to weld 4 studs to the bracket and drill 4 holes in the motor base.

[Boones]

Here is a pic of the motor and assembly attached together just before mounting on the new bracket I fab'd up

[Boones]

Here is the wiper motor assembly mounted on the bracket in the kick panel

[Boones]

Next step is to begin bending up the tubing that the shaft runs in... (the wipers transmissions are moved via a flexible shaft).

I noticed that to clear the glove box and not create to many bends I would have to trim some more of the kick panel up under the dash... (see pic)

[Boones]

The concept is to run a tube from the motor to the first wiper transmission then from one transmission to another then run a short 4" piece after the drivers side transmission (this is per the instructions).

Here a pic of the tube from the motor to the passenger side transmission..

[Boones]

from the previous pic you may have noticed there are not any sharp bends, (nothing tighter then a 3" radius.. I created each piece and then flared the ends as the instructions require. This is to quiet the shaft and to hold the tube in the transmissions..

[Boones]

At this point you are basically done and just have to lube up the whole assembly, shaft, and wiper transmission with grease and install the motor gear that connects to the shaft. My buddies like to use Vasoline so that is what I am going to use (doing that tonight).. Instructions are very good and give you several option depending on how your wiper move..

Here is what it looks like from the outside (minus the knurled post top that the wiper connects to).. looks stock and lets you keep the factory bezels..

[Boones]

I hope this was helpfu to those looking to do this swap and it give you options to using the factory pulley system..

[Kustm52]

Thanks for taking the time to write all this up. '49 - '52's use a lever arrangement, but I see no reason this setup wouldn't work. What company is this from?

Brian

[Rocky]

Yeah and how much does it cost? Even more importantly, how well does it work?
BTW, I like to use vaseline too but only if I run outa KY.

[Boones]

The wiper system is from Specialty Power Windows, they advertise in the mags... I would think it would work on the earlier years since you are only using the wiper transmission and nothing else. As for cost, dont remember but it was in the $200 range I believe.

I like this method as it allows me to remove the motor from the firewall and when I get around to filling holes and smoothing it out it will be one less item on there...

From the ones I have seen installed they work great but I will give you my personal opinion later....

[Tman]

Nice tech! We sell a lot of those kits, they work well. From $200 w/o switch to $300 for 2spd/switch/intermittant.

[lulabelle]

Thanks man!I'll be doing that sometime this winter.

[Roothawg]

TECH-O-MATIC!!!!!!!!!!!!

[W Vaughan]

I been trying to figure out what to do about wipers. your idea looks pretty damn good. I went to Cruisin the Coast on the Ms. Gulf coast last weekend in my 53 chev. It sucked thurs. and fri. because I didn't have wipers. Thanks for the good post.

Will Vaughan

[Taildraggin]

Good post.
I did a similar job on my Poncho and used a lucas motor which has the gearbox all built in as a complete unit for the flex shaft to connect to. I got mine out of an old Mini.

[fordiac]

thank you for putting forth the effort and writing a good tech article.

[river1]

BTTT for a tech o matic if it hasn't been done already

later jim

[Petejoe]

I installed this very setup in my 50 chevy pickup. It works very well in cases where you dont have alot of space to contend with. Thanks for adding this post, alot of work and a good product. Make sure you grease the shit out of the cable system... mine started making some noise after installation and had to be reassembled with mucho grease to stop it. It's been working great for 6 years. Thanks again!

[Nads]

$200????
Fag, RainX costs $4.99 at Wal Mart.
Seriously I bought a motor that bolts right on the main drive shaft for the wipers on the firewall in my '54. That thing cost almost $200 and it doesn't work worth a shit, never did. I can't remember the make, but it's worthless. I guess I'm lucky because it NEVER rains in Florida.
See you in a few weeks Boones.

[38Chevy4door]

Good stuff!!! Thanks for sharing...I hope to have wipers in my running '38 someday...of course, I hope to have a running '38 someday...

You guys have fun in Charlotte this weekend!
Steve

[Boones]

BTTT for Tech Week......

[Roothawg]

I like this post.

[SlowLearner]

Great Post! Like Taildraggin said. Some of the brits used flexible shaft drive too. MG Midgets, for one that I know of.

[Roothawg]

Did this post ever make it to the tech-o-matic? The pics are gone so I am figuring no.........dang it. I need it now.

[ray]

Did this post ever make it to the tech-o-matic? The pics are gone so I am figuring no.........dang it. I need it now.

hey boones, any feedback on how this has worked for 3 years?

how about any of the guys who hade done junkyard sourced conversions? any pics?

[Boones]

Ray, so far so good, I have had the cover off only two or three times since install and that was to dial in the total sweep (fine tune). It has worked with out any issues. I still use rain X as having gone so many years without wipers (on my daily driver and my wagon) it tooks some time to get used to using having wipers (my current daily has it so I use the wagons wipers more and more when in the rain). They have saved my ass a few times on road trips when the weather was super bad and the rain X could not keep up

I see my pictures are no longer shown, here is the link to my website with the pictures and instructions I sent to Custom Rodder when they did my tech article. ( I may have some more pictures on my computer if something is not shown on the website (see link below)

http://public.fotki.com/boones/boones_rides_past/wiper_install_pics/

Always willing to help if anyone has questions..

[Chebby belair]

Great Post! Like Taildraggin said. Some of the brits used flexible shaft drive too. MG Midgets, for one that I know of.

I heard some early mazda's did this as well. Put one (supplied by a customer) in a kit kar a hundred years ago - he told me it was a 70's Mazda.

Bitchen tech stuff. I have been looking at the aftermarket electric kits that replace the vac motor, but I think theyre gonna foul with my accelerator linkages - goddam bumfuck RHD!