electric wiper install in a stepdown

dougson
dougson Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I recently installed an "It's a Snap" electric wiper conversion in my '54. It wasn't a snap but it works great, has 2 speeds, and the switch easily adapts to the Hudson knob. If there is interest I will post pics of installation. Some "sacrifice" of metal and heater unit is required.

Comments

  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    Yes dougson, I'd like to see pictures of your installation. I've been thinking about using a '53 Plymouth electric wiper motor and switch to convert the wipers on my SuperJet over to electrics. However, the Plymouth unit was only one speed! I sup- pose with luck I might be able to find a Chrysler unit to use, that would be an infinate speed unit.



    Jerry

    53jetman
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Yep, post pictures, please! Would like to see it.
  • I concur.



    Please post 8 by 10 photo glossies with descrptions on the back.
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    Ok, here it goes. The system utilizes a single cable "pulsated" through a tube by an electric motor. The cable is coiled and passes under and over two sprockets, each driving the blade from the center out as in the factory setup. It self centers when you shut it off. You will have to sacrifice the factory defroster vents and fabricate replacements because the metal around each vent must be cut to permit installation of the sprocket. Once installed, some of the metal can be bent back to its original position, but the defroster vent will no longer fit. To install the sprockets through the wiper tower, the existing hole in the wiper tower must be drilled 3/8". I removed all the ancillary stuff from the tower so that only the chrome piece was left. Once drilled, the sprocket shaft and its sleeve easily mount in the tower. It's held in place by a nut on the sleeve, the original tower bracket, and a knurled cap that has a set screw. All of the exposed parts on the upper dash are covered by the windshield moldings. I made a few additional brackets to provide extra stiffness (shown in 3rd pic.). I installed the motor below heater unit, and the original heater core can still be used. I haven't tackled the heater motor issue yet but if necessary I'm sure I can find a smaller blower motor. I was able to adapt the Hudson knob to the supplied controller, and it even indents to activate the washer (another issue, not attempted here). A word of caution. The instructions for installing this unit are poor, almost pidgeon english. Study the way things fit together before cutting.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    Looks like you are doing a thorough resto on the 54.. Great work.

    I put 2 speed electrics on the 49 by using a motor intended for a 57 Chevy. Didn't have to modify anything. Just put the electric in place of the vacuum motor and adapting the cable mounting. Just a couple screws and washers. Chevy had electric and vacuum back in those years, so the electric motor is controled by a cable just like Hudson. If a person wanted to switch back to original it would be a ten minute job. I got my motor cheap on Ebay since it was not an "original" Delco but a replacement. No pictures of the installation, but it's so simple even "I" could do it!
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Looks good, but I take it you are no longer employing the cables on the firewall, right?
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    RL Chilton wrote:
    Looks good, but I take it you are no longer employing the cables on the firewall, right?



    I replaced the entire cable system with this set up. I considered Chevy motor but my cable system needed alot of work and I was not sure about the availability of parts.
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    I converted my Jet to electric wiper by uisng a generic replacement 6 volt wiper (Japanese), mounting it in the original position, and pinning the actuator, which was easy enough to make up, to the end of the shaft to drive the original cables. I mounted a micro-switch which is activated by the original cable. If I could be bothered I could mount an extra micro-switch to make it self-parking, but haven't got around to that. Can post pics if anyone interested.

    Geoff.
  • Pls post the pictures and the information on the wiper motor... thanks
  • SuperDave wrote:
    Looks like you are doing a thorough resto on the 54.. Great work.

    I put 2 speed electrics on the 49 by using a motor intended for a 57 Chevy. Didn't have to modify anything. Just put the electric in place of the vacuum motor and adapting the cable mounting. Just a couple screws and washers. Chevy had electric and vacuum back in those years, so the electric motor is controled by a cable just like Hudson. If a person wanted to switch back to original it would be a ten minute job. I got my motor cheap on Ebay since it was not an "original" Delco but a replacement. No pictures of the installation, but it's so simple even "I" could do it!





    That same '55-'57 Chevy motors work on Packards from late '49-'56. I put on on my '56 Patrician and it was the best thing I could have done, the wipers actually WORKED! And Dave's right, it's a simple bolt on, it even uses the stock cable and knob. They are 12V though.
  • Lee ODell
    Lee ODell Senior Contributor
    Will the 55-57 Chevy motor work on pre-stepdowns?



    Lee
  • The early 55 motors are 6 volts, but difficult to find...
  • Lee O'Dell wrote:
    Will the 55-57 Chevy motor work on pre-stepdowns?



    Lee



    As long as the mount and drive is the same I don't see why not.



    And WildWasp, I didn't know the early '55 motors were 6v, as I've never seen one. Thanks for letting us know!
  • dougson wrote:
    I recently installed an "It's a Snap" electric wiper conversion in my '54. It wasn't a snap but it works great, has 2 speeds, and the switch easily adapts to the Hudson knob. If there is interest I will post pics of installation. Some "sacrifice" of metal and heater unit is required.
    I used a 1972 12 volt VW bus wiper motor with self park but had to use the main switch as park is built in the switch. Just had to make a Z plate to bolt to the original bracket mounting nuts, mount motor to plate with a cross shaft and let it rain. So far has been in service 127,000 miles and snow, rain, wind storms and hurricanes can't stop it. Where I took the old wiper cable control switch from the dash, I installed my cruise control in it's place Walt.
  • 53jetman
    53jetman Senior Contributor
    Ken U-Tx wrote:
    LMAO,

    Would I want this in my Hudson? Probably not. Never had a problem with the cable drive, just weak vacuum motors. I have a marine wiper motor that takes the Hudson cable drive and fits where the old vauum motor was with an aluminum bracket. No need to cut anything. works well, 2 speeds, with intermittent option, self parking.



    Ken U-Tx - I would like more information on the marine wiper motor that you installed

    HETjbean960@msn.com (drop the HET)



    Jerry

    53jetman
  • Yeah Ken, I would like the info on the marine motor also.
    Thanks,
    Bob
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