electric wipers

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November 2013 in HUDSON
Does any1 know of an electric conversion kit for wipers on a 55 Hornet ?

Comments

  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    Didn't someone take over the elec. wiper conversion kit that Clay Hannah used to make? Are they still making those?
  • brumac
    brumac Expert Adviser
    edited November 2013
    Google Newport Engineering. They are a bit pricey but good. You have to send an old vacuum motor in to them as they use some parts from it.
  • oldhudsons
    oldhudsons Senior Contributor
    I've always thought it interesting, or odd, or just cheap, but all Railtons, from 1st ones built in '33, had elec. wipers so don't know why American manufacturers kept inflicting the slow & oft times dangerous vac. wipers on the American public ~
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Newport Engineering lists up to 54,does any1 know if some1 makes one for the Hash?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Ken, Actually Studebaker was using electric wiper motors when Hudson was producing their stepdowns Made by Trico to boot. Never understood why Hudson stuck with vacuum wipers. Puzzling because Hudson spared no expense when it came to using more costly components for their cars. I.E. chrome moly vs. cast iron blocks..... Strange.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    It may have been the variable speed feature that electric did not have. I had a 1956 Cadillac Fleetwood Sixty special with vacuum wipers . Very much a top rated luxury car at the time,
  • lostmind
    lostmind Expert Adviser
    Here's a Studebaker motor from the 50's. Made by Redmond. 6volt
  • kamzack
    kamzack Senior Contributor

    I found that electric wiper conversion was too expensive and nest to none in 6 volt. I had a original vac motor rebuilt for around 110.00 and works perfectly. No complicated conversions.
    Kim
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    Whatever you do, don't buy one of those "EZY" cable drive setups that drives spokes on the wiper shafts, total waste of money. The cable binds almost immediately ruining the whole system.
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    Thanks!
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Nice to know the story on those type wiper systems . I have seen them in HotRod books for some time as simple update to vacuum systems.
    Sounds like the only reason it work's on street rods is they don't go out in the rain !
  • bob ward
    bob ward Senior Contributor
    The Lucas rack and pinion wiper system was installed on hundreds of thousands British cars in the 50s 60s and early 70s. In my experience the system was pretty well bulletproof with any problems being electrical rather than mechanical.

    The system does lend itself to straightforward underdash retro fits, that said however, unless you have your stepdown in a million pieces the easiest way to install electric wipers is to add a motor to the existing cable set up.
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    My Hudson was pretty much apart when I installed one of these, it required looping the cable around most of the P-side kickup and firewall. I suppose if they are installed meticulously, and well lubricated, and never messed with, they might work. Mine didn't and wound up 20 feet from the car after I ripped it out.
  • JasonNC
    JasonNC Expert Adviser
    I bought my electric wiper from the guy in Oklahoma that took over Clay Hannah's business. It works a lot better than the old vacuum wiper used to. His first name began with a "D" but I can't remember much more than that....
  • Kdancy
    Kdancy Senior Contributor
    http://www.classiccar.com/forum/discussion/comment/103496
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