55.2-59 Conversion to electric wiper motor from vacuum

[dennislbrooks]

My 59 GMC 100 has vacuum wipers, and I would like recommendations for electric motor conversions kits and vender. form your experience.

[mr48chev]

They are not inexpensive but New Port Engineering has and excellent reputation and are the go to for wiper motors for us in the AD truck brigade.

Direct swap for the Vacuum wiper motor including placing the switch in the same spot.

https://newportwipers.com/product/19...k/#wiper-motor

[dennislbrooks]

Close in price to Tuckers. thanks

[dennislbrooks]

I will try a forum vender first for the Newport Eng kit--- Captainfab.

Nope, only 1960 and up. But I found another source,

[bowt1ed]

I just installed a Newport Engineering kit in my 57 and the motor fit like a charm. I did notice the switch will take some thought to make work - the original switch shaft hole has a flat side (at least mine does), but the new shaft has 2 opposing flats, neither which will stop switch from rotating. Coupled with a stiff to turn switch, it would take some cranking on the bezel nut to stop it from rotating in the dash. Still working the issue, but if anyone else has come up with a solution, I'm all ears.

Cheers, Jim

[dsraven]

you could possibly make your own "washer" with the correct hole for the switch and then epoxy the washer to the back side of the dash. if you use a fender washer it would be larger so a little more surface to grip the dash. nobody will see the washer that way and it is a "cold" repair, so no damage to the dash.

[dennislbrooks]

As dsraven suggested, I was thinking the washer or plate 16-18 ga on back also (with correct hole) without the epoxy and having the friction hold it. Plate could be square or rectangle or round.

[bowt1ed]

Both great ideas, thanks!

Sorry to hijack your post. 🫡

[leegreen]

A switch like https://www.digikey.ca/en/products/d...600-02/6347507 gives 3 intermittent speeds as well as low and high, plus a washer & 3 wipes function.
There are knock offs on amazon at a fraction of the price but without actual descriptions of how they function.

Those should fit under the dash and would be cleaner that my solution which was a switch for wipers, a knob for intermittent speed and a button for wash

[paulspickupparts]

Electric wipers were and option for 55-59 GMC Trucks . If you can locate one it is a easy bolt in to the same mounts that your vacuum is attached to . What you need is a original electric motor from a 55-57 Chevy Pickup or 55-59 GMC . They are the same motor and will bolt right in using your original wiper linkage . You will not have an electric switch but more of a slide switch in the motor. You might be able to used your cable and knob . They are pretty reliable .

[dennislbrooks]

May be a stretch finding a good oe electric.

[leegreen]

My son just bought this '47-53 kit https://www.ebay.ca/itm/186066350370
to put into his 1946 2 door sedan. That 1946 vacuum motor is virtually identical to AD truck.
For his application he had to rotate the bracket holding the end of the motor 180 degrees and cut the end off the main bracket to make it shorter. everything else worked out perfectly.
I was interested to see that if you take the back off the motor gear box, the drive plate has 4 or 5 holes in it for different sweep angles.

While I can't say for sure this works perfectly in an AD cab I'd give it a try if/when my home brew setup fails me. For the price of this kit you would be hard pressed to buy the parts, make your own bracket and save the price of a haircut


edit: sorry realize now the OP was after taskforce wiper, not AD

[paulspickupparts]

Originally Posted by dennislbrooks

May be a stretch finding a good oe electric.

Guaranteed rebuilt ones run about $300 . Working used run about $125 . Not sure what the retrofit ones are .

[dennislbrooks]

The Newport kits run about $260 to $280. My wife put the word out to my kids what to get me for Christmas. 8-)

[bowt1ed]

This worked out well for me, so I thought I'd share. As previously mentioned, I went with the Newport kit. The motor/bracket fit my 57 like a dream, however, the switch shaft has two flat sides, where the dash hole only has one. This caused the switch to rotate, even with bezel tightened. My solution was to take two 1/2" external/internal tooth lock washers back to back to hold switch body to back of dash. I used two because I have to remove 2 upper and 2 lower internal teeth, so it would fit over switch shaft base. Tightens perfectly now!
Cheers, Jim

[bowt1ed]

Now pics...

[bowt1ed]

Another...

[bowt1ed]

Last one.

[dennislbrooks]

Cool, I will remember that.

[JDarby]

Originally Posted by dennislbrooks

My 59 GMC 100 has vacuum wipers, and I would like recommendations for electric !motor conversions kits and vender. form your experience.

I have a Johnny Law 2 speed kit that will not fit in my truck because of my AC unit. I will let it go for $150.00 half price! all parts instructions etc.

https://www.johnnylawmotors.com/cata...switch-harness

Check it out