57 wiper motor

[gmjim4x4]

Are the standard wiper motors on a 57 chevy a combination vacuum and electric? The motor has a wire sticking out the side (ground?) and has a cable with a knob that looks like a vacuum line connects to it. What gives?

[dubie]

i thought all the 55-59's had the crappy vacuum motor in it

[buggy5872]

The cable controls the slide switch that is in the motor. The wire comming out is the hot wire and the the motor grounds through the bolts that hold it to the body. As you turn the knob it moves the switch. It will have off...low...high settings. It seems a little goofy but thats how it works.

[gmjim4x4]

So this is the electric motor and has nothing to do with vacuum? That cable going to the sliding switch is what is funky. I think mine may not be working right. Anybody know where you might get one?

[sqrlnts]

Jim, aftermarket replacement wiper motors are available but pricey (~$180). Also know that in 58 they changed wiper motor styles so 55-57 should be the same. I will add wipers at some time in the future and was looking at using this as a cheap alternative. Would take some DIY brackets but I think its possible.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by gmjim4x4

So this is the electric motor and has nothing to do with vacuum? That cable going to the sliding switch is what is funky. I think mine may not be working right. Anybody know where you might get one?

What is your doing that makes you think it is not working correctly?

[Stepside Jim]

gmjim4x4, I have the same electric motor in my 57. I see two ways to possibly go.

I see in Classic Parts they have a rebuilt unit advertised now.

I see in LMC there is an electric replacement listed.

I haven't looked any further into which would be the better way to go.

I'll be curious as to what else you find.

Jim

[gmjim4x4]

I was talking about the cable not working. (the motor may not be either, I havent got that far yet) I turn the knob and the switch does not move. I will fool around with the cable off the motor and also see if I can get the motor to run by jumping it to a battery and grounding it somehow. That link with the 30$ motor looks very interesting! Thanks you guys for your help, it is greatly appreciated. Jim

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by gmjim4x4

I was talking about the cable not working. (the motor may not be either, I havent got that far yet) I turn the knob and the switch does not move. I will fool around with the cable off the motor and also see if I can get the motor to run by jumping it to a battery and grounding it somehow. That link with the 30$ motor looks very interesting! Thanks you guys for your help, it is greatly appreciated. Jim

Jim,
Pics might help everyone get on the same page as well. Let us know what you find.

[gmjim4x4]

[attach]1095000[/attach


These wiper motors look like the one I have.

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by gmjim4x4

I was talking about the cable not working. (the motor may not be either, I havent got that far yet) I turn the knob and the switch does not move. I will fool around with the cable off the motor and also see if I can get the motor to run by jumping it to a battery and grounding it somehow. That link with the 30$ motor looks very interesting! Thanks you guys for your help, it is greatly appreciated. Jim

Your cable is probaly frozen somewhere in the housing. Try it with the cable disconnected and maually move the switch. You should be able to bench test it with power to the wire and touching ground to the body of the motor. Most motors I have come across have a problem with the cable. You can turn the knob but it will not pull the swich. Does your knob turn and stay in the position you tuerned it to. Usually a frozen cable with "spring" the knob back to where you started turning it. If the cable is frozen in the housing, soak it in oil and try working it back and forth. I have been able to get them working like that.

[_Ogre]

i didn't realize that electric wipers were an option on 57, i thought they came out in 59
the rotary cable control is the same for vacuum and electric
you can also slide the switch by hand to test the motor/switch
i shaved my dash and lost the option to use the factory controller
i use a choke cable to operate my wipers in the hole next to the headlight switch
out is off, in is on. a little goofy but it works, though i have never used my wipers
rainX is your friend

[Stepside Jim]

Yes gmjim4x4, that's exactly what mine looks like.

buggy5872 is right, the switch on the dash is like a choke cable but with a rotary instead of a push pull. Mine, due to age was a little sticky but it freed up with a little lubricant.

My wiper motor would probably work great but the wire that passes through the housing has deteriated and is shorting out. At this point in my rebuild I'd just asoon replace the whole unit, I've found after many restorations, it's always the small parts that I didn't replace that fail later on me.

Jim

[buggy5872]

Originally Posted by Stepside Jim

Yes gmjim4x4, that's exactly what mine looks like.

buggy5872 is right, the switch on the dash is like a choke cable but with a rotary instead of a push pull. Mine, due to age was a little sticky but it freed up with a little lubricant.

My wiper motor would probably work great but the wire that passes through the housing has deteriated and is shorting out. At this point in my rebuild I'd just asoon replace the whole unit, I've found after many restorations, it's always the small parts that I didn't replace that fail later on me.

Jim

Jim,
The wire in the wiper motor in big bertha was broken off. I took the motor apart and sodered a ne wire on....if you chose to do this, be careful and mark the motor housing and put it back in the same position. If you turn it 180 degress the motor runs backwards. If I remeber correcttly it was a bugger to get the thing back together due to the location of the brushes. I have found that these motors generally do not see much use and are just dirty and need a good cleaning to get them operating again. You could also slide a piece of heat shrink over the wire and through the hole....probably the easiest method.
Shane

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

i didn't realize that electric wipers were an option on 57

My electric motor came out of a 57 GMC utility linemans truck.

[SCHRUMGMC]

I am guessing the 57 Wiper motor is the same as the 59 ?

[_Ogre]

55 to 59 is all the same wipers setup
electric and vac all use the same linkage and control

[SCHRUMGMC]

Oh alright I'm going to look for a used wiper motor

[sqrlnts]

Originally Posted by _Ogre

55 to 59 is all the same wipers setup
electric and vac all use the same linkage and control

Ogre, I could be wrong but I think they changed the wiper motor in 58. My 58 cab had a much larger detent for the wiper motor vs the 57 cab.

Originally Posted by SCHRUMGMC

Oh alright I'm going to look for a used wiper motor

just don't go and spend a bunch on a shot wiper motor, a good friend of mine who has been driving these trucks for 30 years said he has never had good luck getting them rebuilt.

Here is a video on how to bench test the unit.

58 chevy wiper motor test - YouTube

[Divine 59]

For electric wipers the 55-57 used a cable operated "slide" type switch,
the 58-59 used an electric operated switch that plugged into the body of the motor, just like the picture above.

I think the vacuum type were all the same from 55-59. Back in the day I scrounged a few vacuum wiper motors from 55-59 trucks in salvage yards and the all were direct fit on my 59 and my father in law's 55. I ended up finding a NOS vacuum wiper motor some years ago and I run it on my truck. I don't think the vacuum units are all that "crappy", if you also use the correct fuel pump. Vacuum wipers require the fuel pump/vacuum pump combination.

[SCHRUMGMC]

Alright, Thanks Sqrints.I believe the one on the truck I am getting has either a new one or the original, I should have asked him while I was there the first time