The replacement of a stock '48-52 Ford F-1 vacuum wiper system is a decision most F-1 owners are faced with sooner or later in the upgrading process. Many an F-1 owner can attest from past experience that nothing is a bigger drag than getting caught with windshield wipers that can't keep up with driving in the rain at freeway speeds. The worst situation possible when it comes to vacuum wipers is trying to pass slower traffic while climbing a grade, and discovering the wiper-blades have ground to an abrupt halt as soon as the gas pedal is tromped. Going down hill is fine with vacuum wipers; in fact, sometimes they run way too fast with the excessive vacuum generated, and the wiper blades will fly right off the truck.
To eliminate the stock Ford F-1 windshield wipers we turned to the folks at Specialty Power Windows and discovered they have a universal system that easily adapts to the specific needs of an F-1 application. To give a little background on Specialty Power Windows, they have been building wiper systems down in Georgia for over 20 years and they all come with a lifetime guarantee. The wiper transmissions are cable-operated, and the wiper motor can be mounted anywhere under the dashboard a person desires. Not only is Specialty Power Windows' windshield wiper system versatile, it's quite simple, too. There are no arms, levers, or chain drives. It has a minimum of moving parts, and the best part is that it replaces literally everything under the dash. Being able to discard all of the stock Ford windshield wiper parts, and replace them with new means there are no used parts left in the system as a potential weak link.
To make the job easier to do the first step was to remove the speedometer, radio, and glovebox out of the dashboard so we could work through the holes instead of lying on our back, and reaching up. The installation turned out to be a relative breeze, and when we turned the knob and watched the new Specialty Power Windows two-speed windshield wipers sweep across the windshield and then self-park we were happier than a trucker caught in a bad rainstorm with good wipers.
The wiper transmissions are...
The wiper transmissions are very compact and require minimal space. Once one decides how they want the wipers to lay when they park, they will orient the two accordingly.
The first thing was to establish...
The first thing was to establish the distance between the slots in the transmissions when they are mounted in the cowl. It was a lot easier to lay them out on the outside, as seen here, stuck upside-down into the holes in the cowl.
Once the approximate distance...
Once the approximate distance between the two closest slots in the transmissions was known the next step was to cut a piece of the supplied tubing (slightly over-length) to connect the two.
A single-flare was added using...
A single-flare was added using the first steps of a double-flare with a double-flare tool.
The other end was cut 1/8-inch...
The other end was cut 1/8-inch past the slot in the other transmission, which allowed enough extra length to fit with the second end flared.
This photo was taken looking...
This photo was taken looking through the empty glovebox opening. Next, it was time to determine the mounting location of the motor. The best thing about this kit is that one has to do very little work laid upside down because the wiper motor can be mounted on the firewall or in a side kick panel.
Here are the transmissions...
Here are the transmissions in their home position mounted under the cowl to determine the routing of the drive cable tube that would run from the motor to the first transmission (note they cleared the cowl vent mechanism).
Before routing the drive cable...
Before routing the drive cable tube to the first transmission, a pattern was made from a coat hanger to provide a basic guide for forming the tube. The arc wasn't as important as the two end points. Then the tube was single-flared at both ends.
The dead end of the system...
The dead end of the system (in this case, the driver side) requires a 4-inch extension tube fitted into the end transmission, which is flared on both ends.
Next, it was time to mount...
Next, it was time to mount the drive wheel to the motor assembly. The holes in the wheel are in 10-degree increments, and determine the total sweep of the wipers, from 90 degrees to 160 degrees. This is set up for a 160-degree sweep.
Then the drive cable was fed...
Then the drive cable was fed inside the tube with just the end (with the square block) sticks out into the motor. This end was connected to the link, which was connected to the wheel that goes round-and-round, causing the cable to push and pull. Note that everything is very heavily greased. The key to the wipers parking correctly is that the drive link has to be exactly horizontal, as seen here.
This is what the whole enchilada...
This is what the whole enchilada looks like assembled on the bench, with the cover on the motor. It's an extremely simple package. As the cable pushes out and pulls back with each rotation of the drive wheel, a single gear in each transmission turns one way on the extension stroke, then the other when the cable retracts. It's ingenious and simple.
The plug-in harness for the...
The plug-in harness for the Specialty Power Windows wiper motor allows a quick disconnect. The plug was assembled in a few minutes and adapted to the '51 dash knob, as shown. When the 12 volt power source was connected and the wipers were tested for the first time it revealed the drive wheel was 180-degree out, which made the wipers park on the opposite stroke from desired. The wheel was flipped 180 degrees and the problem was corrected.
| Sources |
Specialty Power Windows
(800) 634-9801
www.specialtypowerwindows.com | |