How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

The wiper came separate from the car (1931 S/W Fordor).

The shaft on our car's vacuum wiper is about 3" long and about 1/4" in diameter.

About an inch from the end where the wiper arm attaches in a hole, the shaft is enlarged to 1/2" in diameter for about 1/2" long. Then, the shaft goes back to 1/4" diameter with threads for about 1/2" until the very end of the shaft's hole.

I know that the shaft goes through a hole in the wood header. The wiper resides inside the car.

How does the wiper mount?

Is there a metal tube that the shaft goes through in the header?

Is there only a rubber grommet, metal washer, and nut on the outside of the header to mount the wiper?

Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks.

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

Photo of our wiper.

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

Before you do anything connect a vaccum line to your engine, and while holding the wiper turn it on to see if it even works. Just because someone told you it works, and it is painted is no guarantee.

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

This is unlike any Slant Window wiper motor I've seen. First of all, when mounted in the car, the round arc of the wiper body is up toward the roof ................ "upside down" compared to Tudors, Coupes, and earlier Fordors. The proper motor has the vacuum inlet tube on the passenger side of the car. If you mount the motor shown here in this "upside down" position, the vacuum inlet will be on the driver side of the car. Also, I've never seen the enlarged collar behind the threaded section on the shaft. The Restoration and Judging Guidelines published by the 2 national Model A clubs (also known as the Judging Standards) show no Model A wiper motors with this enlarged shaft. This is not to say that the motor you have can't be adapted to work on your car. As Gene F posted, the first thing you should do is check to see if it even works. If it does, and you're not worried about it being the correct wiper motor for the vehicle, then you'll have to figure out how to "make it fit". But, my guess would be that, in order to fit that shaft through the upholstery panel, wood header, and metal header cover, you will need to enlarge the original hole. Later down the road, if you decide you want the correct wiper motor, you'll have to modify that hole again to make that correct motor fit properly.

Good luck. Bob Bader

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

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Follow-up on Bob Bader

These are pictures of the wiper you should use for a S/W

These are from a S/W Cabriolet and it is chrome yours should be black.


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Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

Was told years ago that a Chevy wiper motor looked similar (though not with that collar) but the vacuum port was on the opposite side. Had one on a SW Townsedan I bought mounted upside down relative to an original so the port faced toward the incoming vacuum line.

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

Thank you all for the responses.

This wiper does work well, but seems to be the wrong model for our S/W Fordor Model A.

Just verifying, is the correct wiper "mounted upside down" with the port opening facing the passenger side?

Does the wiper shaft simply go through the hole in the wood header and be fastened by a rubber grommet, washer, and nut on the metal trim piece right above the windshield?

Is there any type of metal tube that would be put in the wood header for the wiper shaft to operate in?

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

it just goes through the header and header cover with a rubber washer - washer and special chrome nut. unless you are planing showing the car, what you have is a replacement wiper with the port on the wrong side. just install it with the bowl down and it should work just fine.

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

Some other car makes used Trico wipers mounted behind a removable header upholstery panel and where air port orientation could be for a 2nd wiper (passenger side). The spacer outer sleeve in the chrome photos is purported to allow the wiper to clamp down without compressing the header panel / fabric.

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

FWIW, the pictured wiper by Joop is a later replacement wiper. Finding any functioning wiper for the slant is difficult. Finding a correct original is a problem. I have a correct original I got by accident, but the potmetal is not in good shape. Not even sure if it works.

The clues are the back cover is thicker and missing screws. The top also does not have the correct patent stuff.

One trick is to glue screws heads to the back cover to give it the original look. It is hard to see the top.

In any event, there are many slants out there with the vacuum port on the wrong side. Nothing a longer hose cant fix. If you arent doing show, what works works.

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

Seeing it makes all the difference. From there you can evaluate, and develop a plan. Be aware that just because you have a part it may not be a workable idea. This is one of those instances where a local club membership makes all the difference. Take you car, and your pieces to the local chapter meeting. Let the guys look at what you have with the car there. You will find out the best ideas at no charge.

Re: How to mount a vacuum wiper on a 1931 S/W Fordor
 

What you said + the aftermarket ones have a "wart" on the top cover next to the vacuum intake (looking as if the cover was prepared for a vacuum fitting 90 degrees off from the standard fitting) Also, the top cover screws on the aftermarket wipers have smaller heads than on the originals