Electric Wipers

Discussion topics on Willys Overland M series vehicles
Post Reply
User avatar
OldTimer
Member
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:00 pm

Electric Wipers

Post by OldTimer »

Fellows, we have a 1953 USMC M38-A1.

We love our Jeep, & we hope to be putting some serious mileage on it this Summer when it's truly road-ready. We have already added the Warn OD, & will be upgrading the brakes next month.

BUT, one other worrisome component from a safety standpoint is the vacuum wiper system, as you all would agree. Lots of our trips will be in mountainous & hilly country, so it really can be dangerous at times.

Is there a neat & clean non-obnoxious decent-looking way to convert to electric wipers that you've done & would recommend?

Thanks! :)
User avatar
wesk
Site Administrator
Site Administrator
Posts: 16471
Joined: Sun Apr 03, 2005 6:00 pm
Location: Wisconsin
Contact:

Post by wesk »

All of us would not agree. Lazy vacuum wipers are a product of neglect and poor maintenance. These jeeps have a dual or compounded source of vacuum. They draw first from the intake then through the vacuum side of the fuel/vac pump to the wipers. This boost from the bottom half of the fuel/vac pump is plenty under any conditions to operate a pair of correctly maintained wipers. The wiper motors must be periodically lubricated to prolong the life of their diaphrams and improve their sealing ability.

When you compare the cost of a conversion to electric and the cost of sim,ply overhauling the wiper motors and fuel/vac pump it doesn't make a lot of good sense to switch. The only worthy electric units are the original 12 volt jeep electrics and the original military 24 volt electric universal units. The rest of the stuff out there today is junk.

You can obtain the overhaul components and do the overhaul yourself. Or you can send what you have in for overhaul.

Here's the sources you need:
http://www.Wiperman.com/ will overhaul yours
http://www.then-now.com/ will sell you exchange units, kits and will overhaul yours
http://www.midwestmil.com/ will sell you exchange units

http://home.comcast.net/~sday77/binky/index.htm click on his repair section and wipers. He covers both vac and electric.

http://www.cj-3a.com/Fuel%20Pumps.htm Excellant how to rebuild your fuel/vac pump page.
Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php
Post Reply