Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I think some think without the vacuum pump the wipers will not work. They will work just will slow or stop when engine is at full load such as going up hill with large throttle opening. Back in the olden days going up hill wipers would slow or stop trick was to let of gas a little to let wipers work, Sort of a vacuum gauge light throttle better fuel mileage. Some cars had the dual booster fuel pump with chamber to provide vacuum for wipers. When bigger V8 engines came out loosing wiper action became less of issue. Many guys don't remember the old cars had different driving styles needed we forget the old tricks and quirks used for daily use .

I went for the Olds oil pump which made a big difference to my oil pressure reading. it also pushed a bit of oil out of the back crank seal. I decided to fit a Nissan Patrol 4WD diesel alternator which has a vacuum pump at the back and bolted straight in using the original fanbelt and generator mount. I also tapped a bit of the vacuum and sucked the bit of oil out of the bell housing into a jar. The wipers work great, my battery charges at idle and my garage floor is oil free.

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  56 Packard vacuum used to pick up oil drips from bell housing - Copy.jpg (134.74 KB)

Did the vacuum pump on your Nissan alternator/pump combo require an external oil supply and if so, how or where did you plumb in the oil supply and return?

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Do you have any photos of the two side by side? I'm presuming that these are my two which, as you know, I saw only one of myself with the other having been shipped to you directly from Gerry when I bought it. Was it the second one that was different and/or not Packard?

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Yes, Don, it was the pump Gerry sent which had the 1/4" shorter vacuum pump housing. I don't know for 100% certain it's not a Packard variant, but I've only seen them on Cadillacs. In any case, I don't have parts for the short pump, so I'm giving you a Packard vacuum pump.

jack vines

Thank you and I'll let Gerry know.

Hello Howard, Yes the Nissan alternator with the vacuum pump needed an oil supply. I fitted a T piece to the oil filter input and routed a small portion of the filter oil supply through a one sixteenth choke into the vacuum pump oil supply and it feeds back out into the crankcase breather. It appears to work ok. Pics are not really clear . sorry.

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Thanks, and appreciate the info. The combo setup I bought just says it needs an external oil supply but doesn't list any requirements as to the oil pressure or volume it should have.

Not sure if the combo setup will be installed yet but thinking of how to best hide the lines and be easily reversible if it does get used. A restricted supply of oil from the filter input side is a good idea and if done at the front of left head supply port, the line could be routed under the water manifold and be fairly well hidden. Be a PIA to access with the heater in position, but an elbow with an orifice in the unused port at the rear of the right head might be a better possibility.

The return back to the crankcase needs to be out of sight too so if the now unused original vacuum pump port low on the side of the block is available that might work. On mine it is available but on other cars, if it is plugged but line is present and dummied to look stock, that could be an issue so it might be easier to just use a tee and share the filter return port on top of block near the oil filler tube. Kind of concerned that port could be too small to work well with both returns since the pump would probably have a bit of pressured air mixed with the oil return -- although it is a open port and oil just drops into the lifter valley.

Of course, the combo fuel pump is by far the easiest and cheapest option if you just want the extra vacuum for the wipers but for anyone wanting an alternator too, aside from the hassle of an oil supply requirement the combo alternator/pump is not that much more expensive than an alternator alone. Haven't costed everything out but think the alternator combo might also be cheaper and easier than the Newport electric wiper conversion and the hassles with modifying the switch to keep the dash looking stock which would enable the washer co-ordinator setup to remain stock too.

I know the mod would not be for everyone but thoughts anyone?