Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

And ones that work on demand, depends on your priorities.

There is no need to go to 12 volt.

I would like to add, however, that you may want to clean and lubricate your linkage under the dashboard. Mine were so gunked up with dry grease they didn't work at all. Once I gave my wiper motor a lube bath and cleaned the linkage, the wipers worked like a hot bull in spring.

Uhmmmm, thanks guys... I plan to go the "clean, lube then rebuild (if needed)" route. I don't plan on driving my baby in the rain anyway. I just like everything to work if possible.

In addition to the linkage under the dash, don't forget to put some light oil on the shafts that go through the wiper shaft housings on the cowl. They are exposed to the elements and over time and the shafts and bores will bind up.

(o{I}o)

The wipers on my 50 didn't work at all. Used Marvel Mystery Oil into the wiper motor (i followed some lube directions i found on here, don't recall how i got it in) and they started working great. They were awesome at idle with high vacuum but under a load or acceleration they got slow....vacuum connection with the pump and manifold was disconnected and turns out the vacuum pump was shot. It's off the car to be switched out at the moment.

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I cannot understand why Packard had electric wipers before '48 but went to inferior vacuum wipers in later years. I guess if you don't drive your car very much they'd be ok, but I still like the dependability of electric wipers, be they 6v or 12v.

Though I've heard that American Motors vehicles were still equipped with vacuum wiper motors well into the 1960s, it's hard to imagine the choice being simply a matter of production cost for Packard.

My guess is that as additional electrical equipment was added over the years, Packard vehicles were approaching the limits of generator output (or management thereof), and they went to vacuum power ro reduce the load on the electrical system.

Properly serviced and with an auxiliary vacuum source, the vac-powered wipers seem adequate to me. Yet, I wouldn't consider any conversion to an electric motor for my V8s other than the OE Trico unit, as used on some 55-57 Chevies (or quality reproduction thereof).

It appears that owners of 6-volt vehicles have no other choice but a modern aftermarket conversion to electric.

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My suggestion as well. On late '49 and up cars it bolts right in and uses the stock wiper control. I've used both and wasn't a fan of the Newport Engineering motor, mine burned out in 6 months. The original never-been-touched '57 Chevy car unit was still working when I sold the car, 3 years later.

Weren't electric wiper motors an option on the junior Packards before the war?

Not an option, they were standard equipment on some prewar juniors.