No frills Nash in the rain

My rainy day morning drive in the no frills Nash. Most of the younger generation doesn't even know vacuum wipers exist. Vacuum wipers were phased out in the mid 60's. For those that don't know, vaccum is highest when the throttle is closed. So, when you accelerate, vaccum is lost, and, the wipers slow down and or stall completely. When I got the car the wipers were non-functional and siezed up tight. I took the linkage all apart and got them freed up and working again. The more I use them the better they get. It's a novelty item.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Nash

[GoliathAngelus]

Vacuum wipers??,i didn t know that.

In other words,don t drive on the highway on a rainy day.

[2stroketurbo]

@GoliathAngelus ,,, Yep. Vacuum operated wipers. Probably why they went away, now all are electric.

[peckerwood57]

I learned to drive in a '50 Chevy PU with a single vac wiper, and used a mustard bottle held out the window as washer fluid.

My old VW pressurized the the fluid bottle off the spare tire. Has to keep an eye on that or have a flat spare.

But how can this be no frills,with that snazzy turn signal light?

[wilkerbeast]

Also, most used a vacuum pump from a special fuel pump. The diaphragm would usually rot out after a few years, leaving it with only manifold vacuum.

[wilkerbeast]

I had a 71 Hornet, which was probably the last car with vacuum wipers. Mine were inop when I got it, so I decided to take the motor apart. Surprisingly simple! Cleaned the passages, and made new gaskets from liquid gasket maker. Worked well after that.

[michaelXXLF]

@hoppes9 Hmmm, maybe it was the W126 only with the tank in the left fender. That made them pretty easy to break into, just punch the reservoir and voilà, in you go.

Still, it won't help much with the wipers. If I don't have a reservoir at least I know when exactly the wipers will stall: When I hit the throttle.

[hoppes9]

@michaelXXLF Not wagons - they're in back below the lift gate.

[michaelXXLF]

@hoppes9 A vacuum reservoir only delays the problem for a few seconds. Your wipers will then stop suddenly when you're right alongside the truck your passing, in the middle of the spray.

Btw, all Mercedeses from that era fitted with central locking have a vacuum tank in the front left fender.

[hudsoninbury]

I know the feeling - my 1949 Dodge has the original vac wipers and they work well - well, actually like yours do - well as in as new, but crap as in how good as wipers. but at least they are original and it reminds me not to drive that car in the rain

[hoppes9]

Find a mercedes W123 in a junk yard and snag the vacuum reservoir - it should help with the wipers.