GTBradley
10-12-2021, 02:10 PM
I have been looking at upgrading the wipers because I feel intermittent function would be really handy when it is misting or there's light rain, which is common in the mountains. I like my Lucas wipers and they work well, but the switch only has high and low speed settings, so I find myself activating the switch on and off a lot. There is a Cole Hersee switch available for this and it includes a push-to-activate wash/three-wipe function just like modern cars. I was unsure about mounting squirters in the body though until I researched the original Cobras and found numerous examples of squirters mounted on the 427s back in the 60s, so I was sold on the idea of mounting the system on my car.
Parts I used:
- Bag type washer kit (only used the tubing, tubing connectors and pump) from Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B077MX1RWQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details) $15
- Polished aluminum tank/reservoir from Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07RFGK8D4/?coliid=IZ8TX5O5VONIM&colid=232X2I3385DE&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it) $35
- ¼" MIP to ¼" FIP street elbow and a 3/16" ID to ¼" MIP hose barb adapter and brass nut from HD
- Washer jets/squirters from Moss Motors (https://mossmotors.com/washer-jet-windshield-twin-chrome) $10.58
- Cole Hersee multifunction switch from O'reilly's (https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/cole-hersee/cole-hersee-windshield-wiper-switch/ch00/7560004?q=75600-04&pos=0) $84
- Ashley Hinton old-style, wiper knob $25
- ¾" x 48" aluminum square tube from HD $20
- ¾" sq tube caps - bag of 20 from Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TLHD4G8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) - $7.66
- Double-stick tape and various fasteners
I bought the bag style washer kit from Amazon first because it looked like the old-style washer reservoirs and was only $15. It didn't fit anywhere as it hangs too low, but as it turns out, the reservoir that I did use didn't come as a kit, so I used components from the first order.
The Cole Hersee wiper switch (part number 75600-04) works with the Lucas wiper motor without a relay, so it was worth the 84 bucks in my opinion. Wiring the switch to the Lucas wiper wiring is simple but the colors don't match. It's easy enough to interpret, but here is the wiring I used.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154407&d=1634059465 https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154457&d=1634154180
The washer reservoir I found looked nice and had a low enough profile that it would fit on top of the right side foot box. It tucks under the fender but still has enough access to get to the fill cap. It comes with a drain port on the bottom with a rubber grommet, so I fabricated a mounting bracket from ¾" square tube to elevate the tank enough to allow a right angle adapter to be installed. I removed the grommet and tapped the hole with a ¼" plumbing tap and installed a brass nut on the inside of the tank as the metal is only thick enough for a few threads.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154402&d=1634059197 https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154403&d=1634059197
Access holes were drilled in one side of the square tubes so I could get my socket through to the bolt head. Drilling aluminum is always challenging for me if I want the hole as close to center as possible - the bit just walks too much with a handheld drill - so the benchpress was nice for this part.
The only place the tank is fastened with bolts is on the two ears at the top. I didn't want any vibration induced rattling go on, so I placed double-stick tape on the sq tubes where they meet the tank. It's till removable but insulates the tank from vibration. Mounting the bracket was no big deal as there is plenty of space above and below the foot box to get at the bolts. The pump I took from the first kit is simply stuck to the foot box with double-stick tape. I also bracketed it with zip tie stick on mounts and ran tip ties through them and over the motor. It seems plenty sturdy, but if it comes loose in the future I'll fabricate a better mount. The mount for the tank can't be seen from above except for the tops of the vertical sq tube and to dress that up I used some black, square tube end caps.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154656&d=1634825189 https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154657&d=1634825915
Mounting the washer jets/squirters in the body was straight forward, I just measured carefully to have them look symmetrical and positioned them for unobstructed spray from the dual nozzles on each.
FYI, I've had the nut on the wiper cable tube, where it attaches to the wiper mechanism, get loose with use. I suggest checking on this regularly.
If you need to adjust the wiper arms for their home position you'll need to pull one or both off the splined post and reposition one spline at a time. Here's how I do it: There is a tab on the the arm side of the socket down near the splined post. Push that away from the post and judiciously manipulate the base of the arm back and fourth and up all while holding the tab. It’s made a little difficult becuase of the spring load, but it gets easier with practice.
Oddly enough there is no vacuum relief in the tank, but no big deal, I just drilled a small hole in the cap. The whole project was a joy from start to finish and really easy. I say "easy" because there weren't any big issues along the way and progress continued straight through to the finish. However, I did spend three days straight working on it, albeit slowly - makes for a fun three day weekend for me.
I included a video to show the function of the system. FYI, there is a delay period near the end of the video that will make you think it's done but it shows the length of time for the long delay wipe, I think it's about 15 seconds.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154404&d=1634059197
https://youtu.be/THpWThBVb6A
Parts I used:
- Bag type washer kit (only used the tubing, tubing connectors and pump) from Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B077MX1RWQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details) $15
- Polished aluminum tank/reservoir from Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07RFGK8D4/?coliid=IZ8TX5O5VONIM&colid=232X2I3385DE&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it) $35
- ¼" MIP to ¼" FIP street elbow and a 3/16" ID to ¼" MIP hose barb adapter and brass nut from HD
- Washer jets/squirters from Moss Motors (https://mossmotors.com/washer-jet-windshield-twin-chrome) $10.58
- Cole Hersee multifunction switch from O'reilly's (https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/cole-hersee/cole-hersee-windshield-wiper-switch/ch00/7560004?q=75600-04&pos=0) $84
- Ashley Hinton old-style, wiper knob $25
- ¾" x 48" aluminum square tube from HD $20
- ¾" sq tube caps - bag of 20 from Amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TLHD4G8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) - $7.66
- Double-stick tape and various fasteners
I bought the bag style washer kit from Amazon first because it looked like the old-style washer reservoirs and was only $15. It didn't fit anywhere as it hangs too low, but as it turns out, the reservoir that I did use didn't come as a kit, so I used components from the first order.
The Cole Hersee wiper switch (part number 75600-04) works with the Lucas wiper motor without a relay, so it was worth the 84 bucks in my opinion. Wiring the switch to the Lucas wiper wiring is simple but the colors don't match. It's easy enough to interpret, but here is the wiring I used.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154407&d=1634059465 https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154457&d=1634154180
The washer reservoir I found looked nice and had a low enough profile that it would fit on top of the right side foot box. It tucks under the fender but still has enough access to get to the fill cap. It comes with a drain port on the bottom with a rubber grommet, so I fabricated a mounting bracket from ¾" square tube to elevate the tank enough to allow a right angle adapter to be installed. I removed the grommet and tapped the hole with a ¼" plumbing tap and installed a brass nut on the inside of the tank as the metal is only thick enough for a few threads.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154402&d=1634059197 https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154403&d=1634059197
Access holes were drilled in one side of the square tubes so I could get my socket through to the bolt head. Drilling aluminum is always challenging for me if I want the hole as close to center as possible - the bit just walks too much with a handheld drill - so the benchpress was nice for this part.
The only place the tank is fastened with bolts is on the two ears at the top. I didn't want any vibration induced rattling go on, so I placed double-stick tape on the sq tubes where they meet the tank. It's till removable but insulates the tank from vibration. Mounting the bracket was no big deal as there is plenty of space above and below the foot box to get at the bolts. The pump I took from the first kit is simply stuck to the foot box with double-stick tape. I also bracketed it with zip tie stick on mounts and ran tip ties through them and over the motor. It seems plenty sturdy, but if it comes loose in the future I'll fabricate a better mount. The mount for the tank can't be seen from above except for the tops of the vertical sq tube and to dress that up I used some black, square tube end caps.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154656&d=1634825189 https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154657&d=1634825915
Mounting the washer jets/squirters in the body was straight forward, I just measured carefully to have them look symmetrical and positioned them for unobstructed spray from the dual nozzles on each.
FYI, I've had the nut on the wiper cable tube, where it attaches to the wiper mechanism, get loose with use. I suggest checking on this regularly.
If you need to adjust the wiper arms for their home position you'll need to pull one or both off the splined post and reposition one spline at a time. Here's how I do it: There is a tab on the the arm side of the socket down near the splined post. Push that away from the post and judiciously manipulate the base of the arm back and fourth and up all while holding the tab. It’s made a little difficult becuase of the spring load, but it gets easier with practice.
Oddly enough there is no vacuum relief in the tank, but no big deal, I just drilled a small hole in the cap. The whole project was a joy from start to finish and really easy. I say "easy" because there weren't any big issues along the way and progress continued straight through to the finish. However, I did spend three days straight working on it, albeit slowly - makes for a fun three day weekend for me.
I included a video to show the function of the system. FYI, there is a delay period near the end of the video that will make you think it's done but it shows the length of time for the long delay wipe, I think it's about 15 seconds.
https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154404&d=1634059197
https://youtu.be/THpWThBVb6A