after 11 years,my 56 2dr customline is getting close to being road worthy.I have a few questions.my vacuum wipers and washers are unhooked & can't remember where the lines go.I have line from engine to tee under dash,one side to wiper pump,one to switch,one to heater box.also,am putting in headliner and wondered what to do about insulation in the roof. thanks in advance.

I've never had much luck with the vacume wipers so I opted for a electric conversion. I would at least try to isolate one hose to the wipers. They need all the vacume they can get! As far as the roof goes get some of the stuff like Dynomat but at your local Home Depot or Lowes (Much cheaper). You can cut it to fit and use spray interior glue to hold it. Some have a contact paper back. Chuck in NH

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

thanks for the info.the wipers are working as is,but I don't know how the windshield washer is plumbed in.alot easier to work on with out seats in car....thanks

Huh? My '55 has a mechanical ON/OFF switch cable assembly that is mounted above the wiper arms.  There are NO vacuum lines going to the heater box, (those are three cables, as well).  Originally, my Customline never had washers; just a simple hose that came from the intake manifold to the Trico wiper motor.

I couldn't agree more with MoonShadow.  I made the electric w/s motor conversion and am very happy.  Going up those Montana mountains, the electric motor never balks.  With vacuum, you're sunk.  Your wipers stop working until you get off the gas pedal.

I got my electric motor/gearbox from eBay for ~$200.  It's a direct replacement and out of sight.  Hope this helps.  - Dave

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhau...

Hey Montana, show us some pictures!  After eleven years, this should be a great restoration.  Seeing your progress helps us see the light at the end of our tunnel.  Congrat's.

Royal Oak, Michigan (Four miles north of Detroit, and 12 miles NORTH of Windsor, Canada).  That's right, we're north of Canada.

Ford 292 Y-Block major overhau...

that's what has got me stumped on my vacuum lines.the line comes from the engine,to a tee,then on to the wiper motor,short line from tee too heater box[right beside heat control cable] then line from there to engine compartment and hooks up to brass heater control valve on the intake manifold. somewhere along the line,the windshield washer must be plumbed in.the dash switch does operate a cable to the wiper motor.I've messed with vacuum systems years ago with the old 40's Fords I had ,but its been a long time ago.had a 47 ford coupe,put a "juice can" on it and it helped.will probably run one line so they work,and go with electric later.

The heater control valve is mounted on the heater inside the car. That is what the heater cables attach to. There is a small vacume line that attached to it. That line opens the valve when the cable is moved to the heat position. The cable pushes it closed for off.

My windshield washer setup is a foot pump by the left toe board. It has lines to the washer bag and works strictly as an air pump. (I think). Didn't know any vacume lines went to it. But mine isn't hooked up so I know little about them.

My intake has a multiple hookup for vacume. I run the heater line directly to its own port and used to run the vacume wipers to the one next to it.

I'm trying to think where any other vacume lines run under the dash but not coming up with any! Someone step in "I'm so confused".

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

Back in the early 60's I had a 57 Fairlane Convertable (wish I still did). Had to change an engine one year, outdoors, in December, in Missouri (uphill both ways). My buddy and I used the trunk of a 51 Pontiac convertible as a workspace. Covered it with a tarp, set the block in on boards, climbed in and went at it. Our fingers would get so cold we couldn't hold a tool. We would go into his dads garage to warm up and back again. It was misirable!

Anyway, after we got the engine in and running the heater didn't work! Engine ran good but idled a little rough. Did you ever go to a drive in movie in the wintertime with no heater? Those plugins they used to have looked good but didn't do the job! We like to froze even with maximum passion (girls were a requirement for warmth if nothing else). Come summer I did an oil change and had the hood up on the car with the engine running! I kept hearing a hissss from under the hood. After a bit of searching I found the tiny little hose laying on the back of the intake! Found a place to plug it in and the noise stopped (engine idled better too). I continued to fiddle under the hood for a while then got in the car to move it. IT WAS HOT INSIDE! The heater was running full blast!!

Thats how I learned about the heater vacume valve operation!

Speaking of which I just remembered there is a small line that goes to the water control valve on the engine to allow hot water to flow from there. I guess the control valve has an in and out to send vacume to that? Wow, if I keep typing I figure out the "meaning of Life"??

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

In 56 Ford used 2 different heater control systems.Some cars had a vacuum controlled system and some were strictly mechanical.I don't know what decided which cars got which system.I have 6 56's and they all have the mechanical system.Most of the vendors that sell old Ford parts have both kinds of valves.

 

Paul,

Boonville,MO

thanks you guys,you cleared up my question.your story moonshadow was great.reminds me of my younger days.I had 4 brothers[I was second to youngest]about 1969,I got a 54 ford convertible no trans and didn't run.picked it up in the winter about 0 & lots of snow.dad thought I was crazy laying in the snow,working on a convertible! was a good experience for a kid.there were times when my older brothers would have a trans apart in the house near the stove.[my poor mother]just like charlie pride sang"I WONDER COULD I LIVE THERE ANY MORE"