FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Having read through past posts & tech info I'm still a little hesitant.
I have a 2 speed wiper switch with the centre button for washers & plan to mod an FC knob.
The motor below is advertised but before I get carried away I should ask, do these X2 wiper motors fit up OK. I have the drive arms required.
Any advice/warnings?
Thanks. Dave.

(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y472/davidbolton1/ScreenShot2014-12-10at23252pm_zpsbb0b6348.png) ($2)

(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y472/davidbolton1/ScreenShot2014-12-10at23241pm_zps8a593b62.png) ($2)

Its a simple matter of fitting it . If you have the correct crank . What I mean by that is the drive shaft will have to be in the correct position on the fire wall .This is why back in the day we all used the EK single speed motor as it mounted in the exact position .And then they changed to that style of motor making it hard to position . The trouble was that the EK motor ,Preslite or Delco were only single speed . However the Preslite windings [housing ] could be replaced with the housing you have there and this gives you 2 speeds with the use of the 2speed switch . A couple of things to watch out for ,the early Holden motors had an earthing plate on the drive gear inside the motor and this allowed the motor to park on stop position [when the switch was turned off the motor continued until it parked in position ] because the motor had constant power and the single or 2 speed switch actually switched the earth . Lately the trend is to use the commodore wiper motor and bolt it to the EK mounting plate . Because the commodore motor has powered contact plates on the drive gear the switch on your dash will have to be an after market switch .Then just change the knob to FC-FE . Send me a PM if you need more info. Haydn 

Thanks Haydn. I can't be sure about the positioning of the drive shaft without physically trying it, so I guess it's best left alone & go for something others have proven. I understand what you say about parking in the stop position, thanks for the tip.

Haydn this bloke has some Vauxhall stuff
(http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/09/f723a7b8bcd2bbbc5e722dddd760bf36.jpg)

G'day DJ,

I agree with Haydn, use the tried and tested Commodore motor and aftermarket switch.  It works and is a relatively easy fit up.  Have a good look at Brett's build and he goes into a lot of detail.

Don't reinvent the wheel if you don't have too mate  ;D ;D ;D

Cheers, Graeme

I've got some info on my CrumpSnr build too using the same motor.  I did mine a little differently from Brett's so I didn't need to modify the firewall. I benefited from Brett's experience though and used the same switch. Regards, Martyn

Thanks Graeme & Martyn.

Here is a few photos . The first is a preslite motor similar to the commodore but it out of a 1981 Nissan

(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/DSCN1981_zps478ab1b1.jpg) ($2)
Sorry that is Lucas

(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/DSCN2001_zps27ec121e.jpg) ($2)
A commodore motor with home made crank[shortened to fit FC-FE]


(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/DSCN2002_zps9bf9207f.jpg) ($2)
An EK motor with EH premier windings

(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/SAM_0015_zps8bc91896.jpg) ($2)
After market knob can be modified by grinding it to size and putting the chrome ring on .Haydn

Starting to get the idea now with these photos & the build threads. Thanks for the options.
Will see what I can find to take up to where the car is over Christmas.

Yeah I agree. I got the switch off eBay. A job I have been putting off.

Deano ,thanks for the info on the Vauxhall parts book ,only thing is that both the Vauxhalls have been modified so much that there is really no use for a parts book or parts for that matter .The power plants are series 1 and2 V6 and the running gear on both is Torana and accessories range from Hillman ,Jag, Austin Breville and Hoover .Yes there is over 20 different car makes represented and a few kitchen appliances in each car . Any way back to the wiper motors. Dave , I got a bit tangled up in the thread a few years back and don't really want to revisit it . As my van is now out of storage and back in my shed I can get you some photos . There was an old Datsun Bluebird wagon in my backyard about 20 years ago and so I helped myself to the wiper motor, the washer bottle, the bucket seats and console, the brake booster, the glovebox and map light, the accelerator pedal , the handbrake and the retractable seat belts as well as plenty of panel steel[all except the balance of steel went into the FC van]. If you have the original vacuum unit mounting plate you can use that with little modification and bolt the commodore motor on it [the commodore has a very short drive shaft and this can be a problem being too close to the firewall for the wiper arms] .The original mounting plate is very thin , hence I have the commodore motor on it .The Lucas Datsun motor shaft is longer so I have used the EK mounting plate .You could just get the EK cranking arms , a commodore motor and cut your own mounting plate [if you can find one to copy] then go to the wreckers and find one of these little electric pumps and an old Holden washer bottle or radiator recovery bottle and use that as the after market switch has the washer when you push the knob in .

  (http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/SAM_0362_zpsa3e7bb8d.jpg) ($2)

 (http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/SAM_0363_zps8ac91223.jpg) ($2)

(http://i1285.photobucket.com/albums/a589/hsv-001/SAM_0364_zps1b20ff86.jpg) ($2)

Cheers Haydn

Thanks again Haydn. Looks like a trip to the wreckers & shop for the aftermarket switch.

I've seen a bit on gumtree but I'm not sure what model you have but the trick is to look at their other items

I got mine real cheap from memory. (http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/10/0c59e8a3443904b8d368963343672adf.jpg)

That's the one .You just carve the knob down and fit the FC-FE chrome bezel around it ,and if your real careful with the super glue you don't lose the wiper logo off the knob .Haydn

Any of the commodore wipers will work, I used a vn but vc on are the same. I made a mounting plate from 3mm plate and welded and threaded two small plates on the inside of the firewall and used stainless cup head bolts.
Jim

Yep. I dug out three of my four. The other I can find but is vl. (http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/12/10/f415544eb2659d7974ca9a0d946c7d15.jpg)

Has anyone tried one of these Pulse Width Modulator units to mod a single speed wiper motor to 2 speed?
They turn off/on repeatedly to adjust the speed.
May be they can be set & left connected to a slow speed switch position.
I don't know how a wiper motor would stand up to the constant off/on switching though.

(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y472/davidbolton1/ScreenShot2014-12-21at14410pm_zps6249c912.png) ($2)

Another alternative would be to fit the old vacuum wiper as a dummy and rig up a cable drive kit like this one - http://www.dolphingauges.com/store/viewitem.php?productid=109

I had thought about something like that also, mounted under the dash.

I can see no reason why PWM will not work on a wiper motor although I have never tried it.  It will certainly not burn the motor out.  I assume that the pulse width on that module altered with a variable control. If that is the case it would be a simple matter to switch in the correct resistors to make it a two speed wiper system.  No resistor for fast and a resistor(s) for slow speed.

Keith

just pay ya 20 bux for a VS one and be done with it....

These PWMs are claimed to be superior over using resistors because full voltage is switched to the motor & torque is not reduced.
The dial regulates how long the 'on' & 'off' cycles operate from what I understand.

Their Fuglly .. spose it takes the focus off the Bannanas.. (oh dear did i bring that up again) ;D

I really like the prestlite ones smooth looking wiper motors..


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DC-12-24V-5A-3-Wires-Single-Phase-Stepless-Variable-PWM-Motor-Speed-Controller-/390909068196?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_Test_Equipment&hash=item5b03ff03a4

Yes, it's the simplest way. Buying a motor here is double that & postage to ACT is typically $20 on top.
I found these units by accident on eBay & thought why not ask the question.
For few $s you may be able to shove one under the dash behind the switch use an existing single speed motor.

OK, at the end of the day ........

WANTED
2 speed Preslite - PM price please inc P&P to 2615 ACT.

20 bux
http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/modbury-heights/auto-body-parts/vn-vs-wiper-motor-assembly/1065109437

I shall check my stash.

Corresponded with Rick last month, postage was another $20.
I said I'd look around locally first. Been caught with a few things where returning an item makes the total in postage alone more than double the cost of the item.