51 Electric Wiper Motor

[konrad]

Does anyone know...was this motor specific to the Kaisers (not Henry Js) that year, or was it one common to other manufacturer's cars?

Thanks!

[joefrazer]

51 Kaisers used an Autolite EWJ 4004 electric two speed motor. I couldn’t find any reference to another make using the same one. The closest was a Chrysler that used an EWJ 4001 unit - and is doesn’t look anything like the KF motor.

KF motor pic attached

[konrad]

Thanks Joe!  I was afraid of that.

Found a website that builds better motors for a lot of vintage cars, including the Henry J,  but not currently for other Kaisers (or Frazers for that matter).  I was hoping it was a common enough motor that one of their other offerings would be a workable transplant.

Talked to them on the phone just now and they feel confident they can help me, but want to see some pics, including how it sits mounted if possible.  I'll send 'em your pic to start, then see if I can get a good pick of mine where it's mounted in the next day or so to send them.  Who knows...girl I talked to said this is all they do, so maybe they'll want to expand their product line.

For those who have a Henry J and would like to upgrade their wiper motors, here's the website:  www.newportwipers.com

Their motors are all 12 volt, but they also offer power inverters in their accessories it you want to keep your system 6 volt.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

You bring up an important thing about the wiper motors in K-F products.  Only 1951-52 Virginian Kaisers and 1952-55 Kaiser Manhattans as well as the 1953 Kaiser K530 Dragons were supposed to have electric types.  All other Kaisers, all Frazers, all Henry J and Allstate cars used vacuum types. 

Due to inability to supply on schedule, 1951 Kaiser Deluxe (any model) cars used vacuum wipers.  These cars are redily identified as having Accessory Group (AG on the body information tag) 2, 4, 4a, 6 or 6a (a designation covered 2-doors) and were probably built before August 25, 1950.  There were also some 1952 or 1953 Kaiser Manhattans built with vacuum wipers.  These cars will have the vacuum booster type fuel pumps; cars with electric wipers were equipped with the single-stage fuel pump.

The wiper motor assemblies are not interchanagle for those thinking about switching vacuum to electric. All parts for the assembly (wiper mounts, fitting on the windshield frame, etc) have to be switched over.  If anybody says they have electric wiper kits for a Henry J or Allstate I am not sure if they will actually work.

[konrad]

Hmmm...well, the website has a couple of pics of the motor for the Henry J.  Perhaps someone who is intimately familiar with the Henry J version can tell whether Newport's version appears copacetic. 

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

The OEM unit may or may not fit properly.  Electrics will work better because of their steady speed  (vacuum types will loose speed  under load like accelleration on the highway or climbing hills, and faster with downgrades or slowing down.  It depends how you want to keep your car.