vacuum

ThomasN

Senior Member
How much vacuum should I have to make my wipers work on my 53 vic?
They don't want to work and I seem to have a very low vacuum but how can I get it a little higher? The port under carb was plugged up so I cleaned it with an 1/8 drill bit and that gave me a slight hint of a vacuum
 
Thomas
If your engine is stock, you have vacuum leaks. Hoses, gaskets, switch or a leaking valve.
Start your search with a can of WD40, it has propane in it. When you find a leak, your RPM will increase.
Bruce
 
Thanks Bruce.
I do have a vacuum gauge on shelf that I will try and see what it is.
Thanks flatjack
 
Thomas
If your engine is stock, you have vacuum leaks. Hoses, gaskets, switch or a leaking valve.
Start your search with a can of WD40, it has propane in it. When you find a leak, your RPM will increase.
Bruce

I don't think wd40 uses propane any more, it's carbon dioxide
 
Both the 49, and 53 Merc engines I got have dual action fuel pumps (fuel pump with a vacuum booster pump) ---did Ford use them too ---or as an option, I know it made a big difference in wiper operation in the 46 big truck---the wipers never stopped even running flat out up a big hill ---also I know back in the day the cheaper regular pump was used to replace the dual action when it failed
 
L-head engines don't make a lot of vacuum as a general rule. The booster fuel pump isn't a bad idea. You may also have a problem with the vacuum motor or the vacuum pressure circuit for it.
 
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Not sure of cam, I don't know how to check that. The entire car was a basket case when I got it. I think it was upside down in a river at one time. Mud encased above windshield and rocker full of mud. Heads were in trunk, carb and intake in a box. No lip on cylinder walls so I felt it was worth a try to get it unstuck. Broken head bolt and bad auto transmission to boot.
Now it runs very sweet and sounds like it may have a cam, or that may be attributed to headers and new exhaust. No smoke!
When I cleaned out the fitting on carb, all I could get in there was an 1/8 bit and that small orifice seemed small to me
 
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