'63 was the first year for hydraulic wipers in Thunderbirds, and Ford used them in Birds for several years after that. How well did this technology hold up over the last 48 years? Since I have no wiper motors at all, should I attempt to put in new/rebuilt hydraulic motors and the necessary plumbing or covert to the electric motors from the 60 - 62 models? I must say the whole idea of using power steering fluid to make the wipers work seems kind of bizarre yet fascinating to me. And I think this was the only year that Ford used this rather peculiar approach to windshield wipers, yes? My question then: I know that in 1963 these motors were not electric, but hydraulic and ran off the power steering pump. We researched the reservoir design at the local library Thursday night before we discovered this little glitch.My 1963 HT not only came with an empty engine compartment, but also holes in the top cowl where the windshield wiper motors are supposed to poke through. Once we removed the spacer, the filter was completely immersed in the fluid - problem solved. This served to intruduce a lot of air into the system and aerate the fluid out with a lot of air pressure. Well, when we installed a correct filter during the re-build, it stuck up over the top of the fluid level. There was a spacer in the bottom of it to receive a different sized filter. The reservoir had been modified at some point in its life to accept an incorrect after-market filter. However, we also did one other thing that completely cured the problem. We installed a new ram cylinder on Thursday (it was the last piece of a completely rebuilt system) and it seemed to pretty much do the trick. The frame and engine compartment are dry, dry! and my fluid didn't leak out all over the place. I got the car back Friday and won 1st place at a show on Saturday. There's 20 bucks in it for someone who can give me advice that will fix it - really!Īt the risk of "jinxing" myself, I am now willing to say that my power steering system is entirely functional. Otherwise, does anyone have a manual steering set-up I can buy? Is there any other set-up from other years or model that will bolt in place of this piece of garbage? Can't drive the S.O.B.!!!ĪNY help or advice would be appreciated. Nothing.Ī team of 3 mechanics have fought this all summer and it still pressurizes and I lose most of my fluid in a short time. Nothing seems to be able to prevent this. It simply pressurizes all the fluid out at highway speeds or driving any distance greater than 5 miles. When the wheels are turned one direction and then straightened, it spurts out fluid through the bolt hole in the reservoir lid. We have tried 4 different pumps in addition to rebuilding and re-sealing the original. I have installed rebuilt or new ram cylinder, pump, hoses, control valve - you name it. I have rebuilt or replaced every single stinkin' piece of the power steering system with the exception of the medallion on the steering wheel. I've posted about this before, but I have a little more information now that might help. It's been about 3 months of parts, cussing, and money and my power steering system still aerates fluid and blows it out the bolt hole in the top of the reservoir lid.
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