1956 windshield washer foot pump details

[G B.]

I'm trying to complete a '56 foot pump washer set-up and need help identifying an original pump. I've studied the drawings and photos in vendor parts catalogs, the NCRS Judging Guide, and the Assembly Manual, but I haven't found all of the answers I need yet.

There are two '56 - '57 pumps currently offered on eBay:

Corvette Original TRICO windshield washer pump 1956 1957 56 57 | eBay

1956 56 Corvette Foot Operated Washer Pump Pontiac Chevrolet Chevy NEEDS WORK | eBay

The first ad above is a '57 pump design according to the Judging Guide. The eBay photos show a rectangular (reinforcing?) plate spot-welded around the upper hole for a carriage bolt.




The second ad says it's for a '56 pump, and those photos don't show that rectangular plate.



My question is: should a genuine '56 Corvette foot pump have the spot-welded reinforcement plate around the carriage bolt hole? Very similar but slightly different foot pumps were installed by GM on a variety of vehicles during the fifties. I don't want to buy the wrong one for my '56.

Thanks,

Jerry

[Kent S.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

Jerry -

Just tried to send you an email - not sure it went through.

I called a friend of mine here in KC (he has a '56 with washer) and discovered that he has a complete '56 system. You can contact him - JD Dammann - at 913-515-0131. Hope this helps.

Kent

[G B.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

Kent -

I talked to J.D. this morning. He does have an extra '56 foot pump and cable that he's willing to sell, but he doesn't have a bag or its brackets. He plans to ask you to email photos to me. Thanks for your help.

Jerry Bramlett
Mobile, AL
jerrybramlett@comcast.net
(251) 478-4003 I'm sorry, but this is a real phone and it can't text or show photos.



Update: I did receive two photos showing J.D.'s foot pump. Unfortunately, one shows a raised area (around the lower connection) on the firewall-facing side that doesn't appear in the photos I posted above. I still don't know which design was used in 1956. It could be that all three are correct, I guess.

p.s. - I've tried five times to post the photo in this thread and evidently it's just not gonna happen.

[Scott P.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

I saw some NOS pedal activated WSW pumps yesterday. Contact Steve Phillips Phillipsmusclecarparts.com 918-745-0781
They may or may not be Corvette but there was several. Scott

[G B.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

I appreciate your post, Scott, but I'm seeking identification info now. I'm not going to buy any more foot pumps until I know exactly what I'm looking for. I've already bought two that are probably from passenger cars.

Evidently very similar foot pumps were an option on almost all GM body lines for at least several years. There are perhaps a dozen Trico foot pump designs currently for sale out there. The sellers always seem to think they're from some Corvette.

[Chuck B.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

Jerry,
This is a real 56 washer pump that I removed from a project car I no longer have. I sold it on the Corvette Forum in March, but maybe the picture will help you identify what you have/need.
ChuckA5B01706-2599-4334-B80A-28215F0F8B45.jpg

[G B.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

Thanks for posting that photo, Chuck. Do you have one showing the firewall side of the pump? That's the area in question.

Jerry

[Chuck B.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

I knew that was what you were looking for, but unfortunately I apparently have deleted all the pictures except the one in the ad.
chuck

[Chris S.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

Check with Jay Maxwell
I bought one for a 56 I have here in the shop and I installed the one in the second photo

[G B.]

Re: 1956 windshield washer foot pump details

I talked to Jay yesterday. He's going to send some photos of the parts he has now.

This is a current ad on the Hemmings website: https://www.hemmings.com/parts/item/...ete/23917.html The ad says it's a kit for a '56 Corvette (of course), but it's actually made for a Chevy truck installation.