FIA Washer Jets

[Ron Scarboro]

I have a Superformance FIA that I’ve been making as original as possible. In a recent visit to the Shelby American Collection I noticed that the FIA cars had windshield washer jets. Those jets are now available, but my question is...

We’re they functional? If so, where would the washer bottle have been mounted and what kind would it have been?

Would it have used the standard 289 Streetcar pump? Where would it have been mounted.

Thanks as always,

Ron

[LMH]

On standard street leaf spring cars, the washer bag is hanging from a mount on the aluminum panel directly ahead of the brake fluid reservoirs. it uses a Ford electric washer pump to pressure the sprayers when energized.
Did comp cars use the system from the street car... I don't know. A guess would be in the interest of saving weight, it was removed and the jets left in place to cover the holes in the body but I really don't know. If the windscreen needed to be washed, that can be done at a pit stop.
Larry

[CompClassics]

Since the FIA Cobras were entered in the GT catagory they had to have the same road equipment as their street brothers did, not to mention that the car would have been shipped from AC with them already installed. Wether they washers had to be operational or not is another question in itself. In studying original in period photos some cars had them, some didn’t, others had one but not the other. As LMH stated the washer bag was mounted to the inner fender panel in front of the master cylinders with the Ford washer pump just below it. The washer bag and mounting hanger were Ford production parts also.. when the FIA roadsters were updated for the 1965 racing season the valve cover breather system included (2) separate catch cans, one was mounted to the passengers foot box and the other was mounted where the windshield washer bag had once been mounted.

[Ron Scarboro]

Thanks! Does anyone have any pics of the locations out if the bag?

[Mark IV]

Ron we can supply the FoMoCo washer pump and bag if you need one. There are some photos of the bag and pump mounting in Colin Comers book as well as on line.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

when the FIA roadsters were updated for the 1965 racing season the valve cover breather system included (2) separate catch cans, one was mounted to the passengers foot box and the other was mounted where the windshield washer bag had once been mounted.

Cannot prove it but I believe the metal catch cans on CSX2345 that are still there were installed by Alan Mann Racing on behalf of Ford and Shelby as they prepared the car for the 1965 European races. They look like they were something like small paint thinner cans or something.

[Ron Scarboro]

Seems strange that it would have been a FOMOCO part. Coming from AC, I figured a Lucas part (Triumph, Healey, MG).

[CompClassics]

The washer bags and pumps are available through the many different Ford parts reproduction outlets. The bags are available in different colors according to what year and model the bag was sourced from. The bag hangers are available as well.

[LMH]

Originally Posted by Ron Scarboro

Seems strange that it would have been a FOMOCO part. Coming from AC, I figured a Lucas part (Triumph, Healey, MG).

Early cars did use British made reservoirs and pumps but later Ford supplied parts.
I have photo's somewhere and I'll see if I can dig them up.
Larry

[LMH]

The blue wide bag is more common but some were black as well. Two different mounts were used depending on which bag was installed. Pump part number is C2AB-17664-A. It mounts below the bag on the side. (not shown in the photo)

The part I don't see, looking at CSX2345 anyway, is the dash mounted switch/button used on the street car. It's the rare and expensive part. We did recreate it and I think Nick Acton may have some for sale. Check with him to find out. Could also use a momentary switch that matches the other toggle switches if your car uses those.
Larry

[rsk289]

UK - market leafspring cars had a Lucas 2SJ glass washer bottle with electric pump in the lid. This was mounted on the left inner wing just above the fuel pump.

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by Ron Scarboro

Seems strange that it would have been a FOMOCO part. Coming from AC, I figured a Lucas part (Triumph, Healey, MG).

CSX2001-CSX2200 all British screen jet system parts.
CSX2201 and later American Ford reservoir and pump system with Lucas tube to dash and Lucas screen jets as earlier cars.
(Everything for CSX2201 and later has been reproduced commercially)
COB/COX chassis all British screen jet system parts.

All the 'cut back door' race roadsters were CSX2201 and later 'American market' chassis. The questions are:
1) did AC Cars fit the race chassis with screen jet systems like street cars?
2) if AC Cars installed systems did SA or somebody else later remove them?

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by LMH

The blue wide bag is more common but some were black as well. T
Larry

Larry,
If you know the chassis number of the car you have pictured, send me a note letting me know which one please.

Yes CSX2201 and later cars could have either the large blue or small black bags but the small ones were rare. The two bags required different mounting brackets so even if an unrestored car with its original inner wheel house panel on the driver's side is missing the parts the hole pattern tells the story. I am keeping a list of chassis with small bags to see if a pattern turns up.

Thanks.

[Ron Scarboro]

Dan you’re an encyclopedia THANK YOU!

I never thought about it until I went to the Shelby American Collection last month.

Probably stuff you’ve already documented, but...

CSX 2345 has the jets, but I didn’t know where to look for the bag.
CSX 2431 has holes where the jets used to be
CSX 2137 has the jets
CSX 2385 didn’t have any jets
CSX ???? The #61 car had no evidence of any jets

I didn’t notice on other cars.

Interestingly none of those cars had meatball lights.

[LMH]

Here's another I ran across from Legendary, this one with the blue bag. You can just see the pump lower right of the bag.
Larry

[Dan Case]

Originally Posted by Ron Scarboro

Dan .....THANK YOU!

You are welcome.

Unfortunately looking at any race car now is not like looking at it day one, day two, or at any point in their racing days.

Racers tended to get bashed, rebuilt, and modified in some way for just about every race or every few races.

I have noticed how some famous cars have morphed over the years as each 'restoration' brings in a new interpretation of 'original'.

Ultra detailed owner/restorers usually pick a single race to 'restore' to and not the more common many different builds combined into one that never existed that way. (Example: Features from 1970 rules in a car restored to be as 1964 version. Or parts not around in 1964 used and called 1964 correct.)

[CompClassics]

You should not find a “Lucas” glass washer bottle mounted on a “cut back door”, CSX2259 and after FIA or USRRC roadster, they used the Ford parts by that time.

[rsk289]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

You should not find a “Lucas” glass washer bottle mounted on a “cut back door”, CSX2259 and after FIA or USRRC roadster, they used the Ford parts by that time.

The AC289 (& 427), in Europe, used Trico washer bottles after the Lucas I believe. I've not seen Ford parts on any COB/COX cars.

[CompClassics]

There is s good chance COB & COX might have had something else installed.

[ALF]

Originally Posted by Ron Scarboro

CSX 2345 has the jets, but I didn’t know where to look for the bag.
CSX 2431 has holes where the jets used to be
CSX 2137 has the jets
CSX 2385 didn’t have any jets
CSX ???? The #61 car had no evidence of any jets
.

Can someone provide the same great information about the dash buttons??
I can not see them on the pictures