I bought a new electric wiper motor to replace the useless vacuum system on the truck now. I removed the control switch, and took out the two small phillips screws on top of the dash holding the motor in. I removed the wiper blade, the shaft nut and the bezel, but still I cant get the thing to budge! Shouldn't the shaft just push through? What did I not do? There must be some other screws holding it all together that I don't see.

 

If I remember, once the bezel is off, the assembly should just push thru into the cab, shaft and all.

 

I don't recall there being screws exposed on the dash that hold the vacuum wiper motor in place. AFAIK, that's only for the later electric option, and those are two large screws in the center of the dash. Are you sure you didn't remove the small screws for the defroster ducts? The ones along side the stamped louver below the windshield?

 

Yup, those little screws have nothing to do w the wiper motor! There are so many wires under there it looks like a rats nest! It is hard to see anything. I think those little screws were for the defroster duct, which I will have to take out and modify slightly. (why I should bother w a modification is another story, as the defroster/heater fan does not work anyway! LOL). I am going to have to take out the dash cluster (that only has three nuts, right?) What a pain! I have an old shop manual, but the pictures are not very good. It says " To remove the motor assembly for service, disconnect the vacuum line and wiper linkage, remove the control assembly from the instrument panel. Then remove the wiper blade, pivot attaching nuts, spacers and blade". It says then the motor assembly can then be pulled out. I don't think I have removed the wiper linkage, and without taking off the guage cluster, there is no way I can see well enough to disconnect anything under this dash! Like I said, I do not have a good pic, so I do not even know what I should be looking for, upside down, with a flash light, through a nest of wires! Wish me luck!

 

Hey Joe,
I'll wish you luck on that one. You would think replacing the
windshield wipers would be pretty straight forward but no. That is a PITA. Good luck over there. (Your truck looks nice - surprised you are messing with wipers heading into the dry summer season over there in CA).

Ben in Austin

 

I know what you mean about the mess under the dash. One suggestion someone made is to remove the seat (four bolts) so you can get into the cab and better see what's under there. I plan to do that while I'm rewiring mine.

Another trick I used when trying to figure out all the mess, I took lots of pics under the dash. That helped a lot. Also, I used my wife's big handheld mirror to prevent craning my neck like a parrot.

 

Well it is 3m here in sunny California and I just completed my wiper motor switch! The ONLY way to access the old vacuum motor is to remove the dash cluster. Three not so difficult bolts to loosen. Once that was pushed to the side, you can see clear as day how the old vacuum motor mounts to the truck.....two slot head screws! It came right out, and as advertised (LOL) the new electric motor slid right in. I hooked it up, and Lo and Behold, Wonder of Wonders....it works! I am a happy camper! Now I can enjoy the rest of my Easter Sunday........doing laundry, mowing the lawn and bringing out the trash! LOL!

 

Congrats Joe! You went for it!
That's a good one to get done - PITA. Don't do electronic windows
or the hinge pin mirrors - just saying - they are in the same class of
fun!

Ben in Austin

 

Job well done, funny how one tends to forget the not so fun tasks of the past. At least I do, LOL.

 

LOL! I already tried and gave up on the hinge pin mirrors!

 

Which electric wiper motor did you use, and where did you buy it? Just curious....