When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
So by far the weakest link on this build has been the windshield wipers, which, unfortunately, are important about half the year here in Colorado…
After hobbling together my own motor/linkage Frankenstein solution (which isn't ideal, but it works), I bought new wiper arms and blades I believe from LMC truck. They were listed for the '52. Having never seen the original OEM hardware, I don't know how these compare, but I can tell you they're horrible! The end of the arm just kind of slips in a big opening in the blade, so that they just kind of flop around and wobble from side-to-side … WHEN THEY'RE NOT FALLING OFF! I lost the passenger blade last fall and wouldn't you know a car behind me ran over it before I was able to go back and get it. I've been running the single driver wiper this year and using very sparingly, but today as it was snowing on the way home the driver blade fell off three times! Luckily each time it just fell onto the cowl so I was able to pull over and re-install.
So, is this bad design? Am I doing something wrong? The only thing I could imagine is that you "mash" the opening down over the end of the blade with a driver pin and hammer, but even then there would still be side-to-side play.
Are there better solutions out there in the aftermarket? (I know you California guys don't have this problem.).
After similar problems, I bought a set of Trico arms and blades at O'Reilly Auto. They are excellent. The arms are adjustable for length, and the blade angle can also be adjusted. They have a much better spring to hold them against the glass, too.
O'Reilly's p/n's: Arm: TRI 51-062 Blade: TRI 33-101
+2 on the better arms and blades, but I used Wesco arms and Bosch evolution wiper blades with mine... the new arms had the "U" hook on the end and held the wiper securely. I had the same problems with the aftermarket repop junk
Wouldn't you know, now my home-brewed motor/linkage system seems to have given up the ghost!
Any recommendations for complete $ystems? Was trying to save a few bucks back during the build, but now I'm realizing not a good place to skimp (at least I got a couple of years out of my setup).
Looks like Rain Gear and Newport Engineering are two that I've found. I'll need the whole shebang (and this truck wasn't a vacuum system, if that matters).
Of course major snow starting this evening and in to tomorrow!
I bought a New Port Engrg system that is specifically made for '51-52's that originally came with factory electric wipers. It was a complete waste of money. I now have the Dennis Carpenter system and it is really well done. I had to "clearance" my passenger side defroster nozzle just a little bit, otherwise slapped right in.
I bought a New Port Engrg system that is specifically made for '51-52's that originally came with factory electric wipers. It was a complete waste of money. I now have the Dennis Carpenter system and it is really well done. I had to "clearance" my passenger side defroster nozzle just a little bit, otherwise slapped right in.
I found a complete used linkage setup on ebay for $50.00. even came with the vacuum motor! I used the Newport electric system. It works just fine. I bench ran it assembled to make all of the adjustments.
Works great.
I had the same issues with the repop blades. They are junk. I sent them back and cut down new inserts to fit the old blades that I had. I will look at the new options given here by others.
BUMP
Still looking to solve this problem before snowfall…
Wondering about trying to use components from slightly newer trucks? '55, '56, '57?
My problem is my linkage is butchered for my first homebrew attempt, and the most common replacement system won't allow use of radio (which I must have).
As far as I know, only pivot assemblies made for 48-52's will fit properly in the cowl. The Dennis C. individual pivots are a big improvement over the stock ones, if you can make up a motor/linkage setup to drive them.
I have the Dennis C. complete system, and a modern CD player/receiver in roughly the stock location. No clearance issues at all.
windshield wipers FAIL
I lost the passenger blade last fall and wouldn't you know a car behind me ran over it before I was able to go back and get it. I've been running the single driver wiper this year and using very sparingly, but today as it was snowing on the way home the driver blade fell off three times! Luckily each time it just fell onto the cowl so I was able to pull over and re-install.
