Period correct wiper arms and wiper assemblies?

[ntsqd]

I work on older vehicles of all types, currently I have Ford, GM, & Jeep vehicles. The CTD is too new to count...
Anyway, it seems like period correct wiper arms and wiper assemblies aren't easily bought new. Can buy modern black arms here and there, but those don't look right on an older vehicle. The two main mfg's of them, Trico and Anco, don't even want to talk to anyone about them unless you're buying OEM volumes.
What to do? Is there a business out there selling them? Am I destined to trying to scrounge them from a junkyard as my only source? Note that I'm not asking specifically about these for an EB, but if there are EB vendors carrying these I'm interested to learn about them.

 

[RODRIG3911]

Not sure about other old school cars, but for Broncos a great junk yard option is modifying the XJ Cherokee rear blades. They have real nice strong springs and look great when cut down
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/cherokee-wiper-arm-swap.130212/

 

[SLOWnEASY]

Thanks ntsqd (jokingly sarcastic) I never thought my upgraded black wiper arms looked out of place. But now that you said it I looked at mine and now can't unsee it. I wonder if spray painting them silver might help.

 

[EPB72]

I work on older vehicles of all types, currently I have Ford, GM, & Jeep vehicles. The CTD is too new to count...
Anyway, it seems like period correct wiper arms and wiper assemblies aren't easily bought new. Can buy modern black arms here and there, but those don't look right on an older vehicle. The two main mfg's of them, Trico and Anco, don't even want to talk to anyone about them unless you're buying OEM volumes.
What to do? Is there a business out there selling them? Am I destined to trying to scrounge them from a junkyard as my only source? Note that I'm not asking specifically about these for an EB, but if there are EB vendors carrying these I'm interested to learn about them.

New would be a repop.. A year or so ago had a customer with a 91 f 250 with replacment arms they sucked drivers was workable passenger slipped on splines actually got 3 more to get one that actually fit good enough to work finding a good used one would be a better option ,,

As far a as wiper blades refills was a thing for all the 60's+ vehicles harder to find but out there oriellys had some for a 65 mustang recently took a day to get but fit as good as expected,,

as far as the bayonet style attachment well they always kinda sucked ,, little flopy and got worse over the years, ,, converting to the J style on our EB was an improvment .. But FWIW rain x and going a little faster seemed to work better then wipers ,,,,

I you type in classic wipers or trico classic wipers options will pop up mostly on amazon or Ebay.. If visual is more important then function ..

But yeah good used would be your best bet,,

 

[ntsqd]

I wouldn't mind having the latest tech in wipers, I just don't want them in black. Modern tech disguised as period correct parts is a goal.
Some of the black arms are SS under the E-coating or whatever the black is, so a gentle removal followed by a polishing may be an option. Should be able to check with a magnet before doing anything. Not the splined part though, those are typically die castings and will need silver paint or something. The current arms on the '73 C10 are carbon steel painted silver. I know this because they're rusting.....

I asked my local Napa counter guys about arms and they had all sorts of options for blades, but nothing for arms. In my part of the country you can drive completely without them about 9-10 months of the year, but I've got to think that in other parts of the country that they are an actual wear part.

 

[ntsqd]

Searching the Bronco vendors that I know of I found that they all sell a universal arm that sort of is correct, but not really. I'm guessing those are the best that they could find. I guess that I could buy one of those and then replace the actual beam in the arm and get rid of that funky screw and plastic piece. But if the splined die-cast part is junk then it wouldn't be worth the effort.

 

[Yeller]

Last I purchased blades (within the last year) orielly had 16” old school SS blades on the shelf, if you asked for them and you find someone that knows they are there behind the counter. I usually ask “can we go look?” And they send me on my own scavenger hunt.

Arms yes. They are a problem.

 

[Yeller]

This made me do some digging. Mostly because it reminded me that the J Truck was due a new set of blades…. Orielly failed, no longer carried. However the jungle has many to choose from under “classic wiper blade”.

 

[ntsqd]

JBG has some period correct looking arms for FSB's & F series. Not sure how universal the drive splines are, but assuming that they are all the same then the application difference is how the thin part of the arm itself is bent. And that can be changed.

 

[toddz69]

When I needed some new arms a few years ago, I found what I needed at Newport Wipers. As you know, my truck is sort of a mutt and I needed a different shaft diameter and spline count than stock. They were the only ones I could find that fit. Downside is that they don't flip out like modern wiper arms.

https://newportwipers.com/product-category/accessories/

Todd Z.

 

[bigmuddy]

Not sure about other old school cars, but for Broncos a great junk yard option is modifying the XJ Cherokee rear blades. They have real nice strong springs and look great when cut down
https://classicbroncos.com/forums/threads/cherokee-wiper-arm-swap.130212/

For a bronco this is the way to go unless you are running the newer Newport wiper setup.
Thom, if I had a choice between originals and painted or polished newer style arm I would likely look at newer tech.

Of course, I am basing that off of the original crappy bronco arms, whereas the Chevrolet versions of that vintage may be just fine, but it's been a long time since I looked at buying 60-70's vintage Chevrolet anything.

 

[ntsqd]

The newer type with the 'J' hook or the lateral pin on the end of the arm is surely more robust than the older design(s). The R&R works better as well. The trick is finding a wiper for those that isn't black and has the traditional looking structure. Newport's might be that, but their pictures are tiny and completely useless for discerning that kind of detail. I've asked them for larger, better pictures.

Unfortunately my '73 C10's arms aren't original either, they're no help.

 

[Jdgephar]

If it's just a color problem, a can of silver/grey spray paint makes quick work of that.

 

[ntsqd]

Yes and no. It is a color problem, but paint isn't necessarily the correct answer if they were originally bare stainless steel. Right or wrong, my impression has been that the black arms and frames are not SS, so stripping the black off may not get me back to a correct looking wiper assembly.

Keep in mind that I'm not after a Concours qualified replacement, these are restomods and not pure restorations. I'm only interested in their looking like the original parts and hoping that they will perform like modern parts.

 

[Yeller]

Yes and no. It is a color problem, but paint isn't necessarily the correct answer if they were originally bare stainless steel. Right or wrong, my impression has been that the black arms and frames are not SS, so stripping the black off may not get me back to a correct looking wiper assembly.

Keep in mind that I'm not after a Concours qualified replacement, these are restomods and not pure restorations. I'm only interested in their looking like the original parts and hoping that they will perform like modern parts.

your not alone in this

 

[Apogee]

You could do a "chrome" powder coat...that might hold up better, though it can look a bit plasticky, probably since it is.

 

[EPB72]

https://www.classicindustries.com/product/1975/dodge/charger/parts/F402.html?gclid=a4d8d8e1605117351f3bb20c70fc9f59&gclsrc=3p.ds&&gclid=a4d8d8e1605117351f3bb20c70fc9f59&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=a4d8d8e1605117351f3bb20c70fc9f59&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=BL%20-%20Microsoft%20-%20Classic%20Industries%20-%20Shopping%20-%20CatchAll&utm_term=4576992030664402&utm_content=All%20Products

probably more styles & sizes . didnt look any further ..

 

[ntsqd]

^^^ Had to back out and search wiper arms w/o an application.