a few wide ranging question on a '72

[Brandon Metzger]

I have a few questions on a couple of items. I have a '72 BB M40.

1. What collor is the wiper assembly painted, wiper arms, etc and the door assembly?

2. On the wiper door the trim that "clips" on to the door is it chrome or painted?

3. How do you change the white plastic joints on the wiper door assembly? The bolts look like they are a rivit type but I haven't seen or know of a way to do this properly.

4. I have a Turbo Hydromatic 400 with a code of 8623462 on the outside houseing. Can anyone tell me if this belongs ot a '72 or another year. I have little hope of it being original but.....

Thank you guys. The this forums been a great source of knowledge and help. I currently have the engine and trans out. and getting close to haveing the front end completed.

Regards,
Brandon

[Jack H.]

Re: a few wide ranging question on a '72

(1) Wiper arms, washer tubes and blade holders were a semi-gloss (almost dull) black. The wiper door was painted body color but the bottom side will exhibit only erratic overspray.

(2) The rear reveal molding was SS just like the rest of the windshield surround 'bright' moldings. BUT, it was painted body color UP TO the rear lip, apparently to reduce sunglare reflection. Your painter is advised to mask the wiper door and door edge lower moldings and shoot a first coat of self-etching primer then follow with body color. Without the self-etching primer, the body color will have a difficult time sticking to the SS and tend to chip/flake...

(3) White plastic bushings are held by bolts. Both (bushing and bolts) are available in various catalogs. Right now, I'm looking at Chicago Corvette's catalog and the bolt is #C9644 and the bushing is #C9676.

(4) A/T isn't my cup of tea....

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: a few wide ranging question on a '72

Thank you Jack.

Is the wiper door machanism painted the same color as the wiper arms?

Also, bolts for the door assembly are "bolts but the other end is not a nut to hold the bolt in place it is "rivited". This is where I am having my confussion. I too have seen the "kits" for the vendors but I a holding off on ordering untill I figure out how to install it.

Lastly, is the whole wiper compartment painted any color or is just overspry from the body paint?

Thank you again,
Brandon

[Terry M.]

Re: a few wide ranging question on a '72

"bolts but the other end is not a nut to hold the bolt in place it is "rivited"

If this is about the round head things that hold the ends of that SS molding to the door, they are called drive rivets, and are available from McMaster Carr. Search for them on www.mcmaster.com The down side is you will need to know what size you want (sorry, I don't have a clue), and you likely will have to buy many more than you need to get them from them. Surely, someone else has crossed this stream before and has some to share -- or perhaps they are part of the kit. I have always wondered how folks get the old ones out.
They install just as their name describes - drive them in with a hammer. A look at the picture on their web site should make it clear how they install.
And after all that, I know I have seen some years of 1968-1972 that have small phillips head screws in this position rather than the drive rivets. Since I am not an exterior judge, I can't tell you what year(s) that may have been. If your car has the round head drive rivets in it now, and you think the wiper door is original to the car then this paragraph is superfluous information....then disregard.

[Frank H.]

Re: a few wide ranging question on a '72

I used a pair of large toe nail clippers to unscrew the drive pins and reused them,a little grinding on one side to flatten the face of the clippers may be needed,plus the tiny flame from a micro touch works wonders on these as well as locktite coated door lock bolts and the like.
FH

[Chuck S.]

Re: a few wide ranging question on a '72

"...bolts but the other end is not a nut to hold the bolt in place it is "rivited".

Brandon, I think you are talking about the pivot bushings in the wiper door mechanism: In this case, your observation is correct...these are rivits and not bolts. The only way to replace the pivot bushings in the mechanism is to have the it rebuilt by someone who knows how to replace the rivits. This is a "five-wrench job" (read difficult, special tools and skills required). That mechanism is expensive and hard to find; i.e. if you are unfamiliar with installing rivits of this size and type, better leave the rebuilding to a pro.

The (8) bushings at the four locations where the mechanism bolts to the wiper door are relatively easy to replace, but not without risk. Stripping the wiper door holes is the usual means of screw-up, so better soak the screws good in penetrating oil (maybe some of that "kroil" Clem recommends) and go really slow and easy on the removal.

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: a few wide ranging question on a '72

Thank you guys.
I think I will take your advise Chuck. There is a vette shop near me and I will probably take it to them, get charged out the ..., but probably best.

Thank you,
Brandon