69-73 Wiper Arm Clips Reproduced!!

[Chuck G.]

Just got my new flyer from Paragon. They finally did it. They reproduced the wiper arm clips that hold the washer nozzles to the wiper arms. Lt. hand set of 3 clips is $12.00, Rt. hand set of 4 clips is $15.00. I've been looking for a complete set of these for years, and have managed to scrounge up a few here and there, but not enough to make a set. In talking with them at Carlisle and Bloomington, they told me they were going to do it....now it's done. I'm ordering a set tomorrow. I don't mean to advertise, or promote commerce on the BB, but I don't know one 69-73 owner who isn't looking for these items. Chuck

[Jim R.]

Re: 69-73 Wiper Arm Clips Reproduced!!

Chuck:

Thanks for the tip. I have two additional questions:

1) Who is Paragon, and how do I get in contact with them or get on their mailing list?

2) I also need a brass washer tube for the right side. Do you know where I can get one?

Thanks.......Jim

[Jack H.]

Re: 69-73 Wiper Arm Clips Reproduced!!

Paragon is perhaps the biggest/oldest Corvette reproduction parts house. They've been making repro of the brass Shark wiper arm washer tube for a number of years. Chuck's comment is on Dick Fortier's (founder) follow-through on the mating injection molded clips. They're in Swartz Creek, Michigan -- a stone's throw from GM Service Operations. Call at (800) 882-4688. Be sure and order something THEN don't forget to tell the order desk clerk you're a member of NCRS to qualify for your automatic functional courtesy discount!!!

[Terry M.]

Re: 69-73 Wiper tube. Brass??

Jim & Jack,

Are you really sure that tube is brass? Of course, as it is painted black it is hard to tell, but I thought they were steel. Maybe I'll go to the garage with a magnet.

Chuck - Let us know what those clips look like. We ARE all looking for them.

Terry

[Jerry Clark]

Re: 69-73 Wiper Arm Clips Reproduced!!

Hi Chuck:

I , for one am very glad you notified us of this reproduction. I too have been looking for four years with no luck, I'll call them TODAY. Thank you very much.

jerry

[Jack H.]

Yes -

I'm absolutely/positively certain the REPRODUCTION tube Paragon sells is brass, Terry. I fatigue fractured my first attempt at aligning and soldering to the wiper arm clip/cradle....

Tell us what your ole magnet does against the original tube on your '70, please. My hunch is it tain't steel. Why?

The crimped end has three tiny nozzle holes to spritz streams onto center, upper and lower portion of glass. If tube were rock hard (steel) it'd be impossible to take a set of pliers and 'tweak' the geometry leaving you a prisoner of how well the tube was centered during it's solder into the wiper arm crimp/cradle -- you'd be hard pressed to tweak up/down or to give minor rotation....

Let us know the answer here. Maybe there's a new Catch-22 for magnets on the judging field vis a vie stainless steel detection.

[Patrick H.]

Wiper Arm Clips: E-mail received today

Today I looked in my "In" box of e-mail, and Paragon sent out a mass e-mailing to its customers notifying us of their new clips. Pictures were also included.

I'd be happy to forward it if anyone is interested.

Patrick Hulst

[Jerry Clark]

Re: Yes -

Jack, Terry:

Because I have never installed these clips and Jack mentioned soldering I began to wonder if they were all soldered in place or simply clipped to the arms ? Was the soldering simply an insurance measure on Jacks part, if so it is not a bad idea.

jerry

[Jack H.]

Re: Yes -

The originals on my '71 WERE soldered and same goes for those I've seen in Corvette parts bins as 'discards' from Sharks of the era. Degree of solder may vary based on workmanship, but da sucka was soldered to the upper arm clip....

[Terry M.]

Re: Not magnetic

Well another surprise for the old guy. They are not magnetic - I have to wonder though why the corrosion by-product is powdery white rather than the green that is typical of copper/brass alloys. Aluminum corrodes as white powder.

Maybe that is it, but if aluminum then the method of fastening is not soldering in the sense most of us think of it - that is tin/lead alloy. Hmmmmm. Yes they are fastened by some method like soldering, but now I am not sure of the material or method. Brass- tin/lead solder would be the easy way out, with materials readily available to all of us. If the original tubes are aluminum there is a solder like process that would work - lots easier in production that for us shade tree guys and gals.

Oh well - just confirms that there are always surprises.

Terry

[Jack H.]

Hey, thanks!

I was beginning to wonder where the line was between what I knew and what I was dreaming, Terry. I thought I knew the original tube was more ductile than steel....

When you remove factory original wiper blades, it's REAL easy to knock the washer tip askew. And, I've had to re-bend it to get correct squirter nozzle geometry.

Also, current replacement wiper blades (blade + refill) don't fit/work as well as originals on the arm. So, I've stalked the scrap yards for original blades, then re-stuffed 'em with fresh rubber. Makes a world of difference in non-streak sweeps + clearing the wiper door lid during start-up and shut down.

Could be my 'tweaking' is what finally broke the original washer tubes requiring the Paragon 'fix'. But, my hunch is the darn plastic clips fatigued and went 'bye bye' leaving the washer tube to 'flex' between the rubber washer line and the crimp/solder/weld point near the wiper blade....

Anyway you look at it, ole Paragon is doing us a favor with the replacement tubes and plastic clips. Here's my ATTABOY to Mr. Fortier, et. al.....

[Roberto L.]

Non magnetic in my car

I checked the tubes, seem to be the originals in my car (one of them is at present separated from the arm) and they are non magnetic and easy to deform. Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC

[Jerry Clark]

Re: Hey, thanks!

Hi Guys:

Help me out here will ya, I don't understand "plastic clips", we have metal, (some kind of metal), squirter tubes, metal wiper arms and clips that are to be soldered in place, what part of this overly engineered system, (editorial comment here, they could have been much simpler), is plastic?

jerry

[Roberto L.]

Re: Hey, thanks!

Aside from soldering, the squirter tube is hold close to the arm through small plastic clips. I have some in my car, but others are missing. Jack used to advice the use of tape to hold them due to age/cracks, etc. Now Paragon seems to bring a solution. Chuck G. will end buying used wiper arms through the country. :) Perhaps Jack or Terry could explain it better than me. Roberto, NCRS #30019, RMC

[Jack H.]

Su Ingles esta bueno, Roberto

I understood you loud and clear. But, for the poster, here's the Boogie....

(1) Wiper arm snaps onto drive motor components. (2) Extends to bayonet mounted wiper blade. (3) Brass (or 'strange non-magnetic white material') tube runs

parallel to wiper arm making a U-turn at the wiper blade. (4) Tube routes over the top of the wiper blade and is held

rigid by a clamp extending from upper end of wiper arm. (5) Tube is welded/soldered into into upper arm clamp. (6) Lower end of washer tube connects to rubber washer tubing

that is clamped in cowl. (7) When wiper arm moves, the rubber washer tube end acts as

a 'spring' trying to tear the wiper tube from its secured

end at the wiper arm/wiper blade junction. (8) Factory (Trico) 'solved' this stress/strain problem with

a series of plastic clips. Clips mounted here/there along

the wiper arm and snapped over the adjacent washer tube to

reinforce and add strength. (9) When weather/age caused the plastic clips to fracture, the

wiper tube was eventually left unsupported and began to move

away from the wiper arm as it moved through its wiping arc

causing the tubes to eventually fatigue fracture....