'68 Wiper Adjustment Impossibility!

[Michael H.]

I'm having trouble adjusting the wipers on my '68. After finally getting the mechanisms, arms, motor, and blades installed, I cannot seem to get them adjusted without the following occurring:

1) If I adjust the driver's side wiper so that it puts a decent amount of pressure on the rest plate when the wipers are retracted (is this expected?), and adjust the passenger side so that the wiper door will close, then the wipers hit when travelling down.

2) Then if I adjust the passenger wiper so that is JUST misses hitting the other wiper on the way down, then when I turn the wipers off and they retract, the wiper door will not quite close. It hits on the passenger wiper.

I bought off-the-shelf Trico blades from the local auto parts store. I think they are both 16"

The wiper arms are '69 arms with the small wiper washer brackets removed and the rivet peened down.

I'm not sure where the motor came from, but it is a Delco and seems to be correct.

Is this adjustment normally fairly touchy for the 68-82 models? The only adjustments I am making is to the linkage lengths, where the linkage attaches to the bracket to the motor. Should I expect to perhaps tweak the arms themselves a bit?

It just seems that maybe something is wrong, like maybe the wrong arms, or something.

Thanks for any advice you may have for me! I am frustrated!

Thanks, Michael (new member!) #33618

[Tom B.]

Re: '68 Wiper Adjustment Impossibility!

Micheal,

There should be an adjustment screw on each wiper arm. If I remember correctly, that should help "trim" the adjustment of either arm/blade from colliding with the (each) other. TBarr #24014

[Gary F. LeDuc]

Re: '68 Wiper Adjustment Impossibility!

Did you follow the inital set up instructions in the AIM? I did my '69 last year. I spent about 2 hours trying to "get it" then finally used the instructions. That quickly brought me closer to a solution. I will say don't fret if they are off a tad.

[Jack H.]

Re: '68 Wiper Adjustment Impossibility!

Two other comments:

(1) Wiper door/frame has adjustment(s) for up/down, side/side

to close flush with fender/hood. These are covered in the

Chasis Service Manual (CSM) MUCH better than descriptors in

the Assembly Instruction Manual (AIM). You have to first

gain proper wiper door operation (opens FULLY, and closes

properly) or you're chasing your tail.

(2) Current Trico replacement blades are NOT, in my opinion,

of the proper geometry/silhouette to duplicate the close

quarters design center of factory originals. You have to

clear the overhead squiter hose on the RH arm when putting

the blade on (subject of another recent thread) and the

profile of factory original blades is different (sits lower

more flush to glass with refill installed....

Takes two to tango and I'd first advise getting an ORIGINAL wiper blade (see your local scrap yard and carry the service replacement with you to check against what they have). No, you won't find Corvettes there to get a pair off, but other GM passenger cars of the era (Camaro, Corvair, Etc.) had a common windshield geometry and shared wiper blade components.