70 wiper motor # decoding

[Dennis D.]

This one came from a 70 parts car, and I suspect it's original.

4919437 737-?-5A. Can't make out that single center number.

The piece in my 70 now is 4919437 302-3-3B

I believe the 4919437 is the correct part number, but how are the others deciphered?

[Jack H.]

Re: 70 wiper motor # decoding

Details are given in your copy of the '70-72 Judging Guide:

"The windhield wiper motor has a label with the part number for the motor assembly and the date code information. Five port pumps are part number 5044758, three port models number 5044780. The date code is on the second line and is three numbers for a Julian date (see the Julian date chart in the Carburetor section #5) and a single number for the last digit of the year...."

Hence, the "302-3-3B" example you give translates to the 302nd day of year "3" (73, 83...). The JG doesn't tell you about the remaining numbers, but they translate to location and shift codes, if memory serves.

Understand, the wiper motor, repleat with its, bolt-on washer pump came to the line as an assy. Service provided discrete wiper motors and washer pumps, so the PN on a service supplied wiper motor will differ from that specified in the JG.

On TWO occassions, I've seen exceptions on the judging field that I let pass. What appeared to be an untouched, aged, original wiper motor but with the then current service wiper motor PN on the label and the date code being a DEAD nuts match for the build date of the car...

I know I DON'T know what happened in St. Louis when a wiper/washer assy failed. Was it returned to Delco in Indiana for warranty replacement or did Delco provide some number of discrete washer and/or wiper assy's to St. Louis to let them effect self-repair? So, in those two 'exception' cases I gave the owner the benefit of the doubt and took no deduction for a service replacement PN on the wiper motor but with motor's tag having a correct/matching date code for the build of the car...

[Dennis D.]

Re: 70 wiper motor # decoding

My 70 could have the wrong wiper motor.It is the one that was in the car when I bought it. I've owned it since 73.(10/12/73). 302 date translation is Oct.29. (julian like the carbs).Late for the time frame I've had the car

Do you recognize the 4919437?(always though it was quite a coincidence that the last digits of the motor are the same as the first 5 digits of a 70 coupe). Sure it means nothing. Guess the 2 could have been replaced around the same time

Strange its the label number on both motors. The one from my 70 parts car looks original. Have to check the date codes better on that one.

[Jack H.]

Re: 70 wiper motor # decoding

My copy of the '72 Corvette Parts and Accessories Catalog lists 4919437 as the SERVICE REPLACEMENT part number for the WSW motor. That means it would have shipped from Delco as a motor only, having NO washer pump on it and a plastic cover over the area where the washer pump bolts on.

That's the anomaly I was talking about earlier... It means EITHER your factory original WSW motor was replaced after the car left the factory or there's something we don't really understand about how assy line failed WSW motors were repaired and reused at St. Louis. I know I don't know what the process was (ship the whole failed assy back to Delco in Indiana repleat with washer, or repair 'em in house using Delco supplied functional sub-assy components once the 'pile' of failed units grew large enough to apply manpower to)...

[Lyle24961]

Re: 70 wiper motor # decoding

I have looked at lots of wiper motors and their is some things about the date codes that don't add up lots of the time. I think it would be a good area for more research.

Lyle

[John H.]

Re: 70 wiper motor # decoding

Jack -

Typical practice for failed components like the wiper motor was to send the removed part to the Salvage Crib (part of the Inspection Department); they would accumulate the parts and then return them to the vendor on a CMR (Credit Memo Return) invoice. Very rarely, the Salvage crib would replace a failed part of the component (supplied by the vendor) and return it to the line; this was done only rarely, as the component vendor was responsible for field warranty, and generally they wanted full control of what went on the car.