70 Wiper Insert Rail

[Pat M.]

Hello everyone. I know from the JM for my 1970 that the wiper insert metal rail, or spine, should be black and not shiny. But what is not clear is the correct configuration of the rail.

In searching the archives I found a good discussion wherein two types of rails were described: One with a slit down the middle and raised crossover "loops" every half inch or so, and one with only the slit and no loops. It was opined that the looped version was an "early" type rail and was correct for 1969.

My quesion is: Which would be correct for a 1970 with a build date of May? Thanks for any input, Patrick Moresi #45881

[Dennis D.]

Re: 70 Wiper Insert Rail

Wow! I have no idea what you are refering to. Is that what the AIM calls it?

[Pat M.]

Re: 70 Wiper Insert Rail

Dennis - the replacement rubber part that actually touches the windshield, the part that you slide into the wiper holders - I've seen them referred to as blades, inserts, and I think the JM calls them refills.

The rubber part is attached to a flat piece of metal, and this metal piece is what actually slides into the wiper holders. I've seen this metal part referred to as spines, and I think the JM calls them rails.

In any event, this flat metal part is what I'm talking about. Some simply have a slit down the middle, and the rubber slides into this slit. But some not only have a slit, but also have a series of little arches, or loops, connecting the metal on either side of the slit. I can provide a picture of each if I'm being clear as mud.

As I said, there was a detailed discussion on this issue in the archives, and someone, I think maybe Jack Humphrey, opined that the looped version was correct for a 1969. I'd like to know if this version would be correct for my 1970, also.

Patrick Moresi #45881

[Chuck S.]

Re: 70 Wiper Insert Rail

Hmmm...I wonder if this is another failure to communicate in the 4th edition. I know what you're talking about, Patrick, but I'm astounded to hear that the 4th edition implies the "rails" are black...the 4th edition says no bright metal in the insert; I wonder if they mean unpolished rather than black?

All the "rails" I can remember seeing since the sixties were stainless steel to prevent corrosion. The loops were there to prevent the wiper insert from working out of the wiper blade. Making the rails black (anodizing?, painting?) would make no sense because that would have been an additional and unneccessary cost; the "rails" are virtually buried in the rubber wiper inserts and nearly invisible.

This question forced me to dig my blades out for a look. I can't say if mine are original, and I admit that it's likely that that the complete blades could have been changed over the 20 years before I got the car, but that wouldn't be the cheapest way to get new wipes.

The rails in my inserts are unpolished stainless steel (quite possible these have been changed) with small clips that insert into the end of the rubber inserts to lock the rubber into the rails and wiper blade. The end of the painted blade segment has little tabs that bend around to secure the "rail", and the small stainless steel clip locks into these tabs. If these are circa 1980 wiper blades, I would appreciate hearing from the gurus.

[Peter L.]

Re: 70 Wiper Insert Rail Question

Patrick - Perhaps the confusion as to the configuration of the "railsl" has to do with if the windshield wiper blades and holders are ANCOs or TRICOs. TRICOs for sure (as sure as one can be 30+ years later) had the rails (vertebra) with the "loop overs" not exactly sure what ANCOs had then. Pete

[Pat M.]

Re: 70 Wiper Insert Rail Answer

Thanks Chuck and Peter, I really appreciate your responses. Chuck - you're right, all the manual says is "no bright metal," but I got dinged at a Chapter and Regional for SS rails, and both times I was told they should be flat black.

Jack Humphrey was kind enough to contact me and confirmed that the rails should be flat black, and that period-correct Trico blades did have the cross-over arches along the rails. Why they would go through the effort of blacking out the rails is a mystery to me, too.

There's always some new, obscure fact to discover in this hobby. I guess that's part of what makes it so much fun!

Regards, Patrick Moresi #45881

[Chuck S.]

Re: 70 Wiper Insert Rail Answer

I've been doing this 17 years, and that's the first I knew about the black "rails". In the case of wipers, I can understand why that's true: Unless you're judging wipers, you never see them at NCRS meets; they're always hidden under the wiper doors. If you only have your own wipers to observe, it's very possible they've been changed.

Did Jack share whether the rails were stainless steel, carbon steel, anodized, painted, phosphated, or...?

[Pat M.]

Re: 70 Wiper Insert Rail Answer

Chuck - that's true, it's an easy thing to miss, especially when you're focused on so many other things.

Jack indicated they were originally either painted or anodized. He suggested using SEM self-etching black primer on SS replacement rails to simulate the original flat finish, and for good adhesion.

Check out Jack's earlier post in the archives on this subject - it's incredibly detailed about the original inserts overall, including the black rails. Go to the oldest archives (98-03), punch in "trico refills" under "all terms," and go down to the 4th listed answer(Jack's)under "69 wiper refills."

It's very interesting, at least for a nit-picker like me. Thanks again for your response. Patrick Moresi #45881

[Chuck S.]

Thanks To YOU, Patrick! *NM*