65 all chrome wiper arms

[Stanley S.]

I just received what I thought were to be correct wiper arms for my 65 but it appears the center section rivoted to the pivot has a chrome finish not polished stainless as indicated in the JG. Also the section that attaches to the wiper holder looks to be chrome. Other than this, they look correct with TRICO and patent numbers stamped underneath the center section and with the adjusting screw also. The boxes the arms came in has part No 3915861 on the end which is different than the part No in the AIM but according to the seller, was the number substituted for the original sometime in the early 1970's. My local Chevrolet parts manager looked in his 65 parts book and found the No 3915861 listed. Is it possible the updated part No had the entire arm chromed? If so, is it stainless underneath and could I remove somehow the chrome plating?
Thanks for any comments.
Stan Schield

[David L.]

Re: 65 all chrome wiper arms

The 63-65 Corvette wiper arms are GM part # 3829261 & 3829262 as per my 1963 (Oct. 62), 1964 (Oct. 63), and three 1965 (Oct. 64, Jan. 65, May 65) Chevrolet Parts Catalogs. These arms were replaced by GM # 3915861 & 3915862 in January 1971 as per Chevrolet parts history.

The 1966 and early 1967 wiper arms (GM # 3888297 & 3888298) were replaced by the 3915861 & 3915862 arms in Nov. 1967 & Oct. 1967 as per Chevrolet Parts History and 11-9-66 as per the 1967 assembly manual. The 1967 wiper arms (3915861 & 3915862) wiper arms have a dull finish and are very similar to the original 1966-E1967 wiper arms. I bought a pair of NOS 3915861/3915862 wiper arms for my 1966 Corvette back about 1980 at my local Chevrolet dealer. As I remember the small bottom section that attaches to the stud looks more like gray paint instead of gray plating. Theses arms are still on my car and have never seen rain. I can provide a picture if necessary.

[Stanley S.]

Re: 65 all chrome wiper arms

David,
The pivot with the splines appears to be bright chrome and the next section that has the spring underneath and the adjusting screw also appears bright chrome as does the last section that attaches to the holder. I guess I thought the section with the spring and the one that attaches to the blade holder was supposed to be polished stainless not bright chrome. Maybe I can't tell the difference between chrome and stainless. Thanks. Stan

[David L.]

Re: 65 all chrome wiper arms

Stan,
The wiper arms you have are not 1966-E1967 or L1967. Are they L1967 wiper arms that have been chrome plated? Can you proveide some photos?
Dave

[Stanley S.]

Re: 65 all chrome wiper arms

Dave,
I will attach a couple pics. I held the arms against the trim around windshield and the bumper and I can't honestly say I can tell any difference. I guess I'm not sure how to tell if they are chrome or stainless.
Stan

[Peter L.]

Re: 65 all chrome wiper arms

Stan - I agree with Dave in that the wiper arms are not 66-67 Corvette wiper arms. My read is that the wiper arms are used 63-65 Corvette wiper arms that someone put in a box with the 67 Corvette part number. I think you will find they are not "ALL" chrome plated. If they were the spring cover would show evidence of plating (the original spring covers are stainless steel and appear bright) and if you removed the spring cover, the spring and brass piece that is part of the screw adjusting mechanism would be chrome plated and I'm betting they are not. The base piece that attached to the wiper linkage was chrome plated originally on the 63-65 Corvette wiper arms so it should be chrome plated (hopefully nobody wrenched on they while trying to remove them from the car and ruined the appearance of the pieces), the body is stainless steel and was a polished finish (it can be re-polished) and if polished will look like bright chrome, and the rod is also stainless steel (it can be re-polished) and if polished will look like bright chrome. I think you will find the wiper arms are 63-65 wiper arms, hopefully they are. Pete

[David L.]

Re: 65 all chrome wiper arms

Stan,

I agree with Pete. The arms look like 63-65 Corvette wiper arms to me according to your pictures. The small base part looks chromed and the main part looks like stainless steel.

Dave

[Stanley S.]

Re: 65 all chrome wiper arms

Dave and Pete,
Thanks for your imput and comments. When I lift up the spring cover, nothing really looks chromed inside. I guess I was comparing the original to the repro that is on the car now. The stainless on it isn't polished nearly as much as the original. But the end of the spring cover does have a little piece of metal separating off the surface that shows a duller finish underneath. I'm not sure what that means. Stan

[Peter L.]

Re: 65 wiper arm spring cover

Stan - I don't think the spring covers are chrome plated but the outside face is probably polished but not much as it's not very visible. If the piece that flaked off is off the spring cover in your photo, I wouldn't be too concern about it. Pete