Upgraded Wipers?

Discussion in 'General Maverick/Comet' started by Crusader, Jun 18, 2014.

  1. Crusader

    Crusader Member

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    Has anyone considered finding wiper arms and associated hardware from a newer car to swap into our cars? I've seen the intermittent wiper swap article, but it didn't mention improving the arms or the actual contact they make to the windshield. This is one of the more annoying aspects of living with the car as an Oregonian, as I need to use them on a regular basis.

    Maybe mine are just old and tired, but it seems like there should be a way to improve them. Is just swapping out the blade arm/blade on a solid model like rain x good enough? Last time I did it I didn't swap the blade arm with it, just took the blade off and hung it in the arm clips because I didn't have the tools around me to swap the blade arm. Maybe I just went wrong there?
     
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  2. cyclonewill

    cyclonewill Member

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    I have mid 80s ranger wiper arms on my cars. They need shortened to fit, but it's pretty self explanatory when you compare them with stock. Drill out the rivet, shorten the arm, cut a groove for the spring, and rivet it back.
     
  3. Crusader

    Crusader Member

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    Just the arms upgraded, or did you use the Ranger motors too? Was it a big improvement?
     
  4. cyclonewill

    cyclonewill Member

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    Just the arms. I liked the locking tab, to hold the wipers off the windshield. I had a ranger in the back, worn out arms on my car (mustang got them first), and made them fit. They work fine, and I don't need any goofy adapter to make modern blades fit.
     
  5. Crazy Larry

    Crazy Larry Member

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    The stock wiper blades are 16-inch. I run a 18-inch on the driver side and a 17-inch on the passenger side, using the stock arms.
     
  6. MSmithPDX

    MSmithPDX Member

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    Dude, I put top of the line wipers on my stock arms no problem.

    I've run every brand and drive with zero visibility issues in the rain. You just have to do a little bit of work to get the stock ends to bare bayonets.

    Rain-X brand wipers contain a very awesome set of conversion pieces with their wipers. After putting it on you can put on any type of wiper you want.
     
  7. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    I had a set once that one side was very floppy. I replaced the spring from another wiper arm and it tightened it right up...:bouncy:
     
  8. Crusader

    Crusader Member

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    Okay I think I just need to swap out the whole blade arm unit. Thanks everyone!
     
  9. gwil81

    gwil81 Member

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    How? I have tried 3 different wiper blades and they dont fit. They are requiring all I have is a piece of metal with the ending in the blade pop on.
     
  10. stumanchu

    stumanchu Stuart

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    You guys are awesome. My car doesnt even get to crawl out from under its plastic sheet to know what the rain feels like.
     

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