C1 Hybrids...windshield wipers or not?

[firstgear]

To those that have the C1 Hybrids, did you leave the factory windshield wipers in or did you remove them? Can you also post some pictures of the engine compartments?

Did a pretty good job this past weekend of power washing the inside of the engine compartment and wanted to see what everyone else did with theirs...particularly those that have the hybrids....


thanks, Herb

 

[richscorvettes]

Herb,

We replaced the wiper system with a unit from Corvette Central. It has an single cable push/pull setup and multiple speeds. We mounted the wiper motor behind the passenger side kick panel area which cleaned up that area of the firewall.

There are some pictures of the engine compartment on our web site but if you would like more just send me an e-mail and I'll try to send a picture of what you are looking for.

Rich Lagasse

 

[firstgear]

Herb,

We replaced the wiper system with a unit from Corvette Central. It has an single cable push/pull setup and multiple speeds. We mounted the wiper motor behind the passenger side kick panel area which cleaned up that area of the firewall.

There are some pictures of the engine compartment on our web site but if you would like more just send me an e-mail and I'll try to send a picture of what you are looking for.

Rich Lagasse

Rich, thanks for the comments....I could see on the web site that the wiper motor was gone. And I agree, that does clean it up a lot. But what I don't know is exactly where you mounted the unit that you put in the car and what unit from CC exaclty did you use. As I am in the process of getting the engine compartment cleaned out, I am wrestling with what should stay and what should go to the point that it won't ever be back, at least in that area again. Hence the wiper motor is one of those things that kind of pokes you in the eyes!

So what ever detail photos of the mounting, what unit was it that you bought, etc, would be helpful.

I know everyone says that you need to have a plan or the discouragement will be forthcoming and somehow the project will never get completed...I can surely see that....so I am trying to get my plan in my head of what I am going to do.

Also, if you have some other pictures, close ups of the engine compartment firewall area, routing of other wires and cables would be appreciated as well.

your comments and help is very much appreciated!

regards, Herb

 

[richscorvettes]

Herb,

The unit I used was part #651057 from Corvette Central. There may be other vendors offering the same unit.

The wiper motor can be mounted behind the passenger side kick panel. I don't have any pictures of it in place but there is plenty of room for it and the instructions are pretty clear.

The only installation issue I found is that the control switch is larger than the space available in the stock wiper switch location. I moved it to the center console below the radio and used the original wiper location in the dash pod for the radiator control switch.

Good idea to lay out a plan. It will really help in identifying the things you need to do and help keep track of where you are and what's left to be done. If you haven't seen it, you can get some project planning ideas from the article in the December issue of Corvette Fever.

Just send me an e-mail to: richsclassiccorvettes@cox.net and I'll attach a couple more pictures of the firewall in the reply.

Rich Lagasse

 

[IH2LOSE]

Herb I am installing the same system Rich is describing.John M gave me the lead on it.He is also using this system. I have not installed mine yet.


I let john Describe it and hopefully show us some pictures of it.

 

[vintagecorvette]

I installed the same kit in a car I had. I hated it. It is over priced and as mentioned the switch it too large. The quality was so so. I had troubles with one of the transmissions and Covette Central had no tech help and tried to pan me off on the wiper company. Overall it was a nightmare. I ended up making my own unit out of the parts. I am a patient guy and have built many differents cars, the ad made the kit sound like a dream. It looked like a great replacement for the factory setup, however I was extremely disappointed. Next time I plan to build my own. Less of a headache. Just my experience. oWEN

 

[bossvette]

what you are describing sounds a lot like the Lucas system in British cars of the 60's

 

[firstgear]

PArt of my question revolves around how many times is the car ever really going to be out in the rain.....sure it might catch you, but I am just wondering about doing away with the drive all together.....how many times have you used your wipers in your retrorod?

 

[wapaugh]

I too had planned to install the CC unit, and have recently said tata to my original motor & transmissions. I'm a little unnerved after hearing oWEN's testimonial. Perhaps you could shed some light on what needs to be done to make the unit better. Thanks in advance.

Wes

 

[vintagecorvette]

I personally would never build a car without wipers. Sure it does depend where you live, but I think that you are asking for trouble without them. Sh*t happens only once and once it does you can be in a mess. You may also have to worry about insurance, I have heard of companies voiding policies on cars that have such mods. They originally came with them, therefore they should still have them. I used to live in the SF bay area, it rains a ton there all season. I had the car out without the wipers and got stuck. It was not fun. Even once I installed the kit I got stuck. One of the wiper arms flew off the car. What a nightmare that was. I hope that gives you some food for thought. oWEN

 

[IH2LOSE]

PArt of my question revolves around how many times is the car ever really going to be out in the rain.....sure it might catch you, but I am just wondering about doing away with the drive all together.....how many times have you used your wipers in your retrorod?

Herb every one is different,but me personally would not have a car with out the wipers on it.First off it could not legally pass a saftey inspection witch as far as i know every state still has saftey inspections.

the system I have seems real simple You mount the new trasnmitions.(they come with all of the brakets) then you run this malable rod between the new transmitions and then to the motor. pretty simple.

 

[IH2LOSE]

I installed the same kit in a car I had. I hated it. It is over priced and as mentioned the switch it too large. The quality was so so. I had troubles with one of the transmissions and Covette Central had no tech help and tried to pan me off on the wiper company. Overall it was a nightmare. I ended up making my own unit out of the parts. I am a patient guy and have built many differents cars, the ad made the kit sound like a dream. It looked like a great replacement for the factory setup, however I was extremely disappointed. Next time I plan to build my own. Less of a headache. Just my experience. oWEN

oWEN I have the phone number for the company that builds these units for CC,There tec support is excellent I am sure CC did not want to put you in touch with the manufacturer for fear you would try and purchase from them directly in the future.the company who makes the wiper system also make a power window set up for our cars that goes inplace of the original rollup window regulator,if your still having problem Ill get you you there phone number

 

[vintagecorvette]

The Corvette Central system is actually built by http://www.specialtypowerwindows.com/flash/main.htm
The difference is that covertte central has 2 different mounts and the wiper bezels.

It is a cable system. It looks like a long pipe cleaner. You grease it up and run it through aluminum tube that you have to cut and flare to the length you choose. The kit comes with no mount for the motor, you have to make that up. The mounting of the transmissions is really poor and the part the the wiper arms mount to are really poor quality. You have to use your own wiper arms as well. I ended up getting wiper arm mounts, because I could not get the ones in the kit to stay tight, even with lock tight. They actually broke. I threw out the aluminum tube and used stronger coated steel tube. It flared better and was stronger. I made brackets to mount the transmissions like the originals, under the cowl. I used my mounts in conjunction with the ones in the kit. I made up a mount of the motor and bolted it behind the kick panel. My complaint was that when my original wipers were working well, they were better than the $500-$600 custom kit. It just felt like a waste of money to me. oWEN

 

[John Mcgraw]

I agree with Larry, buy directly from Specialty Power Window instead of CC! the system is a big improvement over the stock system. It can be a little tough to install, but it is worth it. I ground some clearance on my transmissions, and that made it a lot easier to install. You will notice that the transmissions are square and have a lot more material than is necessary to make them work. If you grind off the corners and some of the unused material off the tranmissions, they will be much easier to install. This is due to the fact that they sell the same basic transmission on every kit they sell no matter what car or year. The delay wiper switch will not fit in the original spot in the dash, but if you buy the 2 speed switch instead or the delay switch, it will fit fine. I also put mine behind the passenger side kickpanel, I think that this is the ideal place on C1 cars.

Regards, John McGraw

 

[vette rod]

We use wipers on our cars to make them as complete as possible. You can check out some engine picks at our site. It is important to keep it a clean look with out useing covers to hide stuff behind. This achieves a more detailed look.

www.pugesekmotorsports.com

 

[JohnZ]

what you are describing sounds a lot like the Lucas system in British cars of the 60's

Yup, same basic design as the Lucas system; I used Lucas systems from A-H Sprites on all the Cobras I built, and they worked reasonably well (of course, the wipers didn't get used very much). I did get caught in the rain in one of my Cobras for about 100 miles on the way to the Shelby Club National Meet in 1994, and the system didn't fail me then; not a confidence-inspiring design, especially with the "Father of Darkness" name on it.

 

[firstgear]

We use wipers on our cars to make them as complete as possible. You can check out some engine picks at our site. It is important to keep it a clean look with out useing covers to hide stuff behind. This achieves a more detailed look.

www.pugesekmotorsports.com

Maybe I missed it, but I checked out your site and couldn't see any pictures that showed me the engine compartments nor the windshield wipers and drive mechanism....what did I miss?

 

[WayneC]

I know this is probably a dumb question, since I'm not familiar with the C1 wiper system, nor have I restored a C1, but why is there a necessity for that complex $600 cable system? Is there stuff in the way that requires a cable setup be used? If one doesn't require originality, why, for instance, doesn't a system such as that used on C2 Vettes work? Or, something like the single-blade system used on Jaguar XJ40 sedans, or the self-contained cowl air vent grille assembly with an integrated motor and wipers like the Jag XJS used?

Again, I know it's probably a dumb question since I haven't spent any time at all looking at the issue, and I assume Chevy would not have made it so complex if it didn't need to be.

 

[vintagecorvette]

The original C1 system is constructed fron multiple exposed cable and wheels. It wire has a tendency to break or fray over time. The replacement we are talking about is a is a enclosed cabel that runs inside a tube. The wiper transmissions are gear driven.

 

[firstgear]

to Waynes point, you have to ask yourself why aren't they two motors that are synchronized that run without pulleys...just a gear driven unit that mounts right to the wiper attachment point.......does seem with technology, that for $600 you could find some drives that would be synchronized and do away with the pulleys.......hmmmm......maybe I will have to ask around....