Tri wiper blade length and placement

stephen low · #1 (**permalink**) 03-19-2006, 10:15 PM

G'day All

I am slowly working through all the old threads to hopefully avoid repeat questions however I have been beaten to the punch on this issue and need some quick advice.

Current cars now need three wipers for Vic rego. (no suprise) but in chasing donor parts I have been asked what wiper blade length I require. Can anybody advise me further?

Does the donor componentry play a part in deciding blade length or are they all similar and so it doesn't matter? I nominated either a marina or mini source for these parts, are these the same?

Whilst on the issue can anyone advise on the set out locations for the three
wheelboxes? I have seen one thread discussing twin wiper layouts but not three.

I would be grateful for any advice.

Regards

BJ's Snake · #2 (**permalink**) 03-20-2006, 01:44 AM

Blade length on my three wiper setup is 250mm.Can't give placement as car is in spray booth but a call to Don Pilling at Snake Bite would probably serve you well as he faxed a diagram with measurements down to me which has since been lost. I know I used a mini drive motor but bought new gearboxes and blades from Don.Just have to make sure the sweep angle is 100 degrees. This is stamped on the drive cog in the motor.
Hope this helps.
BJ

Tony Cram · #3 (**permalink**) 03-20-2006, 01:24 PM

Stephen,

There are (hmmm were??) plenty of threads on this topic. Blade length is normally 10" (250mm) some guys have run 11" blades. TRICO have a kit with adjustable wiper arm and connects to many blade types. Wiper angle can vary as windscreen angle varies. Be careful of this you may have to play around with the wiper cam to get the right blade sweep. From memory if your windscreen angle is around 55° a 105° wiper cam will work. I have a two blade setup but I built an adjustable cam to get the sweep right.

Don Pilling (Qld) has a diagram to set up both two blade and three blade setups with measurements, he also sells wiper kits (Reasonably expensive but they are new). If you want I can find the drawing, scan it and email for you. Send me a PM with your email.

H&H Spares (Jaguar) in Ringwood have Lucas wiper wheel boxes and cable wiper motors. I think the Marina set have the same set up. You may find the Mini set up has different wheel boxes (Number of teeth). You may want to get them to shop around for a good set. You want the 32 teeth wheel boxes as they match the cam angle in the wiper motor (ie cam will have 105° - 32T or similar)

Good luck. Try to get a look at someones car that has done all the work.

TC

400TT · #4 (**permalink**) 03-20-2006, 02:38 PM

We always thought you had to have 3 wipers as well, and built the previous Cobra with 3 wipers because everyone else was. But black Harrison was registered with 2 wipers thanks to OzVenom's design etc. This is in QLD though.

Wipers are tricky to source all the correct parts, but not impossible.

One thing I would recommend is getting them right, don't skimp and save a bucks. Because when you really need them, you really need them. Seen so many QLD Cobra's stuck travelling interstate in bucketing rain and having wipers that are not reliable or up to the task.

Don sells the complete Lucas 2-speed kit, it's all new and all set up. Comes with instructions, wiring diagram etc:
3 x Wiper Drive Bezel Kit
3 x Wiper Wheel Boxes
1 x Wiper Motor
1 x Mounting Pad & Strap
1 x Drive Cable
3 x Wheel Box Inner Spacer
1 x Bundy Nut
4 x Bundy Tube cut & flared to size
1 x Ferrule
1 x Multi Pin Plug

From there you buy wiper blades and then only need some form of wiper switch, the Lucas one is still available.

Leeroy · #5 (**permalink**) 03-22-2006, 11:58 AM

Stephen

do yourself a favour and aim to reg. without a windscreen as I did. I had fitted the screen & wipers etc. but removed them when it went to reg. This meant they are not considering many things to knock you back such as wipers operation, demisters which are mostly chrome which causes problems with those reg. guy's. That way you can select a late model 2 wiper setup which I wish I had done instead of 3 which looks ordinary in my book

Also I think the 3 wiper installation was the single hardest thing during my build.

Cheers Leeroy

stephen low · #6 (**permalink**) 03-22-2006, 12:12 PM

Thanks again guys

Craig

Am awaiting Don's price list CD as we speak, cheers

Leeroy

My engineer indicated to me on the question of chrome that this ADR requirement is no longer an issue. I particularly asked him about this as I want to run smith replica gauges with the chrome bezels.

I would guess he has had previous success's arguing previous cases for this anti glare issue for him to state this straight up. Anyway I'm in his hands for this.

Thanks

stephen low · #7 (**permalink**) 03-22-2006, 11:06 PM

Tony

Yes I will take you up on the emailed diagrams.

Home email address is low.benholm@optusnet.com.au

You can call me on 0400 934 027.

Cheers

Shelby400 · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2006, 01:43 PM

The 3 wiper Lucas system in my opinion was the most cumbersome inefficient thing to set up during my build. It still and probably never will work well.

If anybody knows of a decent alternative please please let me know.

Brett

boxhead · #9 (**permalink**) 03-24-2006, 01:38 PM

Use Rain-X

stephen low · #10 (**permalink**) 03-28-2006, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxhead

Use Rain-X

I'd expect a reply like that from a Territorian.

Do you have floaties on the car for when it really rains up there?

I'm having to work with "four-seasons-in-one-day" Melbourne here!!

But nice to note that it was the day after the Commonwealth had finished that we got our first rain event!!

Will work towards a 3 wiper system. Rainex was only good on my bike helmut when I had the bike!

Ciao