Windshield Wipers - which side?

[GlynMeek]

If you look through the 'gallery' in the website, it appears that most of the Cobras have the wipers 'parked' on the passenger's side, although some do 'park' on the driver's side. It's probably a 60-40 split but I got fed up looking after about 10 cars...

Mine work fine, but are 'parked' on the passenger side. Looking at the windshield from the front, when you switch on the wipers, the initial rotation of mine is to the right, thus necessitating the "passenger side park". I am 99% certain this is an electrical wiring issue of some kind where I need to change so that the initial 'rotation' is to the left.

Not that I really give a rats as I am ONLY installing the wipers to pass inspection, but...

a) Does it REALLY matter which side they are 'parked'
b) How do you get them to park on the driver's side, which gives you the better visibility? Is it some polarity change in the wiring, as I have mine wired the way the instructions specify....(at least I think I do, but with Lucas electrics, who knows?).

[JGC]

I'd really like to see some feedback. I have pictures of original Cobras that seem all to park to the passenger side. I have an SPF and they park to the 'wrong side'. Love to hear the best way to get them to park on the passenger side.

JGC

[1985 CCX]

This question has been a topic for discussion before. I have many pictures of CSX2000 and CSX3000 cars and have found a majority will rest to the passenger side. I found this true on all the cars I have witnessed first hand as well. It is known that OEM 60's CSX cars have the rest position to the passenger side. I would say that the others might be the results of restoration variations or lack of parts which precipitated the drivers side rest position. Example: CSX3301 rests on the drivers side. OEM?

Never base OEM original anything off any Replica. Even CSX4000 cars have differences.

In reality it will take a trained I to note that difference anyway and you will only use them on rare occasions.

Jeff

[strictlypersonl]

The original wipers parked on the passenger's side. If you are using a Lucas system, this page should help.

Frankly, if the wipers are currently in the way of your vision, there's something else wrong. Are the arms bent so that the blades are parallel to the body when parked?

[Slick61]

I raised this same issue to several people when looking at replicas at the Knott's Berry Farm show. Most that I saw were parked toward the driver's side, which seemed odd to me as it's an obstruction to the driver's line of sight. But whatever. Doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason to it.

[strictlypersonl]

If the arms park on the incorrect side, either the wheelboxes are upside down or the parking cam is reversed from where it should be (or the wiper motor is mounted on the "wrong" side.

[RallySnake]

Glyn,

I'm glad you brought this up. When I built my car, I used a lever system from a Fiat 850 Spyder. The lever system only gives a 90 degree sweep which is pathetic. I have collected all the parts to convert to the Lucas cable drive system. The modification above is excellent! I wanted a larger sweep to cover more of the windshield (than the stock Lucas system provides) and this shows how to do it. You need about 160 degree sweep.

Now, as far as the wiper reducing visablity, I don't get it. From my normal seating position with the wiper arm parked at the bottom of the windshield, it only blocks the view of the hood. The wiper arms should have a bend in them to park the blade parallel to the bottom of the frame. If they don't, put them in a vice and bend them (you may have to heat with a torch).

I am planning to convert the sweep to start on the driver's side instead of the passenger side for a very good reason. It will wipe my side of the glass earlier. If the wiper starts on the passenger side (as mine does), when you're suddenly hit with a splash of water, you are blind until the wiper gets all the way across the sweep. Believe me, with well over 100,000 miles driving my car through all kinds of weather, I've been there and done that.

Paul

[BigRed427]

GlyMeek
You are correct in the 60's Cobras wipers did all start out w/the wipers parked on the passenger side. This is one of the ways to tell replica from real.

However, as noted earlier in the page some of the CSX4000 park on the driver's side.

[GlynMeek]

Thanks for all the input. What I meant by my comment about 'visibility' is that, given the "less than 160 degree arc" of the wiper blade, having it start on the passenger side doesn't sweep all of the driver's side of the windshield. Having it start on the driver's side would produce better visibility with this restricted sweep arc, but I DO agree that having the wipers parked on the passenger side getsthe wipers out of the way for the 99.9% of the time "dry driving". I'll do some more research about increasing the sweep arc and if I can fix that, then the problem disappears I guess. The reference article from StrictlyPersonl looks perfect...thanks.

Regards

Glyn

[JustOne]

On the outside of the cockpit

[kris-kincaid]

When I worked at Shelby, they decided the arms should all park on the left side. We would take apart the motors and move the stops, then bend the arms so everything lines up. I don't know if HST does this, but I bet they do too.

On my own car, I'm gonna make 'em park on the right side side like an original.

[RallySnake]

Hi Kris,

Great to hear from you. From your comment, I guess you're not working at Shelby anymore? Can you elaborate on the changes there? You were a GREAT representative of the company. Who was lucky enough to snag you for their company?

Paul

[CHANMADD]

IMHO I believe that you will get the most efficient wiping if the arms park on the side opposite to the driver. Left hand drive..park to right. The wiper on the driver side will wipe more of the screen in front of the driver that way.This is the function of the wipers? I actually installed three wipers on my car to get more of a complete wipe.They work great(when they work)

[imagine2frolic]

Because the car started out as a right hand drive. Is that the reason the wipers are mostly seen on the incorrect side of the car? Everybody knows the English drive on the wrong side of the road......LOL