58 Wiper linkage with electric motor

[akusler763]

Hey guys, I know I mentioned this in my build thread but wanted to add details. When grabbing parts on a 58, I took the wiper arm linkage and installed that in place of the cable set up. I then mounted an electric motor from the U-pull it yard to my firewall from the interior. The smaller the better for this, although I would avoid rear window motors from vans, SUV's, etc. as they often only have one speed and can have a very long stem. The reason you want a small motor is you will likely have to cut into and modify the defroster plenum. In my picture you may see that I shaped some sheet metal in a cylinder shape and I riveted it to the parts of the plenum I cut out. I then sealed everything with foil ducting tape and painted it black. Looks a bit ugly but can't be seen as it is under the dash and against the Firewall. I was able to modify the arm on the motor, putting in a pin for the 58 arms to rotate on. I will be wiring up a simple switch with only Hi-Low-Park that I bought on eBay for $20. Total cost for the setup will be under $60.

[abe_lugo]

Did you add rubber grommet or seal under the post? that gets water in there.  Otherwise looks like a neat trick!

[akusler763]

Did you add rubber grommet or seal under the post? that gets water in there.  Otherwise looks like a neat trick!

Yes, the motor I grabbed has a seal for the shaft that I will be using.

[RICH MUISE]

You sure kept it a lot simpler than I had to! Good thinking. I have to ask though.......is that a back and forth motor or roundy-round?  most newer cars use the roundy-round, but I just can't get it in my head how your two arms can both connect to the motor spindle.

never mind..............my brain is working better this morning, lol.

[akusler763]

You sure kept it a lot simpler than I had to! Good thinking. I have to ask though.......is that a back and forth motor or roundy-round?  most newer cars use the roundy-round, but I just can't get it in my head how your two arms can both connect to the motor spindle.

never mind..............my brain is working better this morning, lol.

I have to credit my father as he had the vision. I also had a hard time wrapping my mind around that as the 58 vacuum motor was back and forth. He told me to trust him and as soon as we started fabricating it made sense.

[RICH MUISE]

Well, as I said, I finally got my head wrapped around how both arms connected to the spindle, but unless you're not showing us something, I think one wiper is going to be going up while the other is going down. If that's the case, I can tell you how to fix that. You can do an easy visual by just attaching a "finger" of masking tape to the splined post.
Haha.......please let me know.....this was driving me nuts trying to picture it in my head while I was out for a drive today.