'36 Ford Cabriolet Heart Shaped Wiper Motors

[toddle321]

Hi Fellas,

I have a '36 Cabriolet that has an electric wiper motor installed, and I want to put heart shaped ones back on it. I've collected three of them, but they all have shafts that are different lengths. Several questions:

Can anyone tell me what the correct shaft length is for a Cabriolet?

Were these also used on roadsters? If so, I could use the shaft length on that too, I need one for my roadster ute.

Has anyone had luck rechroming and then rebuilding these? I called Ficken, and he said rechroming destroys them.

One of the motors has the on/off switch on the left (when installed), and the other two have the on/off switch on the right. Anyone know what each is used for?

As always, thanks for your help!

Todd

[Hamtown Al]

I suggest you send the pics to Fricken and seek his help. He helped me ID correct wiper for my pkp and fixed it PDQ when I sent it to him.
Good luck, Al

[source36]

Hey Todd, I think I can help you. When you visit, we have a cabriolet with the right wiper motor you can look at. I believe the roadster is longer. There were some other cars that used similar wiper motors, the devil is in the details. Regards--D. Yeomans CT

[FL&WVMIKE]

toddle123 . . . . . . . . . . . .
I have a 1935 Cabriolet with it's original w/s wiper motor. I am 99.9% sure that it is the same as a 1936 Cabriolet.
The shaft seems to be about 3" long. I think that the Roadster Ute would take a shorter shaft, as it does not have to go through a header, but only the w/s frame, itself.
I have enclosed a couple pictures for you.
Let me know if you have any more questions.
MIKE

[Dennis/Arkansas]

Todd, I don't know if the following info will help, I hope it does. According to the TRICO book a 1935-1936 V-8 Convertible uses a Trico # KSB-134, for both driver and passenger side. A 1935-1936 V-8 Open uses a Trico # KSB-307 for both driver and passenger side. I don't know the difference between an "Open" and a "Convertible". Good Luck, Dennis/Arkansas

[FL&WVMIKE]

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Dennis/Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . .
I think that the only difference in "OPEN" and a "CONVERTIBLE" w/s wipers, is the length of the shaft. On a CONVERTIBLE, the shaft has to go through the w/s frame AND a header. On an OPEN, roadster or phaeton, the shaft has to only go through the w/s frame.
Toddle123 can probably change parts around to make what he needs.
MIKE

[Dennis/Arkansas]

Thanking you Mike! I appreciate the tutorial on the difference between Open and Convertible. It certainly makes sense. All the Best, Dennis/Arkansas

Originally Posted by FL&WVMIKE

Dennis/Arkansas . . . . . . . . . . . .
I think that the only difference in "OPEN" and a "CONVERTIBLE" w/s wipers, is the length of the shaft. On a CONVERTIBLE, the shaft has to go through the w/s frame AND a header. On an OPEN, roadster or phaeton, the shaft has to only go through the w/s frame.
Toddle123 can probably change parts around to make what he needs.
MIKE

[keith oh]

If Fricken is correct and rechroming will ruin them, why not use the Powder coat chrome method? There should not be anything in powdercoating that would harm them.

[Terry,OH]

I had mine done by Kent Jaquith at Clean Sweep he had the motor rechromed, the ON/off should be on the left with the motor installed and the flat side down. The outer shaft (with the screw thread)on the 35 Cabriolet is 2 1/8" long 541 923-4319

[toddle321]

Thank you guys, I appreciate it. I'll let you know how the resto works out.

[FL&WVMIKE]

TERRY,OH .....................................
I see where you stated that the shaft was 2 1/8" long. I thought, "MAN, I must have read my ruler wrong !". Since my top was down, I decided to re-check. I still think that he will need a shaft about 3" long.
Now, my '35 is a very early model and there are some differences in the header, so it might depend on which one that you have.
MIKE

[Terry,OH]

Mike: The 2 1/8 " is the length of the tube around the shaft. The tube has the 5/16-32 thread for the special nut that holds the wiper assembly to the windshield frame. The shaft inside the tube is 2 5/8" long. both as measured from the die casting of the wiper body, just at the bottom of the tube. I believe your measuring to a different point on the wiper body from your photo. You would have to remove the wiper from the car to get to the base of the tube.
I LOVE to see photos of your car!

[FL&WVMIKE]

Terry,OH .................................
I believe that we are on the same page and have the same wiper. I was too lazy to remove my wiper to get an accurate measure, but was estimating. I just KNEW that the shaft had to be longer that 2 1/8".
If you watch the next "V8 TIMES", you should see some photos of my unrestored '35 Cabriolet. "SHADETREE" suggested that I send in some photos for the magazine, I did, and the editor liked them, as he was having trouble getting input for the 1935 year. This is the 75th anniversary of the 1935 models.
If you need any photos of anything in particular, just let me know.
MIKE

[toddle321]

I called Kent at Clean Sweep and I'm going to have him do the rebuilding. He said the correct shaft length is 2 1/16", so you guys were right on the money (or close enough) as usual. He prefers to use the customer's chrome plater which I can understand, it's hard to be responsible for something that is out of your control. The motor has to go up and back between Kent and the plater a few times in the process, so it will take some time, but should be worth it. I'll post pics of the final result. Thanks again for your help!

[danliveshere]

Can somebody please post contact details for Clean sweep, preferably an email for us outside of the USA. Dan.

[richard crow]

ficken is right recromeing can ruin it even if the wiper is working there not much help.squirt some trans oil in it work it back & forth clean it up there to expensive & hard to find to take a chance how offen are you going to drive it in the rain put rainx on the windsheld in case you get caught in the rain p.s i have painted mine with rustnolem crome paint & it looks great. also when i drive over 40 mph the blades don,t even touch the glass if i go on the road over 40 i take the blades off or elese they will blow off i am told it,s a comman proulbem unless you have orignal wiper arms try to find them

[toddle321]

Sorry, I don't have his email, his phone is below. Kent is a really nice guy, and he knows his stuff. My motors are at the Finishing Touch in Chicago being plated.

Kent Jaquith, 2633 SW Obsidian # 15, Redmond, Oregon (541) 923-4319
Clean-Sweep Windshield Wiper Motor Service, Sales and Rebuilding

[Terry,OH]

Clean sweep, call:1-541-923-4319 or mail: 2633 W. Obsidian Ave. #15
Redmon, OR 97756-7007
Most of the wiper rebuilders are not willing to spend the time necessary to replate the motor, it has to be sent out to be stripped and polished by the plater, then it is sent back to the rebuilder to be masked so chrome is only in the areas necessary for appearance, then sent to the plater for chrome, and finally returned to the rebuilder for assembly.

[Bruce/CT]

Hi,
What can you tell me about Finishing Touch Chromers in Chicago? I'm looking for an honest, reasonable quality chromer. I've had bad experiences in the past and have heard horror stories from others.
Thanks,
Bruce
[email protected]

[Kurt in NJ]

I have used http://frankfordplatinginc.com/ for some work, they did not plate the threads, polished where it should be, and parts that needed to fit together still fit.

When I asked about the wiper for my 36 they said some will dissapear in the plating solution, and that saving all the detail would cost$$, and that they do not take it apart, or put it together, I did not have them do my wiper because I found a NOS one with perfect plating at Hershey