Winshield washer valve part # question

[Jeffrey S.]

I have 2 windshield washer valve repair kits with 2 different part numbers and need some information about them. One is #4914356 and it is listed as '63-67 and 69-74 service replacement in the 1982 Parts and Illustration Catalog although it is listed as "N.L.". It has horizontal ports which are not the configuration of the original one on my '69. The other is #4914357 which is not listed in the calalog but has vertical ports that are exactly like my original. The internals are, I'm sure, exactly the same. The question is was the 357 used only for '68 and maybe early '69 (my '69 is early) and in service only for a short period of time until a horizontal design was used after the 5 port was discontinued from production and a 3 port horizontal design used?
Any input would be appreciated.
Jeff #13182

[Joe L.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Jeff-----

Your 69 might have a windshield washer pump valve body with "vertical" ports on it now, but it did not always have such ports. If, by some chance it did originally have such a configuration, then it's a factory anomoly.

Your 69 originally used valve assembly GM #4914356 with the 3 "horizontal" nipples (ports) which was "off-white" plastic. The GM #4914357 is a SERVICE replacement part for many Corvettes, including your 69. This particular valve body was used in PRODUCTION for many applications in the 60s and 70s, but not for your 69.

The "N.L." in the parts catalog refers to the fact that there is "no list price" published for this item. Usually, this refers to high volume SERVICE parts which are sold very competitively, so GM doesn't publish a list price for them.

[Paul L.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Joe is the guru of originality so please go with his advice. But just for your information I picked up a #4914357 kit at a GM dealer about one month ago (see pic). It was $13.90CDN or about $10.00US. It is black of course so may not suit your needs.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Joe
Thanks for your quick response. I am a little confused, however. The service replacement listed in the GM catalog is the 356 part number with the horizontal ports. The 357 is not listed at all. The picture in the A.I.M. shows the vertical ports. Also, in the Dobbins book, all the '68 and '69 examples are vertical and on page 12-46 of the Chassis Service Manual, Fig 82 shows vertical ports. Thanks again for your help!
Jeff

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Paul:
Thanks for the great picture. The 4914357's that I have are the white plastic as original.
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Jeff-----

I think that the problem here may be one of terminology. By "horizontal", I assumed that you were referring to ports which were horizontal with respect to the plane of the valve assembly. By "vertical", I assumed that you were talking about ports which are PERPENDICULAR to the plane of the valve assembly or, stated another way, ports which come "straight out" from the cover assembly. You may have been using terminolgy based upon the orientation of the ports with respect to "horizontal" and "vertical" as-installed in the car. If so, this is not standard terminolgy for decribing components and will create confusion.

In any event, the "horizontal" ports (or those ports that are horizontal with respect to the cover of the valve assembly and which appear to come out of the side of the cover) are the original configuration that I was referring to. This is the configuration shown in Paul's picture. It's also the configuration shown in the AIM and Dobbin's book, both of which I just checked.

The GM #4914356 was the 1969 SERVICE replacement part. However, I did not check examples of both the 4914536 and 4914357 which I have in my collection [none for sale]. It may well be that the 4914536 was an incorrect replacement part, even though it was the 1969 catalogued SERVICE part. The 4914357 replaced the 4914356 for SERVICE. However, it was a part which once co-existed with the 4914356.

In any event, the white valve cover assembly with the "horizontal" ports (by MY definition, is what's correct for a 69 regardless of what part number that it is.

[Paul L.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Jeff,
I was at a Canadian Tire store today and the white kit is $9.95CDN: about $7.50US. I am not trying to set the cat amongst the pigeons but that kit on the shelf struck me as there is much debate of white vrs. black. I can pick it up and send it off to you if you wish.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Joe
Thanks again for the information. The misunderstanding was entirely my fault and I appologise. Your exlanation is exactly what I thought- the 356 was service replacement that was not like the original. I remember replacing the the valve many years ago and re-using the original port section of the valve but replacing the guts. That's why the port section is so yellow and the second section is so white in comparison. The 356 port section was in the 356 box still brand new.
Thanks again for your persistance.
Jeff

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Paul:
Thanks for your offer but as a matter of fact I was at a swap meet yesterday and purchased a case of old Delco parts and found that I had purchased a quantity of these valve kits. I was just confused as to which were the replacements and which were like the originals.
Jeff

[Joe L.]

Re: Winshield washer valve part # question

Paul-----

Original configuration or near original configuration washer pump valve kits have been available in the aftermarket for a number of years. They can usually be found in the Dorman or HELP! parts section of most of the national chains here in the US. I've seen both the "vertical" and "horizontal" style ports. The aftermarket kits have been white plastic for years, while GM switched to black many years ago.

I am speaking of the 3 port kits. The 5 port kits were never available in the aftermarket as far as I know. They had VERY limited application and that's not the kind of thing that the automotive aftermarket cares about catering to.

[Jack H.]

White vs. Black

We tend to toss these color descriptions around loosely.... Parts from the period ('65 through early '70 era), I believe should be correctly termed 'off white'. My hunch is these were made from Delron (a form of self lubricating plastic) that's notorious for changing color with exposure to elevated temperature and/or UV radiation (hence the 'off-white' turns yellow brown).

The most common form of functional replacement nozzle assy's today appear to be a form of nylon and are stark raving SNOW white in color (as well as black) vs. the original off-white/beige. Expect judges to take appropriate concours deductions for the snow-white material vs. that of a real McCoy off-white....