Wiper blade mystery....'66 Corvette

[Michael G.]

Re: Wiper blade mystery....'66 Corvette

Michael ,

You reply is confusing. Polished were used in '63 through '65 production and from my research carried over into early '66 production. "Dull" stainless wiper blades were not introduced as a rolling change well into '66 production. How would it be correct to have dull wiper blades/wiper arms on a September production vehicle?

[Michael H.]

Re: Wiper blade mystery....'66 Corvette

Michael ,

You reply is contridictory. ?

Not necessarily. I agree that it's possible the shinny blades were used at start of production but by late September, I would guess that the new Fed required holders made their way to the assy line.

The date of change to dull, in the AIM, was July 65, if I remember correctly, which would be enough time to change stock at St Louis.

I doubt we'll ever know the exact time of change on the line and I also doubt there are enough 66 cars left in the world with documented original wipers to make a decision on when they first appeared.

[Peter L.]

Re: Early '66 Corvette Wiper Blades

Michael - Your 66 Corvette would have come form the Factory with either 15" TRICO or 15" ANCO windshield wiper blades with the brushed, dull finish holders. The ANCO holders would have been the OE by ANCO blades (stamped under the bridge) like the 16" blades you have in your photos with the peaked shaped top. The TRICO holders on early 1966 cars would have been the 15" brushed finish flat topped holders stamper TRICO on both ends on the top; identical in configuration to the polished flat topped TRICO holders used on 1963 - 65 Corvettes and other GM passenger car.
Pete

[Michael G.]

Re: Wiper blade mystery....'66 Corvette

Peter,

Under closer examination I've determined my wiper arms are the brushed (dull finish). What initially confused me was the fact the blade was dull with the arm slightly less dull. I made the assumption I had the polished arm with a dull blade. After comparing the '66 arm with the arm of my '63 determined the '66 arm had indeed the "brushed finish". The Anco blade was just plainly duller the arm on the '66 making it look somewhat polished. Whoops!

[Peter L.]

Re: Wiper blade mystery....'66 Corvette

Michael - It is interesting that the 66 brushed (dull) arms do look somewhat bright if they have been on the car for 40 plus years and I find I have to double check; but when you compare them to a set of 65 and earlier polished arms there is no doubt that the 66 arms have a duller finish.

It's also interesting that I have found that the finish on the brushed ANCO holders changed from a "brighter" brushed finish in 1966 and early 1967 to a "duller" brushed finish in later 1967 thru 1969. I suspect that they might have changed the process in that timeframe.

Pete

[Michael G.]

Re: Wiper blade mystery....'66 Corvette

That's my point Pete. The incorrect 16" ANCO's on my car are extremely dull which makes the '66 blades appear somewhat polished......however up against '63-'65 arms the difference is readily observed.

AND I will be double checking. thanks.