63 wiper blade question

[Edward J.]

Was there a early and and late wiper blade for 63? and does anyone have the part no.s on the blades?

My car is a March car. Thanks, Ed

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

Was there a early and and late wiper blade for 63? and does anyone have the part no.s on the blades?

My car is a March car. Thanks, Ed

Edward,

I don't remember an early/late part number change for the wiper blade assy's for 63 but it's possible that there was.
I can dig out the part number from the 63 assembly manual but I don't think it will help you find any NOS blades. I don't think that number was ever available in service. I'm pretty sure it was an assembly line only part.

The part number in the 1963 Chevrolet parts book would have been available in 63 but that blade was slightly different than the blade used on Corvette. It was the service blade for passenger and Corvette. The full size passenger car blade had a different bend to conform to a windshield that had a deeper curve and that required a different shape for the blade.

I think the correct blade was originally used on Corvette, Nova and Corvair, and possibly other GM cars with a flatter windshield.

I'll dig out the books and make sure I know what I'm talking about. At my age, a person shouldn't rely on memory.

[David L.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

I have had many 1963 Trico wiper blades over the years. As best as I can remember most 1963 Trico blades did not have the "CAN 63" stamping on them. It is possible that "late" 1963 models had the "CAN 63" stamping. The 1964 and 1965 Trico wiper blades definitely had the "CAN 63" stamping.

The passenger side Trico wiper blades on 1963-1965 Chevrolets had much more curvature and do not fit properly on 63-65 Corvette windshields.

Pete from NM can give a better explanation.

Enclosed is a sketch of 63-65 Trico wiper blades that I drew about 20 years ago.

Dave

[Jack H.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

This assertion of Corvette wiper blades being different from Chevy passenger car blades comes with what proof?

For the period '63 to 8/14/64, the Corvette AIM part number for the blade was 383063. This called out a R/L pair of blades and this PN was never available in service as they stocked them individualy. Yes, that PN was NOT shared by Chevy passenger cars...

At the start of the '65 model year, the Corvette AIM part number for the blade changed to 3871085. That's the SAME part number that's called out in these AIM books:

Full Size Chevy, 65 & 66
Chevy II/Nova, 65 & 66
Chevelle/El Camino, 65 & 66

So, how does that jive with your assertion that the Chevy passenger cars had 'unique/different' wiper blades and there was a geometry difference between the RH and LH side?

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

This assertion of Corvette wiper blades being different from Chevy passenger car blades comes with what proof?

For the period '63 to 8/14/64, the Corvette AIM part number for the blade was 383063. This called out a R/L pair of blades and this PN was never available in service as they stocked them individualy. Yes, that PN was NOT shared by Chevy passenger cars...

At the start of the '65 model year, the Corvette AIM part number for the blade changed to 3871085. That's the SAME part number that's called out in these AIM books:

Full Size Chevy, 65 & 66
Chevy II/Nova, 65 & 66
Chevelle/El Camino, 65 & 66

So, how does that jive with your assertion that the Chevy passenger cars had 'unique/different' wiper blades and there was a geometry difference between the RH and LH side?

I think the most logical way to begin digging into this is to see what the part number for a blade is in a 1963 passenger car AIM. Does anyone have one?

The part number 3830603 in the 1963 Corvette AIM is for a single part. Not a pair of blades.

[David L.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

This assertion of Corvette wiper blades being different from Chevy passenger car blades comes with what proof?

So, how does that jive with your assertion that the Chevy passenger cars had 'unique/different' wiper blades and there was a geometry difference between the RH and LH side?

Jack,

I have a lot of physical evidence. In the 1980's I collected at least 100 to 150 63-65 Trico wiper blades mostly from cars in the junk yards. The 63-65 Chevrolet PASSENGER SIDE Trico wiper blades have more curvature. The 63-65 Chevrolet driver's side wiper blades are the same as the 63-65 Corvettes. Most 1963 Trico blades do NOT have the "CAN 63" stamping.

The 1963 Chevrolet AIM does NOT list a different part number for the passenger side Trico blade but I know it was different. I probably still have 20 or 30 of these blades that no one wants. I have no explanation.
The 1963 Chevrolet AIM lists the following wiper blades in Sect. 1, sheet 10.00:
3779741 (this is a 15 5/32" Anco wiper blade as per my 1963 Chevrolet parts catalog)
3837832 (as per the revision record on 9-20-62, "3837832 was 3819071 BLADE")
3819071 is a 14 7/8" Trico wiper blade as per my 1963 Chevrolet Parts Catalog (effective Oct. 1962).

Dave

[David L.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

I think the most logical way to begin digging into this is to see what the part number for a blade is in a 1963 passenger car AIM. Does anyone have one?

The part number 3830603 in the 1963 Corvette AIM is for a single part. Not a pair of blades.

63 Chevrolet AIM
3779741 (Anco)
3837832 (3837832 was 3819071 as of 9-20-62)(Trico blades)

3837832 is listed as the optional blade.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

63 Chevrolet AIM
3779741 (Anco)
3837832 (3837832 was 3819071 as of 9-20-62)(Trico blades)

3837832 is listed as the optional blade.

So, that more or less proves that the blades used for full size passenger car in 63 were NOT the same as those used for Corvette. (I knew they weren't but had no proof handy)

If someone has a 64 Chevelle or 63 Corvair AIM, I think we'll find that the blades ARE the same as Corvette.

[John D.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

This assertion of Corvette wiper blades being different from Chevy passenger car blades comes with what proof?

For the period '63 to 8/14/64, the Corvette AIM part number for the blade was 383063. This called out a R/L pair of blades and this PN was never available in service as they stocked them individualy. Yes, that PN was NOT shared by Chevy passenger cars...

At the start of the '65 model year, the Corvette AIM part number for the blade changed to 3871085. That's the SAMEservice part number that's called out in these AIM books:

Full Size Chevy, 65 & 66
Chevy II/Nova, 65 & 66
Chevelle/El Camino, 65 & 66

So, how does that jive with your assertion that the Chevy passenger cars had 'unique/different' wiper blades and there was a geometry difference between the RH and LH side?

Proof comes in both observation Jack and also what Bill Clupper and Howard Baker taught me years ago. I was an observer judge with Bill and Howard. They spotted a 63 with the passenger car blades from 20 ft and laughed a little. Said to me. The passenger car blade and Corvette had/have the same part number but no comparison between the two in shape or fit. JD

[David L.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

So, that more or less proves that the blades used for full size passenger car in 63 were NOT the same as those used for Corvette. (I knew they weren't but had no proof handy)

If someone has a 64 Chevelle or 63 Corvair AIM, I think we'll find that the blades ARE the same as Corvette.

Michael,

GM # 3837832 (from 63 Chev. AIM) and GM # 3830603 (from 63 Corvette AIM) do NOT appear in any of my 1963, 1964, and 1965 Chevrolet parts catalogs. I believe that they were assembly line part numbers for a set of two Trico wiper blades.

Here is my THEORY on 1963-1965 Corvette and 1963-1965 Chevrolet Trico wiper blade part numbers.
The 1963-1965 Corvettes used a pair of identical Trico wiper blades, GM # 3819071 for one blade and GM # 3830603 for a pair of identical 3819071 blades.
The 1963-1965 Chevrolets used two similar but slightly different Trico wiper blades. The driver's side wiper blade was GM # 3819071 and the passenger side was the one with more curvature. The part number for a set of these two slightly different blades was 3837832.

My theory is similar to the 1966 Corvette Anco wiper blade situation where GM # 3908118 is the assembly line part number for a pair of GM # 3888296 Anco blades. There is something about this in Noland Adam's 63-67 restoration book.


BTW, the 1964 Chevelle AIM lists 3779741 and 3837832 as part numbers for the wiper blades.
Also, I have found these same Trico wiper blades on 1963-1965 Corvairs and Chevy II's.

It should be noted that 1964-1965 and possible very late 1963 Trico wiper blades have the "CAN 63" stamping but most all 1963 models do not have the "CAN 63" stamping.

Dave

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

Michael,

GM # 3837832 (from 63 Chev. AIM) and GM # 3830603 (from 63 Corvette AIM) do NOT appear in any of my 1963, 1964, and 1965 Chevrolet parts catalogs. I believe that they were assembly line part numbers for a set of two Trico wiper blades.

Here is my THEORY on 1963-1965 Corvette and 1963-1965 Chevrolet Trico wiper blade part numbers.
The 1963-1965 Corvettes used a pair of identical Trico wiper blades, GM # 3819071 for one blade and GM # 3830603 for a pair of identical 3819071 blades.
The 1963-1965 Chevrolets used two similar but slightly different Trico wiper blades. The driver's side wiper blade was GM # 3819071 and the passenger side was the one with more curvature. The part number for a set of these two slightly different blades was 3837832.

My theory is similar to the 1966 Corvette Anco wiper blade situation where GM # 3908118 is the assembly line part number for a pair of GM # 3888296 Anco blades. There is something about this in Noland Adam's 63-67 restoration book.


BTW, the 1964 Chevelle AIM lists 3779741 and 3837832 as part numbers for the wiper blades.
Also, I have found these same Trico wiper blades on 1963-1965 Corvairs and Chevy II's.

It should be noted that 1964-1965 and possible very late 1963 Trico wiper blades have the "CAN 63" stamping but most all 1963 models do not have the "CAN 63" stamping.

Dave

Dave,

Typically, GM parts came into the assy plants under a part number that would indicate one part. Not a pair.
An example would be the w/s/washer nozzles. The AIM/assy line part number was xxxx042. The same xxxx042 number was used for service and when that number was ordered at a dealer, only one nozzle would be shipped.

I'm not sure why the 3830603 Corvette blade assy was not available in service but I can only guess that the passenger car blade was used to service all models instead of several different blades.

Pretty sure the blade on 63 Corvairs is the exact same part and number as 63-64 Corvette.

My point is, the blade assy from a 63-64 full size pass car is not the samne as Corvette. Very obvious difference. As Chefart (DeGregory) mentioned, you can see the difference from 20 feet away.

Here's a good picture of the two different designs. One full size chev and the other Corvette. (and Corvair etc)

[David L.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

To help confuse the issue even more pictured below are two almost identical 15" Trico wiper blade holders that do NOT have the "CAN 63" stamping.

The one on the top is GM # 3779740 used on 61 Chevrolets. This blade used a refill with "rubber stoppers" at the ends.

The one on the bottom is GM # 3819071 used on 1963 Corvettes and the driver's side of 1962 & 1963 Chevrolets. The ONLY difference between them is at the top end. The 3819071 has a 1/8" by 1/16" hole with a pushed in tab (shown in the 4th photo). This blade use the special metal "U" clip on the bottom end to hold in the rubber refill with the "dots" (or "bumps").

[David L.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

Michael,

I have to disagree with you. The 1963 Chevrolet driver's side Trico wiper blade and the 1963 Corvette Trico wiper blades are exactly the same. The 1963 Chevrolet passenger side Trico wiper blade is the one with more curvature.

Do you have a photo comparing an original 63 Corvette Trico wiper blade and an original 63 Chevrolet driver's side wiper blade? I say that they are identical.

The 1963 Chevrolet Trico wiper blade in your photo is the passenger side wiper blade NOT the drivers side wiper blade.

I still think my theory about pairs of wiper blades may be valid. As started in Noland Adam's book on page 322: "The 1966 blades were shown in the AIM as part number 3908118. This was a number assigned to two identical blades, part number 3888296, sold together in the same package".

GM # 3908118 is NOT in any of my vintage Chevrolet parts catalog or in Chevrolet or GM part history from 1961 to 1990.

The 1964 & 1965 Corvette Trico wiper blades are stamped "CAN 63".

Dave

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

Michael,

I have to disagree with you. The 1963 Chevrolet driver's side Trico wiper blade and the 1963 Corvette Trico wiper blades are exactly the same. The 1963 Chevrolet passenger side Trico wiper blade is the one with more curvature.

Do you have a photo comparing an original 63 Corvette Trico wiper blade and an original 63 Chevrolet driver's side wiper blade? I say that they are identical.

The 1963 Chevrolet Trico wiper blade in your photo is the passenger side wiper blade NOT the drivers side wiper blade.

I still think my theory about pairs of wiper blades may be valid. As started in Noland Adam's book on page 322: "The 1966 blades were shown in the AIM as part number 3908118. This was a number assigned to two identical blades, part number 3888296, sold together in the same package".

GM # 3908118 is NOT in any of my vintage Chevrolet parts catalog or in Chevrolet or GM part history from 1961 to 1990.

The 1964 & 1965 Corvette Trico wiper blades are stamped "CAN 63".

Dave

I think we're way past what my original statement was about. And I still say the 3830603 blade for Corvette was different than full size passenger cars, unless the pass car had one Corvette blade on the left. If so, why wasn't this shown in the pass car AIM?

I don't know if a correct 63-64 Corvette Trico blade was ever available from GM service. I think it was assembly line only.
The main thought was that most full size 63-64 passenger car blades are not the same, or correct for 63 Corvette.


Not to stray further from the original topic, but, I think Noland has it wrong. It sounds like he's saying that the 3888296 blade would have been 3908118 as a set on the assy line.
The 66 AIM clearly shows that the 3888296 was the part number/blade used until it was replaced by the 3908118 on AIM date 26 April 66.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 wiper blade question

Michael,


I still think my theory about pairs of wiper blades may be valid. As started in Noland Adam's book on page 322: "The 1966 blades were shown in the AIM as part number 3908118. This was a number assigned to two identical blades, part number 3888296, sold together in the same package".


Dave

Dave,

Sorry it took so long to get back on this. Finally dug out the page in the 66 AIM that shows the wiper blades.
As mentioned, the Noland Adams book states that the 3908118 wiper blade was actually a part number for a pair of 3888296 blades.
That's incorrect.

If you look at the revision box on the bottom of the AIM sheet, you will see that the 3888296 was the production blade used from around start of production to April 1966. It was replaced by the 3908118 at that time.

I'm not sure but I think the 3888296 was a Trico blade and the 3908118 was an Anco.