Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

[Douglas C.]

My Jan. 25, 1969 wiper door actuator looks original (it's the long barrel shape one), finish worn, but it does work.

So, advice needed:

1. Where do I find the date / part #?
2. Who does refinishing?
3. Works o/k, but is it a good idea to rebuild or leave well enough alone?
4. Best way to remove it and not damage anything.

Any other suggestions, etc. appreciated.

Thanks. Doug

[Bob D.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Douglas

If you have a 1969 actuator that is working properly, I would leave it alone . They can be very finnicky. To answer your other questions: I do not recall ever seeing a date or part number on the '69 wiper actuators. I've seen a fair number of originals, and have not seen either, but that does not mean they did not exist. There may be others with more experience than me who may know. Who does refinishing: I restore actuators, but to refinish one it must be disassembled in order to be replated, otherwise the inside of the actuator will become rough and will not hold vacuum and destroy the seal. If refinishing, then it is a good idea to renew the internal seal at the same time as the actuator is disssembled. To remove I would soak the jam nut and adjusting nut with penetrating oil which are located under the rubber bellows by the fire wall first. Soak the two small bolts on either side of the mounting bracket with penetrating oil. Remove the small mounting bolts, then unscrew the adjusting nut while holding the jam nut with a wrench. Be careful not to break the shaft.

Could you answer question for me? On the rear of the actuator where the shaft is, there is metal collar that the bellows covers--is there a small screw hole or screw there? IF you have one would you mind very much giving me the last 5 numbers of your VIN? I m making a survey of those. Thanks.

Bob

[Douglas C.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Douglas

If you have a 1969 actuator that is working properly, I would leave it alone . They can be very finnicky. To answer your other questions: I do not recall ever seeing a date or part number on the '69 wiper actuators. I've seen a fair number of originals, and have not seen either, but that does not mean they did not exist. There may be others with more experience than me who may know. Who does refinishing: I restore actuators, but to refinish one it must be disassembled in order to be replated, otherwise the inside of the actuator will become rough and will not hold vacuum and destroy the seal. If refinishing, then it is a good idea to renew the internal seal at the same time as the actuator is disssembled. To remove I would soak the jam nut and adjusting nut with penetrating oil which are located under the rubber bellows by the fire wall first. Soak the two small bolts on either side of the mounting bracket with penetrating oil. Remove the small mounting bolts, then unscrew the adjusting nut while holding the jam nut with a wrench. Be careful not to break the shaft.

Could you answer question for me? On the rear of the actuator where the shaft is, there is metal collar that the bellows covers--is there a small screw hole or screw there? IF you have one would you mind very much giving me the last 5 numbers of your VIN? I m making a survey of those. Thanks.

Bob

Thanks Bob, I'll see if someone answers about date codes, original, etc. If original I'll contact you to refinish mine. I'll disassemble and replace the seal and I guess just send you the metal tank. I'm at work but will check on your question tonight and respond.

Thanks again. Doug

[Terry M.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

I have been judging these things since 1985, and looking at them for a lot longer. I too have never seen a part number of date code on them. If you find the same please let us all know.

PS: You might want to consult with Bob before you take the actuator apart. While I have never tried it, I believe there are techniques and tools not available to all of us that are necessary for the task. Removing from the car is one thing, but disassembling the actuator is another.

[Douglas C.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

I have been judging these things since 1985, and looking at them for a lot longer. I too have never seen a part number of date code on them. If you find the same please let us all know.

PS: You might want to consult with Bob before you take the actuator apart. While I have never tried it, I believe there are techniques and tools not available to all of us that are necessary for the task. Removing from the car is one thing, but disassembling the actuator is another.

Thanks Terry. I guess the question now is do I restore the original (I think it is) or just buy a new one?

Tks. Doug

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Bob,
My early '69 has the holes for the screws in both the firewall bracket and the actuator. The serial number is 5854. The build date is late Oct. '68.

Doug,
If you have an original '69 actuator, the vacuum tubes in front and behind are a smaller diameter than repros or later ones.
Jeff

[Terry M.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Thanks Terry. I guess the question now is do I restore the original (I think it is) or just buy a new one?

Tks. Doug

Doug,

Sit down and think about what your car is and what you want it to be. Take some time to think about your goals and what you have.

If it is already restored, or you want to restore it -- a restored original piece is appropriate.

If the car is mostly original then leave it alone. In almost every case the new restoration item is somehow different than the original and will result in deductions in judging.

If on the other hand, you do not intend to have your car judged, and never think you will change your mind, do what is least expensive and most functional.

[Jack C.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

I believe I have the original one on my 68 which does not have a pn# or date stamp. Somewhere I recall, that the earlier Dobbins book had a picture with a ink stamped date code and if I'm not mistaken, Paragon had available reproduction cannisters with your choice of a date code. This was quite some time ago.

[Douglas C.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Doug,

Sit down and think about what your car is and what you want it to be. Take some time to think about your goals and what you have.

If it is already restored, or you want to restore it -- a restored original piece is appropriate.

If the car is mostly original then leave it alone. In almost every case the new restoration item is somehow different than the original and will result in deductions in judging.

If on the other hand, you do not intend to have your car judged, and never think you will change your mind, do what is least expensive and most functional.

Well, I'm a strange one I guess, as I will drive the car a lot as I have the time, even take some trips like it was back to 1969. But, it is a 69 L-68 convertible, 4 speed, PS, PB, restored, unhit original body & not even a stress crack, tank sticker, the only thing not original as far as I can see is the exhaust manifolds and a windshield replacement, so a pretty nice car I think. I plan on having it judged, curious how it will score. So, I'll probably have the actuator restored if it is original. Jeff in post # 6 indicated originals had smaller vac. tubes than repos or later ones. My car was built Jan. 25, 1969.

Is there a specific indication that would confirm the actuator as original?

Thanks again, Doug

[Terry M.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Well, I'm a strange one I guess, as I will drive the car a lot as I have the time, even take some trips like it was back to 1969. But, it is a 69 L-68 convertible, 4 speed, PS, PB, restored, unhit original body & not even a stress crack, tank sticker, the only thing not original as far as I can see is the exhaust manifolds and a windshield replacement, so a pretty nice car I think. I plan on having it judged, curious how it will score. So, I'll probably have the actuator restored if it is original. Jeff in post # 6 indicated originals had smaller vac. tubes than repos or later ones. My car was built Jan. 25, 1969.

Is there a specific indication that would confirm the actuator as original?

Thanks again, Doug

Beyond Jeff's comments one can only assess whether the condition of the actuator (or any other part) is consistent with the rest of the car. Since your car is restored (BTW: It can not be restored and original at the same time -- at least no by my definition of the terms) one can not rely on the condition to tell you much. So the short answer is: Beyond Jeff's comments -- no.

[Douglas C.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Beyond Jeff's comments one can only assess whether the condition of the actuator (or any other part) is consistent with the rest of the car. Since your car is restored (BTW: It can not be restored and original at the same time -- at least no by my definition of the terms) one can not rely on the condition to tell you much. So the short answer is: Beyond Jeff's comments -- no.

Thanks Terry. You'll have to bear with me at times, I'm from Jersey, so not the shaprest tool in the tool box. I meant to indicate original meaning dated components born with the car, and restored meaning those original components reconditioned to original appearance.

Tks. Doug

[Terry M.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Thanks Terry. You'll have to bear with me at times, I'm from Jersey, so not the shaprest tool in the tool box. I meant to indicate original meaning dated components born with the car, and restored meaning those original components reconditioned to original appearance.

Tks. Doug

I knew what you meant, I just wanted to point out that is not the definition everyone subscribes to. And I wanted to make clear what I meant.

[Terry B.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Doug,

Caledonia Classics in Michigan (888-245-5224) repaired my original '68 wiper door actuator about 7 years ago. They did an outstanding job with it too. As Jack mentioned earlier, the actuator was dated with an ink stamp, month, day and year.

Terry

[Douglas C.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Doug,

Caledonia Classics in Michigan (888-245-5224) repaired my original '68 wiper door actuator about 7 years ago. They did an outstanding job with it too. As Jack mentioned earlier, the actuator was dated with an ink stamp, month, day and year.

Terry

Thanks Terry, I'll look into that.

Doug

[Douglas C.]

Re: Early 69 wiper door actuator, date location?

Douglas

If you have a 1969 actuator that is working properly, I would leave it alone . They can be very finnicky. To answer your other questions: I do not recall ever seeing a date or part number on the '69 wiper actuators. I've seen a fair number of originals, and have not seen either, but that does not mean they did not exist. There may be others with more experience than me who may know. Who does refinishing: I restore actuators, but to refinish one it must be disassembled in order to be replated, otherwise the inside of the actuator will become rough and will not hold vacuum and destroy the seal. If refinishing, then it is a good idea to renew the internal seal at the same time as the actuator is disssembled. To remove I would soak the jam nut and adjusting nut with penetrating oil which are located under the rubber bellows by the fire wall first. Soak the two small bolts on either side of the mounting bracket with penetrating oil. Remove the small mounting bolts, then unscrew the adjusting nut while holding the jam nut with a wrench. Be careful not to break the shaft.

Could you answer question for me? On the rear of the actuator where the shaft is, there is metal collar that the bellows covers--is there a small screw hole or screw there? IF you have one would you mind very much giving me the last 5 numbers of your VIN? I m making a survey of those. Thanks.

Bob

O/k Bob, as you requested. My car, # 14258, build date Jan. 25, 1969, there is a Phillips head screw on top of the metal collar (under the bellows cover) at the rear of the actuator. There is a matching metal collar / Phillips screw coming out of the firewall under the other end of the rubber bellows.

Doug