Fritz: The "rope" type gasket is designed to swell up when it is soaked with oil. When the crankshaft lies on either the rope or neoprene gasket, it tends to flatten it out and then it will dry somewhat. When you start the motor after it has been sitting for extended periods (months), it can "polish" and glaze the dried rope gasket of the neoprene will not bounce back and then it will start to leak a little. With the rope type, this usually goes away after a few days of operation after it has been drenched in oil again and starts to swell up and close the gaps. Bottom line: oil spots are part of the mystique and kharma of owing old trucks. Even museum pieces leak...just look under them. I think you may be able to close any gaps (created when the crank was ground on the rebuild?) with rope better than with rubber since neoprene is cast to a size and the rope is intended to swell and fit.
On the wiper motor question: On the end of the wiper motor "on/off" arm, is a small rubber grommet with a bulbous end that holds it in the hole on the end of the arm. That bulb end is probably dry rotted and/or gone or the hole is elongated from being dried out. You can buy new rubber for the wiper from Carter and the usual suspects and I think you will find that replacing the grommets will cure the problem. Also make sure that the wiper switch transmission arm (the one that keeps falling out) is straight and properly aligned so as prevent it from tweaking and twisting out naturally when you turn it on and off. Also, you will find that RainX will eliminate the need for any wiper function at all!
