Does anyone have the original part # for the wiper switch on a 59 Apache with the electric two speed windshield wiper motor? It’s a two prong switch, I’ve searched high and low in the Assembly and Parts books with no luck. Thanks in advance!
I don't have a part # but, in 20 years of owning my 59 Suburban, I never was able to fine a new one. I think I finally bought one for a 60's Chevy, it had an extra terminal on the back for the washers, and requires a bigger hole in the dash but the wiper konb is the same (as long as yours has the hole in it for the washer button). I drilled out the original nut (wanted to used it as a washer) and bought a couple of 1/2-28 jamb nuts off Ebay. That worked great and I kicked myself for waiting so long to do it.
I think this is one like what I bought. https://www.americanclassic.com/1964-66-Wiper-Switch-Two-Speed-W_-Washer/productinfo/67%2D648/
Newport Engineering makes reproduction/replacement electric wiper kits for the TF trucks. They are available from many vendors. They use a two speed rotary switch that fits the dash. You might be able to buy a replacement switch from them. I bet that it would do the trick for you.
If you don't like the way the Newport knob looks, you can replace it with a stock knob.
"When we tug a single thing in nature, we find it attached to the rest of the world" ~ John Muir "When we tug a single thing on an old truck, we find it falls off" ~ me Some TF series details & TF heater pics
Agree with Matt. A more "original" looking knob from some other component would be nice. (lighter, radio, etc.) I found a post where Bill and I (and others) were discussing this. Bill posted the pics there also. I have had TF's with the cable operated electric wiper which operates a slider switch on the wiper motor. It is very much like the vacuum wiper system. I think the agreement is that this cable deal was used on early electric wipers. There was a transition. Maybe to use-up parts. I also think that the note "not for use with original electric motor" may mean that the early cable controlled switch can not be wired to a dash switch or their switch won't play with the latter wiper relay. I have emailed them.
the original switch for the 58/59 only has 2 lugs on it (as flxible shows above), on low, one of them supplies ground, on high, both of them do (or I have that backwards, don't remember offhand). The 55-57 electric are one speed if I recall, and use a cable type switch on the dash much like the vacuum switch. It controls a switch on the wiper motor itself. 58-59 2-speed elec motor is for those 2 years only and the switch is for those 2 years only. I wanted a switch that both the knob and the bezel/nut looked original (the aftermarket ones do not). That is why I went with the one for the newer Chevy truck like I posted above. It works with the 58-59 motor, you just need to get a new nut for it and drill out your original washer/nut. Once installed, it looks like the original, the knob will cover the new nut you put on and you can either hook up washers or if you don't need them and don't want the button sticking out the middle of your knob, you can cut it off the front of the switch.
