The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk wiper arms and blades

I've had my truck almost 24 years now.It is a 1951 chevy 3100. I've been looking at the chrome wiper arms the vendors sell and decided to purchase a set of them.So off to the local vendor i go,i'm on a mission.The parts counter guy brings them out,automatically i knew they were different from mine.He explained that i had the wrong ones on my truck.It appears to me,that i have 1954 blade holders "anco",but not sure about the arms,they looked different than the 1951 arms that he showed me.I know i don't have 1954 arms because they would hit the windshield divider bar,being "too long". I took some pictures and hope you bolters can help with my delima.Click on the links to see the pictures.

Thanks,Tim

my 1951 chevy wiper pic # 1
http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/1936/wiperspic1ii8.jpg

my 1951 chevy wiper pic #2
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3870/wiperspic2wl8.jpg

my 1951 chevy wiper pic #3
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/1605/wiperspic3jz3.jpg

my 1951 chevy wiper pic #6
http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/4544/wiperspic6kq0.jpg

my 1951 chevy wiper pic#7
http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/3219/wiperspic7hw4.jpg

When it rains, I just allow my waggy dog to ride on the hood. I've saved a bundle on wiper blades this way!

over the years blades, arms and stuff has change from original. if the splines fit and the arm is the right length, and the whole bunch fit the blades you like, it is as original or as close as we can hope.

Well, the original blades should look more like something that Fred Flintstone would have on his truck. Yours look more modern. In a pinch, I have actually substituted Bosch blades made for early VW Bug on my truck. Really!

Wiper blades with the 4-point "independent suspension" is what you would normally find on a curved windshield. Mine (1952) are simpler, and rigid (flat). Also, they just hook into the wiper arms, while yours seem to be riveted. I would seem to me that yours are indeed too new.

I had a 1951 parts truck years ago and it had the same setup on it"I still have them".They were probably a replacement that the auto part stores sold.I like them more than the original one.I was just curious if they're a aftermarket replacement ?

I believe the original arms and blades for these trucks are pretty easy to spot because they are really light weight items due to the vacuum wiper system. They are out there from the vendors. Very light skinny arms connecting to the center of rigid light blades. They almost appear loose at the connecting as they designed to flop over from side to side. Like littlebuddie and polarcat said they are kinda primitive looking. Most have been replaced over the years to more modern arms and blades and is one reason folks complain that their vacuum systems don't work worth a darn.

nifty 50,i've been thinking about your comments on the vacumn motors.It makes since,but i think electric is far superior.

Electric is stronger but you want original, what Nifty 50 says is true.

Classic Parts of America (Chevy Duty) and Jim Carter (and others) sell these parts. If anything in/on our old trucks have been changed over the years, wiper blades and arms are at the top of the list (after oil).

1947-53 blade (10")
1947-53 left wiper arm (the left and right arms are supposedly different)
1954 blade (10" ??)
1954 left arm (the left and right arms are supposedly different)

Jim Carter\'s blades and arms look like those from Chevy Duty, but his '54 arms are 11" (sounds right to me)

Those are replacement one size fits many type. The screw on the end of the arm is loosened to adjust the angle & can be used on either side. The original where permantly bent & fit only one side. The replacement I got at Classic parts a while back where like original & seemed to be real good quality.