The Stovebolt Site Forums The Parking Lot '60-'66 Trucks 66 Wiper Motor Loose

All,

I own a 1966 Chevy Stepside.

For a long time, I've noticed a metallic bumping noise coming from somewhere in my truck.

I finally chased it down to under my dash.
My wiper motor seems to be really loose and is "bouncing" off my stereo.

So, my (dumb) question is (for those of you who have been under there messing with the wiper motor):

How "loose" should the wiper motor be under there?

I'm pretty sure it bolts up to the firewall.
It currently has several inches of movement in both the up and down directions--think bouncing.

Thanks,

Tom
Carrollton, TX

Your mounting bracket has prolly come off the firewall-it is only spot welded onto the firewall, years of rust, etc. can make it fall off.

The wiper motor housing mounts to a cupped metal stamping, that is spot-welded to the firewall. The wiper motor is secured the mounting cup, via three hex head bolts, into weld nuts on the back of the mouting cup.

There should be no play in the wiper motor, to the cup, if installed properly and securely.

yes, i looked under there and the welded cup has broken free from the firewall.

i'm trying to decide if i should hire a welder or drive some self-tapping screws thru the firewall.

i REALLY HATE hiring shops to work on my truck. Around here, the average shop labor rate is $85/hour. I guess money grows on trees for some folks...

=/

The shops I "always seem to get stuck with" either screw things up via short cuts or charge me huge amounts of money.

Pull the cowl cover and bolt the bracket onto the firewall using pan head 1/4" bolts and nuts.

The cup can be secured the cab, via short, self-tapping screws, from inside the cab, if you can contort yourself and the drill enough to drive them. Make sure they are, as short, as possible, to be sure they do not interupt the travel of the wiper transmission arms. Trying to do it from the windshield cowl cavity, may be a challenge, since you will be driving the screw through the fixed piece and trying to capture the loose cup, on the inside of the cab.

ok.

looks like the "cup" has actually rotted and torn away from the firewall--hence the loose (floppy) feel to the wiper motor under the dash.

i'll try the suggestion of driving some short, sheetmetal screws thru what remains of the cup into the firewall.

Thanks again for everyone's help.