The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay 1954 RPO 320 Electric Wiper Parts/Repair

Anyone know of someone who can supply parts and/or repair the factory installed RPO 320A electric wiper motor and oscellator on my '54 3104? Or wanna sell me parts or a 320A wiper assembly?

I mailed a request to Bill Steinmetz in Lancaster, OH based on Stovebolt recommendations, but didn't get a reply.

Two parts are broken and I may need some work on the motor. A PO converted my 6v truck to 12v, but I'll probably keep the wiper motor 6v and use a Ron Francis converter.

> Broken flat spring - either the latch spring, or the pivot spring
> Broken flexible contact armature blade
> Broken contact sitting in place

I have United Motors Service Bulletin 54-D11 detailing how to service the wiper mechanism.

Thanks for your help,

- Lonnie

Lonnie,
I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think WallyP had his rebuilt by the guy you mentioned. I think he had to keep sending motors until they found one with the switch plate unbroken. I believe you are after the parking switch plate.

Lonnie, try this shop:

http://dandmrestoration.com/small-motors

He is close to Alvin 'Chipmunk' Parris. Maybe he can give some info.

Thanks guys -

> Greg - I agree that the broken contact is from the parking mechanism. You and I exchanged some emails about my wipers last year. I believe that you sent me the United Moters Service Bulletin 54-D11 "Service Instructions for Electric Windshield Wiper (6 volts) used on 1954 Chevrolet Trucks". Thanks for reminding me about WallyP. He replied to a previous posting and sent a PM about my wiper in March 2011 and recommended Bill Steinmetz. I have his email and phone - I'll try to contact him.

> Wayne - We are on vacation next week. I'll contact D&M Restoration when I return.

> Anyone else have suggestions or parts?

- Lonnie

Anybody know if a '55-'56 Chevrolet Truck factory electric wiper assembly will fit my '54? The mounting plate may be different - will a '55-'56 mount onto the '54 mounting plate? Don't need the arms, etc.

I know that they are 12v, but that's OK.

Also - does the dash switch on '55-'56 move a cable that then moves the electric switch on the motor?

Thanks,

- Lonnie

I doubt the TF wiper motor would work under an AD dash, but this is what it looks like, and not the same inside as your pics ... yes, the TF dash switch works a cable that runs the motor mounted switch

Bill

Thanks, Bill -

I knew that would be too easy!

Here are pics of a 1954 wiper that "big_dan_1950" took after Bill Steinmetz rebuilt it.
http://s257.photobucket.com/user/dans1950/media/DSC03534.jpg.html
http://s257.photobucket.com/user/dans1950/media/DSC03535.jpg.html

Here are pics of my '54 wiper
> Photobucket album

- Lonnie

yes, the earlier one looks like the starting point of the redesign for the TF application, might be some useful parts, but too different to adapt I think

Bill

Thanks for slapping some reality back into my head!

I found a couple of original 55-56 Chevy truck electric wipers on ebay today and let them cloud my better judgement. I sent a note to one of the sellers. He replied and agreed that it will probably not fit a '54 truck without modification.

Still looking for an original factory-installed electric wiper for my '54 3104.

- Lonnie

Here's one: http://www.classicparts.com/1954-Wi...12-Volt/productinfo/67-066/#.Uakz29LVCSo

and another: http://www.ecklerstrucks.com/catalo...=1954&q=wiper+motor&x=45&y=6

Wayne, those aren't "original factory-installed" type, they're the usual modern conversion unit

Bill

OK My mistake. I should know Lonnie doesn't want anything modern,

Those aftermarket wiper motors are also 12v. The original is a 6v 2-speed wiper. Also, if you have an original 1954 Chevrolet truck radio, no one makes an electric wiper motor that will fit under the dash with the original radio speaker.

Lonnie, I think I have one or two of those wiper motors (no mounting frames). I'll check tomorrow.

This one got away on eBay about 2 months ago.
Condition unknown $75.00
ebay sold listing
See original listing scroll down
Link to Photo Album

Hi jorb -

Nice find. I stopped looking on ebay a while ago. Guess I gotta start looking again. Let me know if you ever want to sell it.

By the way, I don't know if your truck originally had electric wipers. The mounting bracket is held to the dash by two big screws THOUGH THE DASH. They ain't pretty and I'm sure that it would take a steady hand and confident nerves to drill the holes for the screws if it didn't originally have factory electric wipers!!

Thanks for the info. I'll start cruising ebay.

- Lonnie

No No, Let me clarify. I found it on eBay after it was sold. I did the same, I also stopped looking on ebay a while ago. I just happened to bump into it.

My truck, when I bought it, I was told was a 6 volts truck, everything looked 6 volts, and I thought it had the original electric wiper motor but after talking with you about the two bolts up on the dash that are used to mount original electric wiper motor, I checked my dash and it didn't have the two bolts. So I checked under the dash and it has this 12 volt Newport engineering wiper motor, so I'm still thinking someone put a 12 volt wiper motor in a 6 volt truck, well I take the battery out this winter to trickle charge it and I put a volt meter on the battery and its a 12 volt battery. duh, How can you tell the difference between a 6 volt & a 12 maintenance free battery, the only way I know is to put a volt meter on it. The battery is not labeled 12 or 6 volts.

Well my truck is 12 volts. I found that out the long way around. I'm still debating about returning it back to 6 volts. I'm a stickler about originality.

So anyway after the two bolt dash mounting wiper motor info, I started looking at some old parts truck photos and came up with this
one photo looks like this one might have had a electric motor,I called the guy and the trucks been long gone.
This Truck definitely has the bolts.
Do you have a close up picture of the heads of the original bolts? Just curious what they look like.

Thanks,

Well doggone -

I was hoping that you snagged that ebay wiper.

The two screws in the dash are Phillips drive with a head that is slightly more rounded on the sides than a fillister. They have a cup washer and rubber gasket between the head and the dash. I'll try to take a close-up pic tomorrow.

> My '54 dash with RPO 320 electric wipers

I know what you mean about wanting to revert to 6v. Ken Warner at Classic Generator built a 12v generator using 6v case and visable parts for my '54. A previous owner had converted it to 12v. Wish that I had him build a 6v gen. I would have only needed to change the coil (internal resistor), bulbs, and a few other after market 12v items to revert to 6v. The PO replaced the wiring harness, too. Might not have been able to revert to 6v if it was a 12v harness with smaller wires.

- Lonnie

jorb -

I shot some pics of the bolts in the dash that mount the RPO 320A electric wipers in my '54 3100.

> My measurements:
The heads are 0.4445" diameter (+/-)
The cup washer is 0.662" diameter (+/-)
The rubber gasket spreads to about .8115" (+/-)
The bolts are 2-3/4" apart center-to-center

> FAM dimentions and measurements:
The bolts are 2.766" apart
The left bolt hole is 6.766" from the wiper control knob
The holes in the dash are .31" - .33" diam.

> Bolts:
The bolts are listed in the FAM as "#455870 BOLT & LW ASSY"

> '54 3104 dash with bolts for RPO 320A electric wipers
> Dash bolts for RPO 320
> Dash bolts relative size
> Dash bolt closeup
> Dash bolt side view
> FAM Sect 0, Sheet 5.00

- Lonnie

Thank Ya Kindly,

Thats interesting I thought they were bolts, here they are Philips head screws. I guess it would be a good idea to get those screws with the wiper motor if possible. Or if its still possible to find the whole assembly. screw,washer,rubber
What is interesting about the FAM dimensions .047 is the only vertical dimension down from center line of control knob hole. At the factory they must of had some type of template to mark the holes. Although the main mounting bracket could line up the support assembly bracket fairly well. A template that hooks up under the dash lip would come in handy to mark holes or something like that.
This is a picture of my 12 volt generator. It looks like a 6 volt generator to me.
What you described above doesn't sound like it would be to hard to revert back to 6 volts. It still has original wiring harness.

Thanks Again,

jorb -

I'm getting way off the original topic, but this may satisfy your "pickey gene" that wants to revert your truck to 6v ...

Until you revert your charging system to 6v, you can re-badge the generator and starter to look like a 6v. If you have a ballast resistor to the coil, you can hide it or change to a 12v coil with internal resistor. I have 6v tags on my 12v generator and starter with the correct part numbers and appropriate date codes. A DelcoRemy cover for your voltage regulator (if it is not a Delco) completes the look. I bought one from another Stovebolter.

You can buy black 6v tags and rivets from most reproduction suppliers, then have a local trophy shop engrave the numbers. Or you can buy them with the numbers already engraved.

If you can't use rivets in your starter or generator, then grind off the shaft and glue the tag and rivet heads with J-B Weld.

Ken Warner (Stovebolter "Kennethw") at ClassicGenerator.com sells engraved tags and does a good job at a good price. If you buy from him, buy a Radio Bypass tag and new washers, studs, and insulators for the generator - they may not be listed on his website, so call him. Finish off with a good paint job.
> Gen & starter tags at Classic Generator

Ken built my 12v generator and disguised it as a 6v. Here is a photo from his website ... it may be the one that he built for me - it looks exactly like it.
> Generator with tags and new studs, washers, & insulators

You can also buy engraved tags from ...
> Paragon Corvette

PART NUMBERS to engrave in the serial number box of the tags:
> 1954 Starter = 1107108
> 1954 Generator = 110018 or 110028
110018 (45 amp) was used through early 1954
110028 (40 amp) with faster cut-in and smaller pulley was used on later model 1954s.

DATE CODES to engrave in the serial number box of the tags:
The serial numbers on the tags also show the build date. Make up the dates. Try to avoid weekends, just in case the plant wasn't running on the weekends. Birthdays of wife or kids are good choices for dates.

Here is info on date codes copied from the Paragon website:

The date of manufacture code (listed as "Serial" on the tag) used for distributors contains a calendar year prefix ("7" for 1957, "8" for 1958, "9" for 1959, or "0" for 1960), followed by the month ("A" for January through "M" for December; the letter "I" was not used to represent the month of September), ending with one or two digits representing the date of the month ("1" through "31").

Whew! That was a lot of typing!

- Lonnie

bill did a great job on my wiper motor . i dont know if his number is the same 740-654-5458

Thanks for getting the thread back on track, Big Dan -

I'll try to contact Bill again. All reports about his work have been good. When did he do the work on your wiper?

- Lonnie

Update -
D&M Restorations responded to my email ... "this is not something that we offer to repair here."

- Lonnie

Lonnie,
Thank You for the information on the 12 to 6 volt revert.
Now go and soak your fingers in ice water to cool then off.

Thanks Again,

I think he worked on it a year or two ago . I haven't installed it yet but give it some power now and then .