DIY Junkyard Wiper Motor and Intermittent Module Retrofit/Upgrade

[Rustybucket73]

This all started when the wiper motor in '73 failed. Tried turning the wiper motor arm by hand, it was completely seized. I was already looking at upgrading to intermittent wipers and sourcing a steering column, but I thought I could come up with something better. I couple things I wanted to try and achieve with this upgrade; keep the original steering column and use all junkyard parts to keep the cost down.

Started looking at some aftermarket options, mainly this kit from Detroitspeed. I liked the use of the modern motor and separate intermittent wiper module, but could not get over the eye watering price. One of the things I noticed while looking at the kit was the wiper motor had three mounting 'legs', and after browsing through the rock auto catalog, they are most likely using a motor from a late model 07-12 gm truck. This was still a bit too new for the junkyards around my area, so I kept looking through the catalog. The wiper motor I settled on was one out of a 02-06 Camry, and available on numerous other Toyota models of the same year range.

Now that I had the motor sourced, I started looking for the switch and module. After a bit of searching on ebay, I settled on the switch and module assembly out of a 1980-1990 Frd F series truck. It was easy to find and seemed like the right piece for the job.

Before we figure out how to mount all this stuff, we need to wire this circus up and see if it actually functions. Luckily, http://www.garysgaragemahal.com has a great writeup and provides wiring diagrams on the ford switch. A quick search for the Toyota wiper motor equivalent and we have these two diagrams:

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And after figuring out what goes where we get this:

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The Toyota motor terminal symbols are marked on the ford diagram. A quick test on the bench and everything is working as intended.

I contacted Detroitspeed and asked if they would sell the adapter plate on its own, and understandably they said no. So I fired up autoCAD and went to work. One thing I decided to do with adapter plate was to make it a square and not to include a bend. This makes it a lot simpler to draw up and gets rid of any errors in the bending process. After sending the drawing off to the laser cutter, this is what arrived:

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And with the wiper motor mounted to the adapter plate:

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Size comparison with the original motor:

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Wiper switch mounted in the dash:

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The only thing I have left to do now is to make the arm that connects the motor to the linkage. Should have that made in the next week or so.

 

[EvilGenius]

Great project! I'm curious to see what you do to connect the linkage to the motor since it doesn't appear to sit as deep into the cowl as the old motor.

 

[Curt]

I’m interested as well.Not a huge fan of the squarebody wiper motor/washer assembly.

I just replaced mine and the new motor (remanufactured) isn’t as strong as the old one (original),but the washer pump works now.It’s a real pain to pull all the linkage out and lubricate it.

Good luck

 

[AuroraGirl]

i wonder if a camry motor will handle at speed. a camry is a lot more aerodynamic and would have to fight resistance a lot less, but it has a lot larger windshield and thus blade to move.


intriguing

 

[Rustybucket73]

i wonder if a camry motor will handle at speed. a camry is a lot more aerodynamic and would have to fight resistance a lot less, but it has a lot larger windshield and thus blade to move.


intriguing

I don't think this this will end up being a problem. Just holding both of the motors, the Camry motor feels 1.5 to 2x heavier. Probably a lot more copper windings for the Camry motor and a lot more torque.

 

[AuroraGirl]

I don't this this will end up being a problem. Just holding both of the motors, the Camry motor feels 1.5 to 2x heavier. Probably a lot more copper windings for the Camry motor and a lot more torque.

hopefully. the small wipers should help yo uout

 

[Catbox]

Do keep us updated.
I am interested in how this works out for you as well.

Perhaps you can even sell the adapter plates as a side hustle...

 

[Rustybucket73]

So here is the motor to linkage arm that I just finished welding up. Showing the original arm below for comparison.

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Not the best welds in the world, but the piece is solid and should be ok for what I'm using it for. It'll look a lot better after some grinder action and some paint.

Hole to hole distance is the same as the original arm, I think I kicked it up at a 45 degree angle and up about 30mm from the original plane.

 

[BRetty]

So here is the motor to linkage arm that I just finished welding up. Showing the original arm below for comparison.

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Not the best welds in the world, but the piece is solid and should be ok for what I'm using it for. It'll look a lot better after some grinder action and some paint.

Hole to hole distance is the same as the original arm, I think I kicked it up at a 45 degree angle and up about 30mm from the original plane.

Rusty,

What is your plan to make the round hole that you have drilled,where it attaches to the motor shaft, into a "slot" with flat sides and a rounded end?

Here's a crude drawing of what I mean -- top is with a round hole, bottom is how it needs to be shaped to seat on the shoulder of the motor shaft.

Mine was badly worn, not so much that it wouldn't crank, but once I replaced the wiper transmission (*), it would crank but not park in the right spot.

I tried filling in the worn hole with JBWeld epoxy-metal compound, letting it cure and then re-drilling and filing it out to about the right shape. That lasted about two wiper cycles then it crumbled and no park.

I might have to make a new shaft-end for the crank, with the proper slotted opening, then cut and weld the new one on just like you did. A better suggestion would be welcome though.

BR

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(*) The PO had jammed in the wiper linkage from a much later model truck, one with three-bolt mounts not two-bolt, kinda secured them with one bolt...at which point he seems to have run out of time and money and just needed to get the truck running to sell it... headlights, heater, seatbelts, parking brake, all gauges, door locks, LUG NUTS(!), etc were still TBD. It happens....

 

[Rustybucket73]

Rusty,

What is your plan to make the round hole that you have drilled,where it attaches to the motor shaft, into a "slot" with flat sides and a rounded end?

Here's a crude drawing of what I mean -- top is with a round hole, bottom is how it needs to be shaped to seat on the shoulder of the motor shaft.

Mine was badly worn, not so much that it wouldn't crank, but once I replaced the wiper transmission (*), it would crank but not park in the right spot.

I tried filling in the worn hole with JBWeld epoxy-metal compound, letting it cure and then re-drilling and filing it out to about the right shape. That lasted about two wiper cycles then it crumbled and no park.

I might have to make a new shaft-end for the crank, with the proper slotted opening, then cut and weld the new one on just like you did. A better suggestion would be welcome though.

BR


(*) The PO had jammed in the wiper linkage from a much later model truck, one with three-bolt mounts not two-bolt, kinda secured them with one bolt...at which point he seems to have run out of time and money and just needed to get the truck running to sell it... headlights, heater, seatbelts, parking brake, all gauges, door locks, LUG NUTS(!), etc were still TBD. It happens....

The Toyota wiper motor has a tapered knurled round shaft instead of the slotted hole of the Chevy wiper motor.

I decided to cut and reuse the Toyota wiper arm part with the corresponding knurled hole because hole has around 14 degrees of taper and I couldn't find a reamer with that angle on it.

 

[Rustybucket73]

Good News! The wiper motor kit is in and its working great.

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Here's quick video of the motor in action:
Quick explanation of what's going on in the video.
1. Shot of the motor and the moving linkage
2. Low speed
3. High speed
4. Fast intermittent
5. Slow intermittent

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[eskimomann209]

Perfect. Now how much do I need to send you for a setup?

 

[Rustybucket73]

Perfect. Now how much do I need to send you for a setup?

The only thing holding me back from releasing this as a kit would be the fabricated arm.

Even if I could get the arm laser cut and bent, that would still leave the buyer needing to transfer and weld in the pivot ball.

 

[82sbshortbed]

That's really cool man! If you could get dimensions and come up with a drawing, I'm a machinist as so as several others here. We might be able to make it for you. I'd bet it could be done. Anyway, good job man I really like that.

 

[eskimomann209]

The only holding me back from releasing this as a kit would be the fabricated arm.

Even if I could get the arm laser cut and bent, that would still leave the buyer needing to transfer and weld in the pivot ball.

I can weld. Send it! LOL.