[Engine-Ear]

That may seem like a dumb question, but it seems like QUALITY wiper refills (for the factory wiper holders) aren't out there any more.

The set of refills that I bought less than 2 years ago are shredding apart - with only 15,000 on them.

I have also seen some for sale where you have assemble them; the steel is in two pieces per refill and they are cumbersome to get on the wiper arm.

If you have a recommendation, Please reply with:

1) where do you buy wiper refills for your 64/65?
2) how long have they been on the car (miles driven or years of service)?
3) have they endured well?

[Lemans64]

Bought mine at a GM Dealership, LOL, yup they were still available a few years ago. back then I bought about 10 pairs, not sure how many I have left. Been on my car since 2007 and still work ok. Mind you I don't drive in the rain unless we get caught. Will look up the part number when I get a chance.

[Scarebird]

My NAPA guy says wiper refills are going away. Here in Seattle wipers last about 6 months, so 2 years and 15k miles is way past time to change.

[Lemans64]

Check out this thread, may lead you to other sources.http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...=wiper+refills

[chrisp]

2014 Honda fit 1 year old wipers falling apart , friends car . Trico classics are decent 15.00 pair for the part that attaches to your arm & they are stainless not plastic.

[stevep]

Ficken Wiper in Babylon NY may have what you need.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by chrisp

Trico classics are decent 15.00 pair for the part that attaches to your arm & they are stainless not plastic.

We sell these and they are much better than the black (plastic or metal) one's. But they aren't polished like the originals.



More like a satin finish.

They are a high quality blade though.

[151007]

Check with the C2 Corvette vendors. I bought a pair of inserts from Corvette Central quite some time ago and they still look fine. No need to put incorrect satin finish dome top holders on your 64 just to get new blades.

[Engine-Ear]

OK, so my local NAPA have these...

The appearance of the silver-painted metal blade cradle is better than the black-painted option, so bought a pair. $20 per pair with tax.

But after attaching one to an arm, the appearance just don't feed the bulldog. So, I carefully removed the rubber refill (which has a one-piece, stainless retainer, BTW) and fit them into the original Anco blades (with the little red pushbutton). Houston, we have a proper appearance.

In the image you can see miserable excuse for a refill (with a PLASTIC retainer).

Candidly, I don't get why the MFR of these "vintage" blades (that is OBVIOUSLY marketing them to collector-car owners) doesn't sell JUST THE RUBBER AND RETAINER in a pair, in a package? It would cost them less to produce, package and put on the shelf.

If need be, I'd still pay the $20. However I wouldn't have to discard the unused (Chinese-made, no doubt) metal blade cradle or all the excess packaging.

Anyway, odometer reads 92690. I will use this thread to track their useful lifetimes.

[Engine-Ear]

Scarebird: that has happened. Neither NAPA not Parts Hut offers refills anymore. The plastic-retainer ones are junk so I won't bother documenting whether THOSE are still available. (Probably are, but I don't care).

Lemans64, thanks for the link. For a car that seldom gets driven, worn ones are fine, especially if you embrace (and you should) Rain-X. I drive my Tempest from March until December, though, so I need that level of performance.

chrisp, interesting.

stevep and The Champ, thanks. Champ, FWIW, the pictured product looks IDENTICAL to the NAPA offering. I suspect there is a single MFR of them somewhere in Chinna.

151007, good call. I will also ping Ames to see the details of what THEY offer.

[The Champ]

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

The Champ, thanks. Champ, FWIW, the pictured product looks IDENTICAL to the NAPA offering.

I believe Trico makes the NAPA blades.

[YNOBIL]

Originally Posted by Lemans64

Bought mine at a GM Dealership, LOL, yup they were still available a few years ago. back then I bought about 10 pairs, not sure how many I have left. Been on my car since 2007 and still work ok. Mind you I don't drive in the rain unless we get caught. Will look up the part number when I get a chance.

Time is also the enemy of wiper blades. 30 years ago I scored NOS GM factory wiper blades for my 67 GTO. Took them out of the boxes and put them on my GTO. After a month or two the rubber fell apart (still have the correct satin frames).

[propuckstopper]

Originally Posted by Engine-Ear

That may seem like a dumb question, but it seems like QUALITY wiper refills (for the factory wiper holders) aren't out there any more.

The set of refills that I bought less than 2 years ago are shredding apart - with only 15,000 on them.

I have also seen some for sale where you have assemble them; the steel is in two pieces per refill and they are cumbersome to get on the wiper arm.

If you have a recommendation, Please reply with:

1) where do you buy wiper refills for your 64/65?
2) how long have they been on the car (miles driven or years of service)?
3) have they endured well?

I have had good luck with these:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-St...item4d2a317f67

[rohrt]

Quick question

What did the correct wiper arms look like? The one on my car have some deflector on them. The replacement Trico classics I got off amazon look nice. Just wondering if mine are original.

[Jeff Hamlin]

The OE were like the replacement.

The deflector type came about shortly afterwards in response to complaints of arms/blade lifting under speed.
I don't know if you could get them through the dealer but guess one could have?

[60sstuff]

1964, 1965 were completely polished.
Also, they were a “flat” style.

1966 and newer were a dull flat finish to reduce glare.
Also, these were a “dome” top style.

The OEM rubber blades had dots on them.

1965 assembly shown below.

Chris.

[60sstuff]

1966 is the “flat” style (not dome), with the dull finish.

[151007]

Originally Posted by 60sstuff

1966 is the “flat” style (not dome), with the dull finish.

I believe at least 3 variants of windshield wiper blade holders could be found on 1966's. In early 1966 there was a "flat polished" Trico holder which was believed to have originated from left over 64/65 polished blade inventory (to comply with the new DOT anti-glare regulations). The outer surface has a bead blasted appearance, while the underside is polished. These would probably be found on cars built through October or so of 1965, but it's possible some found their way on later month production cars. Another "flat roof" blade holder has a brushed finish, and is dull on both the top and underside. Somewhere in the mid to late production cycle "peaked roof" or dome style blade holders were used. Some wiper purists believe that original blade holders should say only "TRICO" at each end and contend that TRICO Made in USA was found only on service replacement blade holders in 1966 and not found as original equipment until 1967. It's also believed that ANCO wiper blade holders were supplied as original equipment in 1966. It's too bad more detailed information wasn't documented early on with original owner GTO's.

[60sstuff]

Originally Posted by 151007

I believe at least 3 variants of windshield wiper blade holders could be found on 1966's. In early 1966 there was a "flat polished" Trico holder which was believed to have originated from left over 64/65 polished blade inventory (to comply with the new DOT anti-glare regulations). The outer surface has a bead blasted appearance, while the underside is polished. These would probably be found on cars built through October or so of 1965, but it's possible some found their way on later month production cars. Another "flat roof" blade holder has a brushed finish, and is dull on both the top and underside. Somewhere in the mid to late production cycle "peaked roof" or dome style blade holders were used. Some wiper purists believe that original blade holders should say only "TRICO" at each end and contend that TRICO Made in USA was found only on service replacement blade holders in 1966 and not found as original equipment until 1967. It's also believed that ANCO wiper blade holders were supplied as original equipment in 1966. It's too bad more detailed information wasn't documented early on with original owner GTO's.

151007,

Very well said!
I would have to agree with your breakdown for 66 model year.
I’m sure I have seen these variants over the past 40+ years.

Thank you for your knowledge on this.

Chris.

[Jeff Hamlin]

Any info on the Trico Wind-lift blades found on many models over the years such as Rohrt asked about?. Pontiac/Dealer part # or such? Just curious.
Thx