Recessed vs. non-recessed wipers
 

My 73 Formula 400 does not have the recessed wipers. I didn't realize that there was a difference until I parted out a 71 Firebird a few years ago.... I presume that there are no production figures available for such an option, but did most Firebirds come with or without recessed wipers? It amazes me that the factory would actually tool up two completely different wiper setups for the same car...

Just a curiosity question, that's all....I'm bored here in Utah because it is too cold to actually work on my car!!!

Importsmasher

Concealed wipers were standard on T/A's & Esprits . They were optional on other models.

Option code C24 @18.00 for 1973

I'd ballpark on other models at 60% without & 40% with.

recessed wipers
 

My 73 Formula also has exposed wipers, is there a way to convert them to recessed and if so, can anyone tell me whats involved in doing so?

Thx, Norm

Done a few conversions before & EVERY part except for the wiring needs to be replaced.
As I recall,even the switch is different.

Best to find a parts car & get EVERYTHING all at once.

Yep, looked at the wiring sircuit when I was trying to sort out parts for my 71....the switch is particular to the recess park wipers. You'll need the regulators and linkages, the wiper arms, the recess park wiper motor and the adapter mounting plate.
In the end, I bought a DSE 7 speed wiper conversion for my project....5 delays, low and high speeds. The motor is a late model small size unit that looks very neat.

My 70 Formula came with the exposed wipers, and the first thing I did was simply change the arms to a set from a car with hidden wipers.

They don't of course "park", but the driver's side arm at least comes to rest in a psoition that is parallel to the bottom of the windshield.

You can even push the arms down once they are in the rest position to hide them beneath the cowl.

I now have everything required to convert to a complete hidden system. If you want to add pulse/delay wipers, you'll need a motor and switch from a '79 and up Firebird, as I recall. The switch you can get on eBay (along with the linkage and the proper motor mounting plate), and the motor is available from Rock Auto at a reasonable price.

There is a really excellent thread on the conversion process somewhere. I'll post again if I can find it.

Thanks for the info! The car I parted was a 71 Esprit, so that explains the recessed wipers on that one.

I am going to leave the non-recessed wipers on my car, as I kind of like the fact that my car is rather low-option (no A/C, no power windows, locks, etc.).

Importsmasher

Here is a link to the article I was thinking about: http://www.nastyz28.com/2gcog/wipers.pdf

I had all the parts to convert and decided since my car is assembled and not in pieces, the bang for the buck wasn't there on the effort. The nubs sticking up used to bug me, don't even see them now. And I agree with the post that it is amazing they designed, produced and offered a sub 20 dollar option that involved so many different parts. They must have had to sell 3000 hidden ones to start even making a profit on them.

Because of that very reason, the published numbers only show 2387 and 2687 (S87 and U87 for 1972)

1970 - 10,902 or 41.0%
1971 - 13,670 or 44.3%
1972 - 11,073 or 38.6%

I do not have numbers for 1973 or newer, though.

FYI: 78 & 79 Delay wiper motors & switches were different than the 80-81 versions.
You will also need to rob a switch to motor jumper harness from a 78/79 donor car for the conversion.

I believe the 80/81's had integral wiring in the harness for delay wipers.

Delay wiper switch requires a larger opening so you will need to change out your gauge bezel,as well.

2many

I was thinking all of that and was relieved to see that you typed it so I wouldn't have to. The dash bezel is the one most don't realize about.

Thanks for the info regarding the differences in the wipers. I have everything from a 79, inclduing the harness and a switch, which I installed behind my 70 bezel. It's a bit of a tight squeeze, but it did fit.

Installing delayed wipers in a 70-73? When was the last time you guys got caught out in the rain?

Just a little bit off topic, but I remember growing up that the concealed wiper was a big selling point on on the new line of 1968 GM A bodies and full size. (just thinking out loud)
I remember paying $40 across the parts counter for a wiper transmission for my mid 70's C@maro. Yes, the option built was ridiculously less than that.
And on this subject, did anyone catch the movie Flash of Genius about Robert Kearns? Highly recommend it.

In the mid 80's,my daily driver/winter beater was a REAL 1970 Trans am (Ram Air III auto).

It had learned the "taste of salt" long before I owned it. ( I figured the rear springs broke from the weight of all the bondo in the rear quarters)

I actually did a delay wiper conversion on it & they proved to be quite useful along with the studded snow tires & bag of sand in the trunk (after I replaced the rear springs)

It's funny that you brought this up, because the 70 Formula I'm putting together right now has standard wipers and I considered upgrading them. Then I thought, what for, I'll never use them and they really don't stick up that much.

At least once every year! I try drive my 70 RAIII Formula (which I have owned for 36 years, almost to the day) to one decent size show every year, and invariably I get caught in the rain at some point.

The fact that I drive the car on the highway is also the main reason I replaced my four speed with a Tremec 5 speed two years or so ago. Couldn't stand revving the crap of it and/or keeping the speed down to 60 mph.

When I was a kid and it was my only car back in the 70's, I of course had to drive it rain or shine, and so I installed a delay system that I ordered from an ad in the back of Popular Mechanics. Worked great, even with the non-concealed wipers that the car came with.

Wow , thanks for all of the input!! So the best bet to do the conversion is to obtain all of the parts from a T/A or espirt up thru year 1977, correct? No need to change any wiring using these donor parts?

Thanks again all!

I've owned my '71 almost 40 years and have yet to replace the wiper blades. I can't remember the last time I switched them on!...wait I do know. I got caught in a rainstorm on the way to the TA nats in '02 (with Keith k and 455hota).