Wipers - yay/nay?

[rickshank]

I live in PA, so i'll need at least something for wipers to pass the initial Enhanced Safety Inspection.

However, as I'm contemplating my final dash layout before I start cutting/drilling holes, I'm jumping back to an interesting discussion from my Build School on overall effectiveness of wipers vs complexity of squeezing them in there (along with FF Heat/AC setup). Most of the argument was that if it was raining, you have plenty of water behind the windscreen anyways with no top. Defrosters being much more important than wipers.

I could sell the unused wiper kit, so that's not a huge concern.

Thoughts?

Also need to decide on final switches, but that should be much easier :)

[rthomas98]

So I thought the same thing. Then I drove through some fog on my way to a cars and coffee. The wipers cleared the moisture so I could continue to see. I have used them more then I thought I would.

[Blitzboy54]

I put wipers on both my builds. Both have heaters, I have used them on multiple occasions. Shockingly useful in an open air car.

[Rebostar]

I live in Oregon. We have June, July, August, and winter. It rains here a lot! It's what makes everything so green here. You can stick a 2 X 4 in the ground here and it will sprout! All this being said I went without wipers as they seem pretty cheesy. Many folks have posted negative comments about them. However I did aquire a full wiper kit for re-sale value if I ever decide to sell the car. I also installed an electric defroster, this will help on the cold clear mornings. I have built 5 classic cars that never see wet roads. I also have a 2018 Supercharged Mustang GT, and I dont drive that in the rain either. If it looks like rain, I'll take my truck or the chiefs Bronco. Now all this being said if I get cought out in the rain with the Cobra I may re-think this. Time will tell. Fortunately no inspection in Oregon.

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PS: You should add a survey to this post. Love to hear more feedback.

[Lidodrip]

One other consideration that is certainly open for interpretation - I think the wipers make the car look more finished. I used Specialty Windows wiper kit and found the quality quite good.

James

[cv2065]

I installed the wiper motors and plugged the holes on the last build. Used Rain X most of the time which served the purpose. If you find yourself in a downpour where Rain X is ineffective, your wipers will be as well. None for this build. Nice and clean. Plus, I have a Lexan windshield now. Might not go great with wipers.

[JohnnyB]

You won't regret having wipers. At some point you will regret not having them.

[ProfessorB]

.
I can't say that I would not like wipers as I have never had them. I CAN say that Rain-X has worked just FINE for me. I DO re-apply from time to time, and after any rain or washing the car. Also, I strongly recommend apply it to REAR side of the windshield as well. Works for me.

[danmas]

I have decided no wipers.

[Jim1855]

I had wipers on 2 SPF cars and have them on the 289 FIA car, considering for the Challenge Car, bought them not sure if I'll use them.

I used to keep the wipers in the trunk with the SPF cars, worked almost as well there as the installed location.

As CV2065 and ProfessorB indicated, RainX is your friend.

Jim

[Wizbangdoodle]

I ordered my kit with wipers. As time went on and I read threads just like this, I decided to go without wipers. I also was looking at the space I had to work with as I built my car. My plan is to put the manual wipers on top of the window frame to get registered and then take it off.

[rickster991]

Make sure you can remove it so you can get your arm in there to install the windshield. I wish I made the heat exchange removable as well. Getting to the nuts and bolts on the driver side is a breeze. Passenger side is an exercise in contortion-ism!

[JohnK]

One other consideration that is certainly open for interpretation - I think the wipers make the car look more finished. I used Specialty Windows wiper kit and found the quality quite good.

James

+1 to all of this.

[edwardb]

Michigan requires wipers so I've installed them on all my builds. Easy enough to do during the build. Way harder later. I've used the Specialty Windows wipers twice and just received the third set today for my Mk5 build. A significant improvement over the Lucas knock-offs supplied by FF (sorry FF). They actually work and you'll use them more than you think. I always think about resale and they may be important there too.

[DW66]

If your going to actually drive the car wipers are a must in my opinion. If you only do car shows and or don't travel far from home maybe not needed. I have a top and have been caught in 8 hours of rain coming home from LCS and wouldn't have made it home without wipers. I have the FFR wipers and so far they have worked fine. I have a Lexan windshield and use a boat Isinglass cleaner for it and my soft top windows. It just says "Plastic Cleaner 210" on the can. Works well and limits the scratch's.

Dave

[TBull]

I've had a cobra for about 15 years. Never had wipers on either of them. A good coating of Rain-X multiple times a year. I have over 30,000 miles in a cobra and I have been caught in rain storms multiple times over the years. If the rain is light, most of it never touches you due to the air foil over your head, unless you stop. Harder rain is handled by the Rain-X. I have twice been caught in torrential rain and drove through it. Never any fun. They aren't needed for Safety Inspection for licensing the vehicle in Missouri and I prefer the cleaner look.

[Papa]

We all say we won't drive these cars in the rain, but if you drive them enough, you will eventually get caught in the rain. Several years ago, I was on a club drive in Colorado about 100 miles from home when the skies started to cloud up and then BAM! The rain started coming down in buckets. I hit the wiper switch and to my dismay, the passenger wiper started flopping around and I had to turn them off. Driving in the rain without wipers was the worst experience I've ever had. After I made it home, I discovered that the passenger side gear box nut that clamps the drive cable in place on the gear had fallen off, causing the wiper to fail. I replaced the gear boxes and arms with something a bit better (in my opinion) than what came with the kit and haven't had any issues with the wipers since. After reading a lot of posts on wipers, I opted to go with the Specialty Power Window kit that Paul mentioned for my Coupe build. I haven't installed them yet, but they appear to be very good quality and the design of the motor seems a lot better than the vintage Lucas design.

[rich grsc]

Yes, but which wiper kit? They have at least 3?

[Papa]

Yes, but which wiper kit? They have at least 3?

This is the one I bought:

Specialty Power Windows WWK-2 Standard Universal Wiper Drive Kit (https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Specialty-Power-Windows-WWK-2-Standard-Universal-Wiper-Drive-Kit,5126.html?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23224932126&gbraid=0AAAAAD8-MclzK56BiFmTk75NkiJn0Mxls&gclid=CjwKCAiAl-_JBhBjEiwAn3rN7R6QPFrGWnSvAsnjEisr4YmrSJA5NZolDkwy Y2NKWzll6JKucW8AEhoCcH4QAvD_BwE)

[rich grsc]

Thanks, I have an FFR kit. After a repaint, I need to decide to use it or not?

[mrmustang]

I live in PA, so i'll need at least something for wipers to pass the initial Enhanced Safety Inspection.

However, as I'm contemplating my final dash layout before I start cutting/drilling holes, I'm jumping back to an interesting discussion from my Build School on overall effectiveness of wipers vs complexity of squeezing them in there (along with FF Heat/AC setup). Most of the argument was that if it was raining, you have plenty of water behind the windscreen anyways with no top. Defrosters being much more important than wipers.

I could sell the unused wiper kit, so that's not a huge concern.

Thoughts?

Also need to decide on final switches, but that should be much easier :)

Better to have them and not need them, then to need them and not have them.

Of the 36 or so Cobra replicas I've personally owned, if they did not come with wipers originally, I installed them before the car ever hit the road.


Bill S.

[Avalanche325]

Wipers - yes. You will be surprised how often you use them. I honestly scratch my head that this is even a question.

[rickshank]

For those that did use the Specialty wipers - did you replace the switch to match the rest of your dash? What type of switch is it? SPDT?

[Norm B]

Thanks, I have an FFR kit. After a repaint, I need to decide to use it or not?
Rich, if you decide to use the FFR kit, have a very close look at the wiper boxes. The ones that came with my kit were not well made. The major issue was the excessive clearance where the cable passes the wheel. The cable could skip over the wheel easily. I refined that area using my vice a hammer to reduce the clearance so that there was just enough room for the cable. The other issue is the tab at the back of the box that acts as a point bearing for the wiper shaft. This is very easily bent when installing the wiper arms and that allows the wheel to move out of alignment with the cable.
After the adjustments my wipers have worked flawlessly for 12 years.


Good luck

Norm

[Jim Doak]

I'm in the process of installing my wipers and all-in-all it hasn't been too hard.

One suggestion: If you install FFR's wipers you may want to consider using different 5/16" cable guide tubing than the one that comes with the kit. Mine was stainless steel and very difficult to bend. Tomorrow I'll probably finish the installation and test run the system. If I find there's any binding with the cable, I'm going to use some different tubing; perhaps the unused 5/16" fuel line that was included in the Mark 4 kit.

[Lidodrip]

For those that did use the Specialty wipers - did you replace the switch to match the rest of your dash? What type of switch is it? SPDT?

I used the stock Specialty Wiper switch, but changed out the knob and bezel with 1965 Ford Mustang parts to match my light switch knob and ignition switch bezel. Sorry the picture is blurry, it is a zoomed/cropped picture.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=222802&d=1765591607

James

[edwardb]

For those that did use the Specialty wipers - did you replace the switch to match the rest of your dash? What type of switch is it? SPDT?

The WWK2 standard setup that I've used includes a 2-speed rotary switch that also pushes for washers. If you have them obviously. The shaft on the switch is 6mm (approx. 1/4 inch). That's a common size and lots of knobs fit. Both the motor and the switch have the necessary connections so it parks. Comes with all necessary terminals and terminal block for the connection at the motor. To preserve the park feature, I'd try to use the switch and match the knob to whatever else you're doing. That's how my Coupe is set up. Their WWK-21 has all the same parts except a switch that does intermittent (adjustable delay) in addition to 2-speed. Probably something like the Cole Hersee 75600-04. Their WWK-2R has a 2-speed rocker switch. Don't know anything about and not pictured on their website.