55-59 Chevy truck windshield wipers

Hi! dne’ here,

I’ve had a little trouble finding good wiper blade assemblies for my Apache! I’d like ones that don’t flop or look like they’ll come apart while the wipers are doing what they do, wiping the windshield! I have spent a great deal of energy on my windshield installation, even purchased a Newport wiper motor, and the last thing I’d want is a scratched windshield! For the life in me~ sigh~;)

If you’re one of the fortunate people to have the originals, then this is not for you! This is for folks that have purchased aftermarket wiper arms and blades, paid good money, only to find out they flop, and look like they may fall apart while wiping! This picture below is the main culprit I do believe!;)

All that’s holding those two pieces together is that little nub and even once being inserted, it’s very loose!  Yes, I said a nub, it’s a nub for goodness sake! It slips into the wiper receiver, or the female part, and who knows what actually holds it in!

With the NAPA part number WIP 601233, it comes with the wiper blade and the thing, which I’ll dub the connector! I just made that up but kind of fits it though!;)  You can see how the male end with the nub on it is 1/2″ away from the tip. When this is put together, it’s solid pretty much and will not come apart, plus has very little slop! I had to bend the tabs on the large piece to get it apart and broke the tabs off. This was an old piece anyway, but for conveying information, you get the idea.

This is with the retainer spring where it’s supposed to be, note the little hole for the nub;)

Now you slide the male part into the receiver, ok ok the female part, and there is a subtle click (or not) but you’ll know it’s put together. Once together, it should really never ever have to come back apart anyway.

First thing I had to do was straighten the end out. I put the end in a vise and squeezed it until it was flat, then took a hammer and made it straighter. Then I took my Dremmel tool with a cutoff wheel and ground off the nub closest to the end because I don’t need that one anymore. Then I drilled a hole to make a new nub. I think I used a 5/64″ drill bit, but you may not just have a perfect nail lying around like I did!

I had to search my garage for something to make a nub! dam! I finally found a finishing nail with a slightly larger head, but the head was too large to fit into that clip, or the hole in the clip. That’s what keeps it together and makes the connection rigid, otherwise if the nub is too small, there will be some slop when you snap them together.  I wound up taking the nail over to the bench grinder and shaving off some of the perimeter of the head to fit the hole. Then I hammered the nail as if a press fit, then took my Dremmel and cut off the excess.

The first one wasn’t a perfect nub, but no one will ever know~ except you! 😉 Now I’m just about done!

Now I just slide the male piece into the part into the other part, and I’m done! I did bend the 4 tabs with a pair of pliers to further enhance the crimp.  The only other matter was bending the long bar part to be parallel to the window rubber where it’s at rest. I would hope you can figure that part out.

I actually haven’t tried it yet, but I’m confident it will work just fine! Besides, my truck will probably never even see rain!  Note: you know the wipers do not come back into their resting place like in the picture~ I put them there for modeling purposes! 😉

If you’ve found this to be helpful, would you let me know?;)  and maybe you can even subscribe to Classic cars and Tools~;)  I try to make it fun and interesting for YOU! 😉

IMPORTANT!! When removing the aftermarket wiper arm, DO NOT bend the arm back too far! The little hook can come unhooked, and though it can be put back together, it’s a PITA, the spring is very stiff and hard to get hold of!

Your car enthusiast friend,

dne’