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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
The affordable replacement wiper blades for the old bayonnet style wiper arms on my '76 C10 come with plastic adapters that don't stay on the end of the arm and/or twist sideways.
I want to replace my wiper arms with later style arms. Has anybody with a 73-88 full size Chevy/GMC truck upgraded to either of the later wiper arms below? Which one did you choose and why, and is it a perfect fit? These are the two I am looking at: 1) #32 - 1st design Chevy GMC 88-94 ("L" end). These arms have a bend in them. My 89 S10 has this style arms. I like that the plastic end keeps the arm from destroying the windshield if the wiper blade falls off. 2) #33 - 2nd design Chevy GMC 94-99 ("U" end). These arms are straight like the old bayonnet arms. I've had good luck with wiper blades staying on the U-end wiper arms on lots of other cars, but if the blade ever falls off, it's going to destroy the windshield. Which one is better for my truck? BTW, does anyone know why GM kept changing arm styles??? Thanks! Last edited by 76C10Stepside; 09-17-2015 at 03:34 PM. Reason: add info |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
Here's a link to both arm style on LMC's site: http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/cd/full.aspx?Page=143
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Clovis, NM
Posts: 2,705
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
Interested as well!!!! Sub'd
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2018 Audi S5- wife's ride 1980 Chevy Scottsdale http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=543511 1981 Chevy Silverado- in pieces 1964 Chevy c10 2017 Jeep Wrangler JKU |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Natchitoches, LA
Posts: 70
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
Why not just keep them and use refills? I still have the OEM wiper arms on my 1979 C20 Bonanza. I just use the refill inserts.
CT |
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
Quote:
I'd like to know if both of the two newer style arms I listed will fit my truck, and which one is the better choice it if matters at all. |
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#6 | |
Don't Crush em Restore em
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Pinehurst, Texas
Posts: 764
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
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TexasJeff 2009 Silver with Linen Interior Cadillac DTS 1990 Red with White Top and Interior Ford Mustang GT convertible 1998 Red with Gray Interior, C3500 Chevy Crew Cab Dually ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State
Posts: 1,515
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
I've observed that the later squares used the L end that the early GMT-400 platform received. I do not know if the squares adopted it in '88 with the -400s or if it was '90/'91.
My '83 still has the silver/stainless arms (assuming material, never taken a magnet to them) and the only reason I haven't swapped to the later arms is that they're all black ![]() I've had a wiper self destruct on one of the U-end arms and not only does the potential to scratch the window exist, mine rolled flat and then rotated around creating quite the distraction.
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Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96 |
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#9 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Chatt Tn
Posts: 969
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
my 88 has the L style.
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88 military v30 crewcab shortbed 5.9 cummins, nv4500, 205 86 k30, 89 diesel burb, 76 gmc pathfinder 71 longbed 5.3 4l80 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=522535 |
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#11 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 1,204
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
1985+ truck wiper arms have the side pin (which I prefer) I bought a set of these to replace the flat style on my '83. (Got them at the dealer for around $25 a piece. They come in black only, but at least the blades stay put.
I changed them out for the same reason, the adaptors to fit blades to the flat style where garbage. No positive retention whatsoever. For the pin styles, I just look for blades that use a spring and they won't be escaping. Alex. |
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#12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
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#13 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 1,204
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
Try a 14" wiper blade.
Alex. |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Bloomington Indiana
Posts: 1,041
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
I have the straight bayonet arms with the pin on the top side. I got some Accu-Fit 60-016 from NAPA and they just slid on and clicked in place no problem. They're tight on there with no wiggle at all. So I guess I don't see the issue.
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Rich Weyand 1978 K10 RCSB DD. |
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#15 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
Quote:
![]() My neighborhood NAPA closed down a few years ago. That's why I didn't see these. Will make the drive to the nearest NAPA and take a look at the Accu-Fits. Thanks! |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Bloomington Indiana
Posts: 1,041
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
Yeah, I just took them out of the package and slid them on to the bare metal arms until they clicked over the pin. Done. The number I gave you was for 16" blades, which is the stock size. You can run longer, but it puts more load on the wiper motor and all it gives you is a better view of the top of the hood. Mine had 18s on it when I got it and guess what -- the wiper motor was dead/dying.
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Rich Weyand 1978 K10 RCSB DD. |
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#17 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
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#18 |
Gentleman Jim Driver
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Poulsbo, WA
Posts: 1,550
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish. I think you are saying the original silver colored arms only allow you to get blades that fall off. Rich says there are some better blades at NAPA.
I haven't messed with my 75 since the wipers work fine on it and I just use refills. Everything else has these: http://www.classicparts.com/1985-91-.../#.VhyE-2vZOUl
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Joe '75 GMC Gentleman Jim '84 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super duper plain (manual steering, manual brakes, no dome light, no cig lighter) '85 Chev C10 Short Wide - Super plain Vortec 4.8 4L60E trans also: '81 K30, '83 C30 Crew Dually, '84 M1028 CUCV, '85 M1009 CUCV, another '85 C10 SWB, '89 R3500 Flatbed |
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Olympia, WA
Posts: 300
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
As I explained in the first post, the original pieces that connect the bayonnet wiper arms to the blades were missing, so I've had to use the crummy plastic connectors that come with the brand of replacements blades I like. The plastic pieces don't work. Blades twist sideways and keep falling off. None of the auto parts stores I went to had anything, and the wrecking yards are all picked out, so I figured I'd go with later model wiper arms that don't need those adapters.
I'll either get the NAPA hybrid blades that work with the bayonnet arms or switch to the later "L" end wiper arms with 16-inch blades. |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SW Ontario
Posts: 1,204
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Re: 73-88 Wiper Arm Upgrade Options
They are not missing, those adaptors come with the blades as everybody makes their own style.
Just bite the bullet, convert to the black pin style arms and have blades that stay put. As for 14" blades, that is in response to your Astro wiper arms that are too long... Alex. |
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