windshield wiper motor

[ray_mcavoy]

Yes, the wiper motors should be the same.

The only difference you'll encounter is the windshield washer pump. Sometime around 1985 or so, they changed from a mechanical pump mounted on (and driven by) the wiper motor to an electric pump mounted on the fluid reservoir.

If using the 78 wiper motor in the 86, you can simply leave the mechanical washer pump unused or remove it if desired. If using the 86 motor in the 78, you could transfer the mechanical pump over to the 86 motor, or swap the washer fluid reservoir and do some minor re-wiring to use the electric pump in the 78.