Is there a trick to A.D. wipers in the snow?

[NEWFISHER]

I've been out ripping around after work and it started snowing, no biggie as I've always drivin classic cars in the rain and snow, but the combination of poor design heater/defrost , flat windshield and whispy delicate wiper arms makes it tough! The new arms, new blades just keep piling the snow onto the A pillar side of the glass and then it ramps the arm up and knocks the linkage around. The wiper motor is new, blades arms etc and on a rainey day , the linkage is tight. I have the glass covered in Aquapell (super rainx) and am driving with my head out the door onthe way home. Any of you in the stormy states run a stifferarm off something else, a heated wire or glass etc?
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[mknittle]

Are you using the vaccume motor.

[solidaxel]

I wonder what they did in the 30-40-50's

[1project2many]

In the '30s and '40s they drove slowly, stopped frequently, and wiped the windshield by hand if needed. Remember that heaters and defrosters were optional and some people just didn't have them. Everyone was in the same situation with poor tires and poor visibility anyway so there was no need to try and keep your speed up.

As for a solution, when I was in MT I drove my '57 all year. It didn't snow often there but I found that it was better to bundle up and drive with the defroster off so the falling snow wouldn't melt then freeze on the glass. The climate was dry and so was the snow but in Oregon that may not be an option.

If you have a 12V system you could try using 12V auxilliary heaters strategically placed in windshield corners to help melt ice. Lotsa current usage there so you may have to be careful to monitor the charge rate in the beginning.

One of the tricks I use with our Ford vans here when the weather is bad enough to cause ice buildup is to spray the edges of the glass and the "A" pillar with silicone spray. Ice will still form but it won't stick. I've even sprayed the wiper blades with silicone to prevent ice from adhering to the linkage since we don't equip our vans with winter blades. The drivers report that it works well. Also, if you don't have window washers you might consider installing some and using a strong de-icing solution in the reservoir. Be careful though. Many of the de-icers contain methanol which can be highly corrosive.

Get your trans changed. At 75 mph and above the snow won't even hit the windshield.

[NEWFISHER]

All great advise! I'm currently pulling the seats and installing a rocket heater aimed at the glass LOL

I'm going to hit it with silicone at lunch and figure out a better 12v cig lighter -heater aimed at the w/shield.
Thanks

[mr48chev]

It is an issue and I've stopped every mile to clean the windshield on a 30 mile run to work before when I drove the 48 during the winter. I'm not sure if the louvered hood helps or hinders the cause.