1968~79 VW Type 2 window wiper & washer upgrades

[chrisradioman]

[splitty_smile]

I had a 1983 Rabbit GTI with a rear wiper. I guess that would be a Golf over in the UK. I wonder how well the wiper system from one of those would work?
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---1976 standard bus "The Red Toad" transplanted 78 FI 2.0, Hydraulic lifters

---1974 Super Beetle "Gus" 1835 Engle 110 Dual Kadrons

[NASkeet]

[Mark]

Of all the "hacks" done to these vehicles over the years, I think this qualifies as one of the more useful modifications developed.
While not for everyone, I can see why someone would find this useful. I really don't see the problem or need for bashing here.
Thanks for this post Nigel, very informative.
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www.zwerks.ca

[NASkeet]

Shown below, is my abridged technical article about the cross-over-arm, pantograph rear-window wiper, which appeared in one of the commercially published, British VW magazines:

Nigel Skeet, "A Clean Sweep", Workshop, VW Motoring, December 1996, pages 85~86.

_________________
Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net

[mnskmobi]

I look forward to reading Nigel's posts as there are not many who put such much effort into providing detailed information.

Regarding intermittent wipers, my 76 Aussie Kombi has the switch position for intermittent operation (pull wiper lever towards you rather than away) but it is blocked by a removeable plastic plug. In the steering column the spaces are provided for the wiring as well. I haven't checked the relay mounting block to see if the extra terminal can be accommodated but I suspect it can. I have had a few half-hearted looks for a suitable relay but am usually in too much of a hurry at the wreckers (Ah to be single again!).

[NASkeet]

ALTERNATIVE, 1964~67 & 1968~79 VW TYPE 2, REAR-WINDOW WIPER SYSTEMS

On some modern cars, equipped with a conventional single rear-window wiper, it is mounted such that the wiper spindle, passes through the bottom of the window glass, allowing it to sweep an arc of 180 degrees. However, even if it were practical to adopt this improved configuration, sweeping an arc of less than 305 mm (i.e. 12 inches) radius, would be far from ideal for the 1964~67 & 1968~79 VW Type 2's wide, shallow rear window, whose aspect ratio of width to height, is about 3½ : 1.

Apart from the possible use of a specialised, linear-track window wiper or conventional multiple wipers, the cross-over-arm, pantograph wiper design, is the only practical option! Conventional parallel-arm, pantograph wiper systems, which might reasonably be converted to the cross-over-arm configuration, are relatively common on vehicles such as: heavy commercial vehicles (aka lorries, trucks, etc.), public transport omnibuses, agricultural tractors, off-road excavation equipment, boats and aircraft. Hence, even without accesss to Vauxhall Chevette & Astra Mk.1 estate cars or their equivalent, there should be many options, including the purchase of new equipment, from companies such as Vetus.

http://www.vetus.co.uk
[email protected]

During past researches on the Internet, I have come across websites for linear-track window wipers, as used for boat windscreens and other marine applications, but they seem to be powered by 110V or 240V AC supplies and I could find no information about how the motor & linear track, could be mounted to a vehicle's rear hatch. However, it might be practical to use a triple or double window-wiper system, as used for road-vehicles' front windscreens.

In April 2006, I saw in my home town, an L-prefix registration year (corresponding to the early or mid-1990s, I think), Toyota Camry 2•2GL estate car (i.e. station wagon, in USA parlance), with tandem rear-window wipers, having wiper spindles spaced at approximately 350 mm (i.e. nearly 14 inches) centres, so there appears to be a precedent, for factory-fitted, double rear-window wipers!

During my brief correspondence in 1995, with the legendary Arthur Barraclough (who died unexpectedly, in August 1996, at the age of 84), he informed me that he had retro-fitted to the rear hatch of his much modified, British specification, 1970 VW "1600" Type 2 Devon campervan "Rosie" (bequeathed to the Peter Black Museum, in Yorkshire), a double front windscreen-wiper system, which he claimed had originated from a Ford Cortina shooting brake. To my knowledge, there were no Ford Cortina models officially described as shooting brakes, but there was an early-1970s vintage, Ford Cortina Mk.1 estate car, with simulated-wooden side mouldings, which some might term a shooting brake!

Hence, it might be possible to find a donor vehicle, whose factory-fitted, double front windscreen-wiper system, could be adapted for use with the 1964~67 & 1968~79 VW Type 2's wide, shallow rear window. However, there are two important considerations with regard to the wiper-spindle positions, bearing in mind the configuration of the rear hatch, plus the width and aspect ratio of the rear window. These are: (a) how far below the bottom of the rear window, and (b) the sepation distance between wiper-spindle centres. Most vehicles (e.g. VW Types 1, 2, 3 & 4), position the front windscreen-wiper spindles, almost directly below the bottom of the window, corresponding to the upper portion of bodywork bulge, in the VW Type 2's rear hatch, which might preclude a neat, factory-fitted appearance, on the inside of the hatch.

Having already retro-fitted to my own 1973 VW Type 2, a Vauxhall Astra Mk.1 estate-car based, cross-over-arm, pantograph rear-window wiper, I have no reason to actively investigate these alternative rear-window wiper systems, but I shall certainly be interested to learn of other people's attempts; both successful and otherwise!
_________________
Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net

[chrisradioman]

Nigel if you have a spare MK1 astra rear wiper sustem I would be interested in buying it off you.
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http://www.vintagevwweddings.co.uk/contact.html

[EXITSTRATEGY]

it's a beautiful hack and a wonderful inovation. i'd like one.

[krautwaggen]

You're too late.
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Half Bus, Half Truck, What the _______?

[SGKent]

does anyone have a modification where I can get a little robot that cleans the inside and outside of my windows while we drive? That would be more useful. Something like this maybe where the modern version could just service my car while I am driving.

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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[skid]

[NASkeet]

[busdaddy]

Nigel you're back!

The Chevette was never sold as a wagon in NA.
_________________
Rust NEVER sleeps and stock never goes out of style.

Please don't PM technical questions, ask your problem in public so everyone can play along. If you think it's too stupid post it here
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Слава Україні!

[chabanais]

Truly some fascinating posts and very interesting reading. Thank you, Nigel, for your efforts.

In N. America we called the Chevette the "Shitvette."

The Shitvette had a bigger brother, the Citation aka the Shitation.

Carry on!
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"I spud therefore I yam."

[NASkeet]

[kreemoweet]

Well, there it is then: No more coarse language on TheSamba, guys, or else Nigel might get
blocked again, much to our loss!
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'67 bug: seized by the authorities
'68 bug: seized by the authorities
'71 kombi: not yet seized by the authorities

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[NASkeet]

This picture of David Taylor's, German registered, left-hand drive, 1978 VW 1600 Type 2, panel-van based campervan, with full Westfalia interior, was originally featured as follows:

"David, Petra & Sarah Taylor Type 2 Campervan (1978)", Daily Drivers, VW Motoring, October 1997, page 72.

As one can see, there is a rear-window wiper of some description, but I don't know whether it's a universal accessory product or has been salvaged from some donor vehicle. Judging from the wiper's geometry, it's questionable whether it sweeps a significant area of the rear window.

Somewhere in Redhill, Surrey, England, sometime during 1988, I saw parked in a street, a 1968~79 VW Type 2, equipped with a rear-window wiper, which was of the direct-drive type, whose wiper spindle passed through the bodywork bulge below the rear-window glass and the drive-motor was visible inside, protruding from inside the rear hatch. In addition to being an untidy installation, it likewise did not appear to confer a significant sweep area. Sadly, I didn't have my camera with me!

However, the following picture, featured recently on the Internet website, of Cool Campers, in Throop, Bournemouth, Dorset, England, illustrates an external view, of what is a similar, if not identical installation, on a left-hand drive, 1978 Swedish Telecom van. Also just visible, is what might be, a single window washer jet housing, mounted in the top, left-hand corner of the rear hatch.

One of my local acquaintances (lives less than 10 minutes walk from my home), named James Biffin, owns a second-hand, Swedish Army specification, 1975 VW "1800" Type 2 Kombi, that had at sometime been fitted, with some form of rear-window wiper & washer system, which James suspects, might have been a relatively common feature, of Swedish Army specification, 1968~79 VW Type 2 Kombis. So far, I know of two other Swedish Army specification, 1968~79 VW Type 2 Kombis which had or still have, rear-window wipers.

The Late Bay » General » Show Us Your Ride » Rambo - Swedish Army Microbus with special slider

http://thelatebay.com/index.php?topic=17018.0

A Swedish Army specification, 1975 VW 1800 Type 2 Kombi, with missing rear-window wiper - same vehicle with Swedish and British licence plates?

Another Swedish army specification, 1968~79 VW Type 2 Kombi, with a damaged rear-window wiper

_________________
Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net

[samwise]

Nigel, ask him if his M-plate includes the 425 code - that's the M-code for the rear window wiper (a DM267.37 option in Germany, in 1979)
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Ben
1979 7-passenger bus
Harvee the Wonder Bus' pics

[NASkeet]