Conference napalm::musclecars

    I've got a question on the windshield wiper assembly on my 1970
    Challenger. It appears to have the three speed wiper motor. The
    problem is that when you turn the wipers on, they do their normal
    sweep, but when you turn them off, they don't retract below the hood
    like they should. They just stop wherever they happen to be when you
    hit the knob. Is this a sign of a bad wiper motor, or incorrectly
    assembled linkage? 
                                           Thanks for any help, Eric.

Does the motor protrude from the firewall (two speed) or does it lay parallel 
to the firewall (variable/three speed)?

The wiper switch has three separate connectors.  One is a multiple wire 
connector, the other two are single wire connectors, one of which has a slot 
along one side of the connector that allows the key tab of the switch to 
protrude through the opening.  Make sure all the connections are in place.

Make sure the motor is adequately grounded.  This is probably already the case 
because it wouldn't work at all if it wasn't.  However, it may be experiencing 
a loss of ground when the motor tries to reverse into park.  A real longshot, 
though.

If the motor works other than when you want to park the wipers, I'd opt for the 
wrong motor or a defective switch (or broken "park" lead between the motor and 
switch)

There's always the possibility that the circuit is broken inside the wiper but 
that's not too difficult to test if you have another motor.  They unplug at the 
firewall from the engine side so all you have to do is plug in a new motor and 
ground it with a jumper lead then try out the switch.  If it reverses into the 
park position, swap in a new motor.  You might want to mark the shaft or 
install a dummy arm just so that you can see the rotational relationship of the 
shaft in both "sweep" mode and in park mode.

The arm should be in the same position every time you shut the motor off.  
It'll either reverse and park right away (if it's barely into it's sweep) or 
it'll finish the sweep then reverse into park position.

      Thanks for the quick reply Skip, I'll play with it over the weekend
    and let you know what I find. 
    
                                                        -ERIC-

Haven't seen this talked about yet and I have a couple of questions.


   1. Does anyone know the approximate location of the serial numbers
      on dodge/plymouth e-body cars?

   2. Anyone know where a new fenter build plate can be made? I have the   
      original build sheet which matches the VIN number.


Thanks in advance

Mike D. 

>>>   1. Does anyone know the approximate location of the serial numbers
>>>      on dodge/plymouth e-body cars?

	 On the driver's side cowl area you will find a partial VIN
         number. I'll be B or J (Barracuda or Challenger) followed by
         the year (0,1,2,3,4 for 1970,71,72,73 or 74) and the last
         six digits of the VIN (sequence number). This same number is
         also found on the radiator support rail (drivers side).

                  Example:  B 0 179042  (1970 Barracuda)

>>>   2. Anyone know where a new fenter build plate can be made? I have the   
>>>      original build sheet which matches the VIN number.
 
         I got this out of Hemmings:   

			Fender Tags Reproduced ($40/Tag)
			Marti Auto Works
			5816 W San Miguel, Ste A4
			Glendale, AZ 85019
			(602) 937-4122
    

  Thanks for the info about fendertags. I'll give the guy a call and see what

   the procedure is.


Mike D

    Can I get some quick pointers to mail order (or other) places for
    Challenger interior restoration pices/parts?
    
    Thanks,
    Frank M

    The Paddock.  800-428-4319
    
    They have a Dodge/Plymouth catalog.
    
    MadMike

    Thanks Mike, I appreciate it.
    
    f.m.