Top Of Windshield Wiper Motor

Greetings,
I picked up a 1973 Jeep CJ5 that needs wiper motor(s) that mount to top of windshield frame. I don’t know if the windshield frame was replaced from an older model as I have not been able to find any definitive information for replacement motor(s) and linkage. Any guidance would be appreciated.

 

73 should have bottom mounted wipers. Top mounts are from an older model.

 

Lot of people go with electric marine (boat) wipers for top mounts. "Hot rod" kits are available too, cheaper but lesser quaility. Original top mounts were vacuum powered.

 

This. Jeep changed to bottom mount electric wipers in 68 ish. The frames are physically interchangeable but the newer style has better wipers & a larger windshield glass for better visibility.

 

You could probably find a used/decent/correct frame for around the same price as a set of good wiper motors. Try a Want To Buy (or Want To Trade?) ad on here.

My biggest gripe with the top wipers is how the rain gets wiped away, then it just runs back down the windshield due to that pesky thing called gravity. Super annoying.

 

This. It's worse with heavy wet snow.

 

If you decide to keep the existing frame, go with electric wipers. Even if you can find a set of vacuum ones, they are miserable when the engine is under load.

 

Big cams don't help either...

 

I went to all the work to weld mounts for High End Marine wipers on my 64 windshield frame and they work fine, but I would not recommend it unless you live where it rains a lot and can weld. The Hot Rod ones that Pete L is talking about are good enough to get home on, and don't cost and arm and a leg.

 

That is my experience too.

 

Not all of them, I don't know when the switch happened, but that last of the top mount wiper Jeeps had electric wipers available. Here's the factory ones on the '68 I used to have:


Numerous other Jeeps on the forum have these too.

Maurywhurt has a really good thread on rebuilding them: Rebuilding American Bosch Wwf Electric Wiper Motors

 

Many thanks. I appreciate the info on the 68 model it has given me a direction to research. Considering I am in South Texas Gulf Coast the likelihood of snow is low but the beach has high potential.