1966 stock wiper blade search. No luck finding quality.

[72freak]

I have read a post or 10 about the same issue. I am having a bear of a time finding quality blades that will actually not come off the stock or aftermarket 66 arms. They all seem to have enough slop to twist right off. I do not have any stock blade housings that are in good enough shape to just replace the element and I have tried several from different suppliers and local parts houses with no real success. Every set I get has too much slop. FYI, for those not familiar with the year swaps they are different (smaller) from 67-72. Below is a picture of the last set I got, originally from The Truck Shop and were sold through Tim Tygarts. They were so sloppy they would just fall off. I was told by them that their R&D team saw nothing wrong with them.!?! Also pictured is an old aftermarket blade and arm I do have that will work but I need a match for it.

Have any of you 60-66 guys had any luck finding a replacement?

[Casaba]

Same issue I've had. The splined knobs are starting to break as well. I think it's time to find some junkyard wiper parts and try replacing the splined knobs somehow to use new arms

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by 72freak

I have read a post or 10 about the same issue. I am having a bear of a time finding quality blades that will actually not come off the stock or aftermarket 66 arms. They all seem to have enough slop to twist right off. I do not have any stock blade housings that are in good enough shape to just replace the element and I have tried several from different suppliers and local parts houses with no real success. Every set I get has too much slop. FYI, for those not familiar with the year swaps they are different (smaller) from 67-72. Below is a picture of the last set I got, originally from The Truck Shop and were sold through Tim Tygarts. They were so sloppy they would just fall off. I was told by them that their R&D team saw nothing wrong with them.!?! Also pictured is an old aftermarket blade and arm I do have that will work but I need a match for it.

Have any of you 60-66 guys had any luck finding a replacement?

Search I'net for Trico's that fit your application--13", IIRC. Take that Trico number to a local parts place selling Trico's. They likely will NOT have that number--that's reason for you to research it and furnish it for them to order. You will find that that "splined-end" in your right pic may be necessary for your arms(esp. after-mkt arms) to lie completely flat and parallel to your windshield bottom. DON'T lose it!
HTH,
Sam

[cArNaGe]

The only place I've been able to find them is carquest. And the only size they have that fit are 11". They are 11-52 ro 11-51, I can't remember which one. All the others have a bigger slot. This one I had to force on to fit.

[raic65]

I just installed these wiper blades and they haven't twisted off yet. The plastic piece to the left in the picture actually tightened up the wiper fitment not allowing it to twist.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121188538529...84.m1497.l2649

[kieth]

I just purchased some "trico classic 13-122" classic wiper blades with arms, they look great nice stainless steel , only problem they did not fit, the tang on the arm is too long, it will not allow the little button to engage and hold the arm in place. Dang it, then the other blade on the drivers side fell off while being used.....Just running a little stub on the drivers side while I try and modify the arm to let the new trico fit. (I have a spare base arm and will modify it first.....Kieth

[1963c-10]

Are you looking for the red dot Trico heads or the non dot heads?

[rideblue00]

i used an anco universal blade and trimmed it to length, works fine

[newbe351]

Originally Posted by raic65

I just installed these wiper blades and they haven't twisted off yet. The plastic piece to the left in the picture actually tightened up the wiper fitment not allowing it to twist.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121188538529...84.m1497.l2649

The Anco 13" are the only ones that I've found to work with the little adaptor piece. Check the package, however, before you buy them. They don't always have the adaptor piece. There is another thread on here where someone makes the adaptor with a 3D printer. Don't know if he would be willing to part with a few......

[72freak]

Originally Posted by newbe351

The Anco 13" are the only ones that I've found to work with the little adaptor piece. Check the package, however, before you buy them. They don't always have the adaptor piece. There is another thread on here where someone makes the adaptor with a 3D printer. Don't know if he would be willing to part with a few......

Yea, I have seen that thread.

[72freak]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

Are you looking for the red dot Trico heads or the non dot heads?

I don't know the difference in dots v/s non dot. I am looking for the factory style wiper blades. They slide in and have a little tang and hole and they snap in and line up with the hole.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by kieth

I just purchased some "trico classic 13-122" classic wiper blades with arms, they look great nice stainless steel , only problem they did not fit, the tang on the arm is too long, it will not allow the little button to engage and hold the arm in place. Dang it, then the other blade on the drivers side fell off while being used.....Just running a little stub on the drivers side while I try and modify the arm to let the new trico fit. (I have a spare base arm and will modify it first.....Kieth

I have a spare wiper arm base (the one that attached to the motor shaft and has the arm with the small dot on it, I took the arm and used a grinder on it to shorten the length of the rectangular arm, It slid into the trico arm and clicked just like it should. The wiper blades are only 12" long though, is this the correct length ? Kieth

[1963c-10]

The original wipers from the factory were the 13" trico red dots. They used blade refills instead of the whole wiper head swap. Most of the heads were replaced to the more modern style (replaced head) than the refill style. The refill style had red dots on the tops of the heads. Press the red dots and the blade assembly released from the head.

Also...most of the original Trico arms I've seen on these trucks had an adjustable head as yours and mine do. Seems that when arms were replaced they went to a one piece non-adjustable style head. I prefer the adjustable style as you can adjust the angle the wiper lays on the windshield.

[72freak]

Originally Posted by raic65

I just installed these wiper blades and they haven't twisted off yet. The plastic piece to the left in the picture actually tightened up the wiper fitment not allowing it to twist.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121188538529...84.m1497.l2649

I ordered a set of these. I requested the packaging be inspected before shipping to ensure the adapter sleeve was in there. Of course they arrived and one of them was not included. The one I did install was a great fit. Its not the style I was looking for but it appears its the only wipers on the market that will work at this time.

Thanks for the tip.