It seems that the wiper motor for the '73 is hard to find. Many vendors don't even list one. I ordered one from Zip that was listed w/o a washer pump and got one like the one in the first pic and it has a pump. So I call them and they tell me it's the right pn and I tell them it is not correct. They tell me it's out of stock and to send it back. Since most vendors don't list a 73, I ordered one from Autowarehouse on-line. It was listed as a 73 w/o a washer pump. It arrives (first pic), and has a pump, and is exactly the same as the one ZIP sent me, a reman Cardone:



The old one looks like this:



The connectors on the harness look like this:



The connectors for the motor fit, but the connectors for the 73 pump are the round pin type and have a separate ground wire. In the pic you can see where the pins plug into connectors on the pump and where the ground wire plugs in:

[IMG][/IMG]

On the reman one there is no connector for the ground wire but there is a ground strap to a mounting bolt. There is no way that the fiberglass cowling has a ground, right?

Are the vendors selling a later motor w/pump and passing it off as a '73 and expecting the buyer to rewire a new connector? Where can I find a real '73 motor and pump Should I just suck it up and rewire and use this one? I'm not concerned about NCRS points, I just want a functioning motor/pump.

 

the pumps are suppose to be the same 68-73, looked at my 72 and the cover is different than your new one, went on e-bay looked around and found a 73 cover in the discription it said "corvette only not for passenger car" can't see GM making different ww motors for different models, if they are unavailable you probaley have the passenger model, I believe the L spade on the old motor screwed on above the 3 gang motor spades is for the ground, my guess I'am figuring the blue and yellow go to the two spades which way don't have a clue, my wires to the pump are different colors and my ground is pigie backed to the heater blower motor, good luck.....keep lookin at the pump connectors, is there a 3rd vertical spade or just an opening for one can't tell ?

 

Yes. The old cover is different from the new one. The connectors on the old pump are different also. The new one has spade connectors and the old one has female connectors for the exposed male pins on the wiring, and, as you mentioned, the old one has a spade connector for the ground wire and the new one doesn't.

The point is, I've gotten the same incorrect item from two different vendors when I ordered what they called the correct part. So, will this keep happening? I don't want to keep myself caught in this loop. I know Dr Rebuild (his warehouse is 5 miles from me) has the correct part, but wants $500 plus for a reproduction.

Can I wire this to work, and how?

BTW, the pictures on the vendors' websites show the correct part w/o pump, but two of them have sent me the incorrect part w/pump!!!!

 

Yea I was going to say you can probably cut your wires and adapt them. Should work but I don't know the which wire goes where.

But as a 73 owner myself I will watch this thread to see if someone else has done the change.

 

You're right. I guess just experiment with the polarity and I could take the ground spade connector off the old motor and use it on the new. Opinions/advice??

I see you're in S'field, VA. I'll be there the last weekend of March for a unit reunion.

BTW, check my project blog on the link in my signature.

 

Maybe I can help you here. I am not sure if you called in why a salesperson did not notify me of this. This has been an issue, but it is one that is manageable. First the motor is correct for the 73, what is not correct is that ground strap that they install. The motors come from AC/Delco which Cardone is a rebuilder for them. Here is how you fix the motor to be correct for your car.
They did not used to include the washer pump or the bushings in the motor, if you read our description we state that you have to purchase these. Now the motors are coming with a replacement pump and one bushing installed, that bushing has that universal ground strap in it. You can discard both of them. The correct washer pump is our part number WW-353 and it is $139. You will then need to purchase 3 bushings which are part number WW-370 for $17.50 and it had the correct bent ground strap plus the 2 other grommets. The spade that is on your motor now will unbolt and you can reuse it on the new motor. This will make everything plug right in.
Another Option is to send in your old motor for a rebuild. It takes about 3-4 weeks but your original motor gets rebuilt.
Thanks
Justin

 

yeh, don't you just love the aftermarket,I dont have a 73 Gm manual but I do have a 63-82 Chilton vette manual and in it it has a simplified wiring diagram for the wiper motor, send me a PM with your personal e-mail address I'll scan it and send it

 

The motor you received is a replacement motor, and you can use the pump supplied (if it will fit next to the firewall) by adapting the Yellow and blue bullet terminals to fit it. This can be done with a butt connector (your original bullet will plug into it) a tiny section of wire and a spade terminal.

I'll be at the parts store today and see what ours looks like.

 

This is the option I would have chosen if it's not too late.

 

I have good used one off my '73 i would sell cheap if you want.

 

Thanks, Justin. I didn't intend to flame you. I just thought since the '73 has been hard to find, it is an industry wide problem. And I was aware that I had to purchase a pump separately. That's why I was surprised when both yours and the other vendor's had the pump installed. I have access to a pump locally, if they still have it.

I did call in and talk to one of your sales folks, uses initials, and he said he would talk to someone about it. Also told me I could return it, so I did. Thanks again for your explanation and advise. Let me ponder all the suggestions on the thread. Since I now have one in hand, I don't want to get into the return shipping again if I can avoid it. Having said that, how much is the rebuild service for my old one?

Carl

 

If you are concerned about originality, go for the rebuild option, or try Doc Rebuild, he use to or still does have the correct ones.

 

Thanks. I have the manual and other wiring diagrams.

 

I live 5 miles from his warehouse and pick up a lot of stuff there. He wants $500 + for the '73 motor. He has the correct pump for a reasonable price. As I said in my original post, I'm more concerned with function than originality, but original is nice.

 

I do have the motor in stock, it's 90.00 with a core, and correct! It won't come with a washer pump... I'll post a picture in a few minutes. The picture on the site only shows the back side, the new one will show both.

Oh.. and if you did decide to purchase this motor.... it is the one you would receive. I had them take new pictures of it today.

 

Thanks to Willcox. Let me ponder this. Since I'm not concerned with originality, my inclination is to make the one I have work. It cost me the shipping to get the first one, then shipping to send it back. So I would be doing the same if I send the one I have back. Besides, I got the pump included for the price of the motor.

 

The washer pump is part of the issue.. the correct pump will not come with the motor, it is only available in reproduction and a bit on the expensive side compared to the replacement pump.

Have you checked to see if it will clear the firewall?

 

I had the first one (the one from Zip) mounted and everything looked good. I have to go out oftown for a couple days, but will be able to double check it on Tuesday.

 

If it mounted then all you need to do is make sure you have the motor case has a good ground, plug in the three wire connection and then make two jumper connectors for the washer pump... you'll be good to go.

No need in sending back to anyone if function is all you are after...