Questons about a '72

Hi I'm new to this board, but I have been a huge Corvette fan all my life. I have been looking for a "bumper year" Corvette for quite some time. Well I think I have found a ‘72 that I’m very interested in, but it has a few issues I would like to ask you all about.

1. The windshield wipers don’t work and the present owner suggests it could be a relay or the motor itself. What I want to know is how difficult it is to replace the motor on your own? How much do wiper motors go for? Also the wiper doors don’t work, how do you go about fixing that, or is it even worth it?

2. The present owner replaced the old ignition system with a new electronic system and the tach doesn’t work. He suggested buying a tach from a 74 or 75 (they are electric) and replacing the existing the mechanical tach. Does this sound like a feasible plan? How hard is it to find a 74 or 75 tach?

Otherwise the car is in good shape and I am very interested. Any help would be appreciated.

|UPDATED|6/26/2003 10:21:49 AM|/UPDATED|

i haven't had to replace my wiper motor yet but it shouldn't be too difficult. as fas as the wiper door they are often broken from trying to se them when snow covered. they aren't too difficult to repair and all repair parts are avaible, it's just a little tight getting to the 4 screws to take the cober off. be extra careful when removing the cover scrws 2 per side as they break easily. As far as the tach i would replace the dist with a tach drive unit and run the correct tach cable. but thats my preference. it will only increase the cars value with the correct tach drive dist. you can find them at swap meets or complearly rebuit at most vette suppliers.

It looks like you have found a nice car. I have had no experience with wiper doors but it sounds like minor work. Parts are available for all of these cars.

Before you commit to removing your mechanical tach you should know that the 1974 is also mechanical, not electric. I don't know about the 1975. I agree with Garry. I, too, would look for a tach drive distributor.

|UPDATED|6/27/2003 6:50:42 AM|/UPDATED|

Thank for the info! I will have to look into that tach drive distributor.

Garry-- saw your sharp vette comvertr. om this thread, I'd like to know what size and make tires you have the car. I like the way they look. Thanks much--Tom

tire size is 255-60-15. they are the same diameter as the orgional tires just 2 inches wider. they will keep your speedometer correct.

Hi

I heard about a place that can modifie modern non tach drive distributors into mechanical tach drives.
Unfortunately , i don't know the cost .

Installing a later C3 electric tach should work as well and will not depress the car's value too much.

On the wiper motor, I think it should be fairly easy to fix it. I will know for sure once I reinstall the complete wiper door setup on my 68. Presently, it's running a long L88 hood eliminating this setup.
But I do have all parts and it will be retrofitted.

If the car is otherwise OK, this 2 little minor problems shouldn't stop you from getting it.

Good luck. Gunther

The wiper motor and the wiper door work in conjuction with each other,if the door doesn't open the wiper motor won't turn on. There is a elec. vac. combo relay located behind the speedo tach cluster,I think it is discontinued,I found one at Dr. Rebuild a couple years ago for 125.00

Chris McDonald (aka 69MyWay) showed everyone at Bowling Green the electric alternatives he has developed (and has working on 'Killer') for converting the wiper door AND headlight vacuum systems. Very, very nice and neat if you're not too concerned about keeping the car original. Send him an e-mail if you're interested in more info.

The tach not working has nothing to do with the electronic ignition that was changed. The tach is mechanical and the gear is probably worn out. A simple repair where the tach screws into the dist below the cap in the back. There are two pieces that may need to be replaced. I guess the guage itself could be bad but more likely it is the gears that I described inside the coupling.