Wiper arms - where from?

[QBee]

Cannot find the alternative parts list, probably my fault, but wotever (as my daughter says).

Can someone please tell me from which car the Chimaera wiper arms come, please? It's a 99 car, if it matters. Mine are rusty. I imagine they are standard 90s Fiesta, but just checking to save time.

Thanks

[ianwayne]

Here's the list but wiper arms not listed:

http://www.chimaerapages.com/parts-list.html

2 yrs ago, I removed mine when they were quite rusty, rubbed them down, treated the bare metal and resprayed with matt black plasti-kote paint. Still look acceptable now and I park it outside.

[FlipFlopGriff]

I've got these on both Griffs - fit the screen better with much improved sprays jets plus gets rid of the tubing loops,
http://www.leventechnology.co.uk/products/washwipe...
FFG

[N7GTX]

TVR Parts Anthony? In 1999 they changed over so take your pick.

https://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tvr-m...

https://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tvr-m...

The early ones I think were from a 1980's LDV van or similar. I gave up searching and went to Halfords. I bought some wet and dry and a can of their own brand Satin Black paint. Its an easy job if you take your time and apply around 5 light coats.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-body-repai...

[portzi]

N7GTX said:

TVR Parts Anthony? In 1999 they changed over so take your pick.

https://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tvr-m...

https://tvr-parts.com/tvr-parts/part-details/tvr-m...

The early ones I think were from a 1980's LDV van or similar. I gave up searching and went to Halfords. I bought some wet and dry and a can of their own brand Satin Black paint. Its an easy job if you take your time and apply around 5 light coats.

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/paints-body-repai...

I did the same, DMS them ,prime and base coat.
Then l saw the price from TVR parts and wish l bought new ones as they are not expensive, compared to manhours spent on the originals

[carsy]

FlipFlopGriff said:

I've got these on both Griffs - fit the screen better with much improved sprays jets plus gets rid of the tubing loops,
http://www.leventechnology.co.uk/products/washwipe...
FFG

Yep me too. Look a lot tidier.

[ChimpOnGas]

FlipFlopGriff said:

I've got these on both Griffs - fit the screen better with much improved sprays jets plus gets rid of the tubing loops,
http://www.leventechnology.co.uk/products/washwipe...
FFG

This is what I did, bought Leven's full arm and blade set, I looked at alternatives but in the end decided I'd be better off just buying the parts that were guaranteed to fit first time and they did just that.

The wiper system on a Chimaera is marginal at best, the use of the ancient Lucas spiral cable system was a shocking idea, it's a system best suited to 50hp Triumph Heralds & Morris Minors from the 1960's and it wasn't all that good back then. I appreciate the motor on a Chimaera is little stronger than what you got in the 50's & 60's but it doesn't compensate for what is an archaic drive mechanism design that has no place on a car capable of reaching and exceeding 150mph.

Anything you can do to improve the situation should be seriously considered, the Leven arms, blades and washer system works well and fits perfectly first time with no messing about, add some Rain-X to the screen and it's about as good as it gets.

As such my recommendation would be to pay the little bit extra and just buy the complete Leven arm and blade set, then use a rain repellent glass coating to make their life a little easier. Finally always avoid using the wipers on a dry screen as they really need the lubrication of some water to work, the system we're burdened with isn't anywhere near modern wiper standards so can fail if you try to wipe a dry screen.

[QBee]

Thanks guys. Good info.
I already have the excellent Leven washer system - went to see the man in Melton Mowbray and bought it there and then. One jet has come off its mounting, but that's just 10 seconds with the superglue tube to fix, and a day to get the bloody stuff off my fingers.
My two issues I have are the other elements:
1. The original metal arms are as rusty as hell and need replacing or reprinting.
2. The blades Leven also sold me are knackered and need replacing.

I do have a spray can of matt black paint. Already used it to refurbish my "gold" Chimaera badge (plastic cover broken off). About 15 light coats, then flatted back with P400 wet and dry, job's a goodun. I guess I could clean up the arms and spray them, but with a desk load of accounts awaiting my pleasure I am favouring the swap and forget approach.

The blades I guess are just a trip to Allwoods (our local auto parts place - think Halfords, but the guys do have a clue).