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Windshield Wiper Switch - 1963 Ford Galaxie Fastback

Good morning all,

Has anyone had to rebuild or replace the windshield wiper dashboard switch behind their dash on a '63 Galaxie Fastback?

I was in Ocean City this past weekend (where it rained) when I found out my wipers are dead. I got up under the dash, and found that the switch consists of a dash-mounted housing with 4 "fingers" set at 0,

90, 270, and 360 degrees, a black switching mechanism, and the wiring harness, which slides onto the 4 aforementioned fingers.

The switching mechanism seems to be the problem - it looks like it's fallen apart, but I can't tell how it was built originally. There are four parts that I found - a black plastic swivel piece, a center post which the black piece rotates on, a TINY spring, and a circular metal pressure plate. I don't know how it all fits back together. I can also post pics if need be.

Has anyone had to rebuild one of these, or replace one? I did a quick look through Mac's and Dearborn and couldn't find a replacement (know where I could find one?), so any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Jason (Baltimore)

Reply to
Willis
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Hi Jason, I had to dust off some brain cells to remember what that switch looked like. A quick Ebay search turned up one for an early 60's pickup that I think is the same switch. Item #8006442398. I think the switch is the same, you would have to change the bezel and knob. Hope this helps. Here's a link to the Galaxie Club of America. Check it out.

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Reply to
Tom Adkins

It's possible that it is the same switch used in Ford p/u trucks, Mustangs, Falcons, etc of that era. For example, I am using an intermittent wiper switch from a late 60s F150 p/u. The switch is the same, as is the knob, as my 65 Mustang. The difference is that the shaft the knob goes on is longer for the truck, so it's a matter of cutting it to the right length and creating a flat spot for the knob set screw. Of course, it also has a black box in the wiring harness which controls the timing for intermittent operation. The end result is to turn the knob one way turns on the wipers, and turn it the other and you can adjust the frequency. The switch, black box, wiper motor, and wiring cost $25 used at a wrecking yard where F-150s are plentiful. The intermittent type comes from one of the deluxe models, and the average F150 will have the standard single or 2 speed system.

If you can determine if it is the same switch, I have a number of Mustang, Ford truck, TBird, falcon catalogs from that era which do list the wiper switch.

Spike

1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior; Vintage 40 16" rims w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A gForce Radial 225/50ZR16 KDWS skins; surround sound audio-video. Feb 2004 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/003_May_21_3004.jpgFeb 2004 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/005_May_21_2004.jpgJul 2005 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/davescar_7_11_05_002.jpgJul 2005 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/Engine_rebuild_006.jpg
Reply to
Spike

Spike wrote: I am using an intermittent wiper switch from a late 60s F150 p/u.

Late 60s? Never saw that option on a pickup till about 73 or 74. Gotta be pretty uncommon. I thought my 72 was pretty deluxe with dealer installed A\C.

Reply to
Tom Adkins

I believe it is. The guy who got me with it has been using them on Broncos for ages. As I recall it was off a 68 or 69 (it's been sitting in a box for ages - it seems - waiting for the Mustang to be ready. For all I know it was a special order item. As long as it works is what I care about.

Also, Mustang Project is working on a conversion for this mod. Spike

1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior; Vintage 40 16" rims w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A gForce Radial 225/50ZR16 KDWS skins; surround sound audio-video. Feb 2004 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/003_May_21_3004.jpgFeb 2004 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/005_May_21_2004.jpgJul 2005 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/davescar_7_11_05_002.jpgJul 2005 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/Engine_rebuild_006.jpg
Reply to
Spike

Here are some pics of the switch parts:

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Reply to
Willis

I checked all the catalogs related to Ford and Mercury, both autos and trucks (although I don't have a specific Galaxie catalog) and didn't find anything similar. Sorry. What you have there appears like it could be just a piece of the switch.

I think it's a case of search the Galaxie links via Google for clubs as someone else suggested. Even as common as a lot of Mustang parts are, I've had to do that a couple of times. Sometimes you get really good help, and sometimes you don't. So try as many links/sources as you can.

Best of Luck

Spike

1965 Ford Mustang fastback 2+2 A Code 289 C4 Trac-Lok Vintage Burgundy w/Black Standard Interior; Vintage 40 16" rims w/BF Goodrich Comp T/A gForce Radial 225/50ZR16 KDWS skins; surround sound audio-video. Feb 2004 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/003_May_21_3004.jpgFeb 2004 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/005_May_21_2004.jpgJul 2005 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/davescar_7_11_05_002.jpgJul 2005 - http://207.36.208.198/albums/86810/Engine_rebuild_006.jpg
Reply to
Spike

I got up under the dash 2nite and took the switch completely apart, because I had removed the wire connector and the bezel out of the dash. The part number is:

Drum roll please...........

C3AB - 17A553 - C1

Now the Ebay search begins hehe

Reply to
Willis

AHA!

So I started putting parts together the other night, and couldn't figure the switch out. After all, I wasn't seeing any metal touching metal (which can't be good).

So I dug under the dash AGAIN and found 3 brass contacts that sit within the black plastic center housing. They each sit at about 1,

120, and 200 degrees.

Can anyone tell me the true order that this stuff goes together? Here's what I'm assuming:

Wire Terminal + (3 Brass Contacts + Black Centerpiece + Spring & Center Pin (Can anyone verify that they sit INSIDE the black housing) + Small Metal Disk (Does it rest against the flat back side of the actual knob rod) + Dash Mount Housing

Reply to
Willis

Ok - so I got the switch back together (in the order above), but now my windshield wipers won't park. Does anyone know if this is definitely the motor or the switch???

Thanks,

Willis

Reply to
Willis

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