Raingear or DSE, Which hidden wiper system?

[Just 1 More]

I need a wiper system and like the idea of hidden motor systems. Opinions on what brand? Pros? Cons? Edited to add: 68 Camaro

[Tsaints1115]

For what car would help.

[Just 1 More]

For what car would help.

68 Camaro

[John McIntire]

In for the replies...I want a completely clean firewall, so I'm leaning towards the Raingear setup. The DSE piece is very nice I'm sure, I just want a smooth firewall.

[jchurchtx]

I just installed a Raingear set up in my 67 Camaro- very straight forward and easy with solid instructions. Didn't take much time at at besides cutting out the old sheet metal and installing a new patch ( i cut the whole area out and fabbed my out patch out of 18g sheet metal to be completely smooth rather than the patch provided in the kit).

High quality parts/kit.

Here's a good youtube video to help as well.

Thanks,
John

[mc84_zz4]

Adding link: https://raingearwipers.com/
And: https://www.detroitspeed.com/detroit...irebird-121001

[TANKMASTERJ]

I need a wiper system and like the idea of hidden motor systems. Opinions on what brand? Pros? Cons? Edited to add: 68 Camaro

I haven't got my car on the road yet but the rain gear is a very well engineered kit. Install was like 2 hours and pretty easy.
Jason

[Just 1 More]

Guess I should have updated this. I went with the RainGear and couldn't be happier. Great set up, easy install and works. Love it

[John McIntire]

Thanks for the updates!

Could you guys share where you ran the wiring through to get inside the car?

Thanks!

[TANKMASTERJ]

Thanks for the updates!

Could you guys share where you ran the wiring through to get inside the car?

Thanks!

I followed the rain gear instructions to the t. It describes drilling the hole between 4 a d 6 inches from the center of the driver wiper drive mount hole. I went with 5". You get a rubber grommet with it and just run them through it. I drilled it as high in the cowl as a drill and bit allowed for water shedding reasons.
I've wound up drilling quite a few holes in the cowl panel between rain bear, vintage ac, and my ecm mounts etc. I used a rubber washer and at stainless washers alonng with 1/4"X20 allen head stainless for all bolts. My cowl pan will be sealed in the original one vented cowl panel holes so water won't be an issue anyway.
Jason i
tankmasterj

[Alponcho]

I'm considering both of these kits for a 79 Trans Am. DSE's kit only goes up to '77 for Firebird (and '78 Camaro for some reason), and Raingear lists a version that is specific to 79-81 (and another version for 70-78). Does anyone know what's different for '79 and up? Is it just the switch/bracket? And if so, wondering if this relevant to Firebird since the wiper switch location and orientation is the same.

[BonzoHansen]

I'm considering both of these kits for a 79 Trans Am. DSE's kit only goes up to '77 for Firebird (and '78 Camaro for some reason), and Raingear lists a version that is specific to 79-81 (and another version for 70-78). Does anyone know what's different for '79 and up? Is it just the switch/bracket? And if so, wondering if this relevant to Firebird since the wiper switch location and orientation is the same.

DSE doesn't make one anymore for the articulated arms that park ('hidden'). And I think that was all of them by 79. That was an option in the earlier years, but became standard at some point. Motors are not interchangeable from old style vs hidden. Raingear calls it pantograph

I have the old DSE ones for the articulated arms and its problematic and DSE doesn't have any answers. Not surprising they don't make one now

Newport wipers is another option.

[Alponcho]

Do the wiper arms on the Raingear system park below the hood line, like the OEM concealed ones do? Raingear says their system is hidden, but I suspect they're referring to the fact that the motors are located in the cowl rather than whether the wiper arms are visible.

I looked into the Newport wiper motor...but as with the other systems, they just list for '70-78 (two versions, with and without pantograph). Again, not sure what's different about 79 and up.

The only reason why I'm even considering aftermarket wiper systems is because the washer part attached to the OEM wiper motor interferes with the fuel rail.

[Just 1 More]

Do the wiper arms on the Raingear system park below the hood line, like the OEM concealed ones do? Raingear says their system is hidden, but I suspect they're referring to the fact that the motors are located in the cowl rather than whether the wiper arms are visible.

I looked into the Newport wiper motor...but as with the other systems, they just list for '70-78 (two versions, with and without pantograph). Again, not sure what's different about 79 and up.

The only reason why I'm even considering aftermarket wiper systems is because the washer part attached to the OEM wiper motor interferes with the fuel rail.

There is no place for the wipers to park below the cowl. The motor is hidden and all that is exposed are the arms.

[Alponcho]

There is no place for the wipers to park below the cowl. The motor is hidden and all that is exposed are the arms.

Perhaps my query wasn't clear enough, so let me restate more directly. On a second gen F body, where do the wiper arms park with the Raingear system? Is it closer to where the wiper arms park with an OEM concealed/hide away/hidden/depressed wiper set-up (standard 77-81, below the back edge of the hood) or closer to where the wiper arms park with the standard (for 70-76) non-concealed wiper set-up (on the glass peaking out above the back edge of the hood)?

I have the same question for the DSE and Newport wiper motors.

[Just 1 More]

Perhaps my query wasn't clear enough, so let me restate more directly. On a second gen F body, where do the wiper arms park with the Raingear system? Is it closer to where the wiper arms park with an OEM concealed/hide away/hidden/depressed wiper set-up (standard 77-81, below the back edge of the hood) or closer to where the wiper arms park with the standard (for 70-76) non-concealed wiper set-up (on the glass peaking out above the back edge of the hood)?

I have the same question for the DSE and Newport wiper motors.

I have no clue on a 2nd Gen

[dhutton]

Call Raingear. They are very helpful.

[BonzoHansen]

Perhaps my query wasn't clear enough, so let me restate more directly. On a second gen F body, where do the wiper arms park with the Raingear system? Is it closer to where the wiper arms park with an OEM concealed/hide away/hidden/depressed wiper set-up (standard 77-81, below the back edge of the hood) or closer to where the wiper arms park with the standard (for 70-76) non-concealed wiper set-up (on the glass peaking out above the back edge of the hood)?

I have the same question for the DSE and Newport wiper motors.

the actual wiper arms dictate what you need.

hidden


regular (these might be 1st gen, but concept is the same)


edit: to be clear, that is not the only difference, its just an easy way to ID. The motor, the motor mounting plate, the harness, the wiper transmission are all different from one system to the other. Do a quick google of something like "1979 camaro wiper differences hidden vs standard" and you'll get a number of threads on this.