A Challenge....

[gav]

Hi all
I am nearing the end of a long list of reversible mods to make my Elan easier to use as a day to day car but there is one last task for me and I would welcome thoughts on approach.
My philosophy has been to maintain the external appearance throughout but this is one item that I may allow to change because function is to me more important than form.
I am talking about windscreen wipers that work as they should and don't lose contact from the glass as soon as you hit a reasonable speed.
I like the idea of the modern low profile blades that hug the contours of the screen but so far haven't found any arms to house them.
The motor is fine and the system up to the splines works ok and I don't really want to take the dash out to mess with them so I am looking at arms and blades at this stage.
What have people tried other than Rainex ?
I look forward to hearing.
Thanks
Gavin

[elanfan1]

Rainex and Speedblades??

[gav]

Still looking for alternatives to Rainex and speedblades....

[ftsoft]

My wipers have always stayed on until around 100 mph. I don't reach these speeds anymore alas.

[Chrispy]

I haven't had much trouble with my +2. Passenger side has a bit the blades miss due to the curvature, but certainly good enough at legal highway speeds.

[el-saturn]

i love GB and even lived there (NH) and know your weather very well, as we here share the wet climate with you; i can't really understand WHY elans have to be weather proof - in 40 yrs of ownership i NEVER took my baby for a WET WALK, as all of us (??) have a 2nd car, so why sacrifice? - just leave her at home: plus no wiper issues!! sandy

[Keith Scarfe]

I have found the best way to make the wipers work 'as best they can' is to get the SMALLEST (length) ones you can find. If you get the larger length ones (14" I think) they don't contact the screen properly especially where the screen curves. If you get the smaller ones (12" maybe cant remember exact length) they obviously only clear a smaller area but at least they clear it more fully. It isn't easy to get them to work properly, I have tried for years. Rainex is great and is defo the way to go but needs re applying each time yo clear all the bugs off the screen which I find can get laborious.

[pabbage]

Hi all
I am nearing the end of a long list of reversible mods to make my Elan easier to use as a day to day car

Not to hijack the thread too much but i'd be interested in a list of the mods you have done so far.

Cheers, Paul

[Old English White]

Hi all
I am nearing the end of a long list of reversible mods to make my Elan easier to use as a day to day car

Not to hijack the thread too much but i'd be interested in a list of the mods you have done so far.
Cheers, Paul

Sorry about the comment that follow, but I had to do it:
That should stay in one line:
I just bought a Miata.
Christian.

[jonesa62]

I live in Australia and this is a problem the big prime movers suffer in the north in the high winds and heavy rain conditions of the summer storms. Stronger springs is the first obvious answer - but you can get stainless steel wiper helpers. I've attached a picture of the idea.

[gav]

Thanks everyone for the ideas so far.

I am currently running 14" blades so will try smaller - that's a great idea Keith. Not sure where you get 12" blades from but I see the logic.

Similarly the aerodynamic solution looks worthwhile

Christian - not sure i understand your point.

Paul - I am running a 2l Zetec mated to a Scorpio MT75 box and a 7 1/2" Sierra diff. Prop shaft and CV drive shafts are custom and feed into a Spyder RSC suspension system which works fine for me. The Zetec is controlled by an Emerald ECU and a full fuel injection system.
Brakes are split front and rear with the front being 4 pot Caterham vented discs and the rear standard Sierra (predominantly to get a proper handbrake but the rear brakes are too powerful so I use an adjustable limiter to balance them properly).
I have just refitted the dual circuit servo which reduces the pedal pressure somewhat (the pedal ratio isn't right but I love the pedal box and don't want to change it so am correcting the effect rather than the cause (!)
In the cabin I have a pair of leather Exige seats which are really comfortable and have built in head restraint. The only other changes are the handbrake which is on the central console and the speedo which following Foxie's post was made by Caerbont with original silk screening but digital with an electronic feed from the gearbox.

The idea is to have a modern solution that looks original externally but has creature comforts - even a heater that works. I don't think I will go all the way and fit a/c but I am thinking about how I can fit a sat nav that doesn't look like an afterthought.

My wiper motor is really hard to get to without removing the dash but I do want to change the park to the nearside which should help the wipers. At the moment, for some reason whenever I get to around 60, the drivers side tends to part company with the screen and I am running some very stiff springs at the moment - hence the search for improvements.

I don't tend to start a journey in the rain but have been caught out when the weather changes.

Happy to receive other suggestions.

Thanks
Gavin