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MG MGB Technical - rear wipe

Has anyone out there put a rear wiper on a GT? Advice appreciated, if so.
Allan Reeling

I have heard of it. However whilst cars with a chopped-off rear do need them I've not found the need for it on the GT even when I used it in all weathers for some years. Should be any number of BL hatchbacks in scrappers with them.
PaulH Solihull

The factory V8 I have has a rear wiper and washer. Looking at the installation it would appear that it was original factory as it looks right, and not an afterthought. Anybody know if this was a factory fitted item?
B Clayton

The factory never fitted them.
PaulH Solihull

I have a rear wiper on my V8, from way back in my memory when I worked fo BL they where Trico kits. Most of them where wipe only.
The black bump you can see in the picture is the mounting bolt not a washer jet.

a goldup

I'm sure Paul is correct when he says rear wipers were never a factory fit; and I've never thought one necessary in 30 years of all weathers. ( not sure I'd want to faff about running tubing for a washer either, probably would need a separate bottle and pump in a rear wingwell ? )

I don't think I've seen one on a car for about 20 years; and the few I saw ( or pictures recently found by Google ) always looked obviously an add on - the park position was ' clumsy', and the swept area never what the driver actually needed. Perhaps limited possible mounting positions &/or unsuitable angles of wiper arms prevented a better fit ?

More details/pictures of B Clayton's installation would be interesting.
J N Gibson

Given the weight of the motor and mechanicals, I would have tried to mount one from the top, not bottom and used gas struts (which I do anyway) to help support it when open. Just a thought. What I'd really like is a good rear window demister. I've just got to bite bullet some day and buy one. Gotta keep looking on the Parts boards for one.
Robert Muenchausen

Robert,

Have you ever tried the aftermarket stick on demisters? They used to be common when factory demisters were a new thing. I haven't seen them at auto parts stores for years, but they can still be ordered. I haven't tried one, but I have been thinking of giving one a try.

Charley
C R Huff

There were two types. One consisted of self adhesive conductive strips and buss bars, and the others I used to see in Europe 40 yrs ago were plastic panels with a heating grid inside and wires to hook it up. Which do you mean?? I haven't seen the latter since the early 70s.
Robert Muenchausen

Ratsport offers rear window demister kits in the UK.

http://www.ratsport.triumphshop.co.uk/onlinepurchase/

scroll down a bit and you'll find it. 23 pounds (UK)
Bernie Lowe

Robert,

I don't know which type I have seen. I never looked at one up close. Actually, I didn't know there were two types.

Charley
C R Huff

In the 1960s there were also unheated panels - they just gave a sort of "double glazing" effect.
Geoff E

Geoff is right, there actually used to be 3 back then. The heated and unheated I used to see in Germany when I lived there in the late 60s and early 70s. The ones that we see over here are very similar to the Tex ones offered by Ratsport only offered in the US by Frost Fighter, http://www.frostfighter.com/prt2600.htm

Another out of Britain seems to be one from Griffiths, http://www.griffiths.co.nz/Shopping/ProductList.asp?FromCategory=120&ToCategory=120

When you look at the photos of all of these, they all look pretty much the same, suggesting to me that they may all originate from the same source?? Could be. But at least they are out there.
Robert Muenchausen

This thread was discussed between 30/10/2010 and 13/11/2010

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