help with the 91 civic wiper motor swap

[awenglund]

Hey guys. I was planning to put a 91 civic wiper motor into my 71 240Z by following the directions that I saw on this forum. So I went to the pull-a-part and grabbed two wiper motors from 91 civics (i figured i should get two since they were cheap and still 17 years old). The problem is now that I'm looking at the pictures from the swap instructions the motor doesn't look the same. The one in the directions looks like it has 3 threaded holes that are used to mount it to the mounting plate. The ones that I ended up with have four non-threaded feet and one of them is longer and angled so it wouldn't be able to sit flat on the mounting plate (see attached picture). So i'm wondering how I screwed up getting the right motor. I re-read the original post and 91 civic was the thing to get. Any help would be appreciated.

[BRE-240Z]

I've been thinking about doing this swap myself, but haven't started it yet. The correct Civic wiper motor has three bolt holes and not four (as in the one you've pictured).

[awenglund]

never mind, i'm an idiot. i found the discussion about this issue in the original post about the swap. apparently the 91 civics have more than one kind of wiper motor. i got the wrong one. oh well at least they were cheap.

[soundmasterg]

Yah, I posted some pics of the incorrect one on that other thread with the four bolt holes. I too had trouble finding the 91 Civic motor that had the three holes, and just went with one from a 91 Accord. It is stronger according to Dave Irwin, and it mounts the same as the Civic one that Dave used. If you do use the Accord one, you have to get the motor in the park position, and then grind the shaft down to fit into the Datsun wiper arm assembly. it has to be ground at a particular angle so the wipers will park in the correct position, so you don't want to screw that particular part up if you decide to go that way. Once you have the shaft ground to the correct shape, and you've drilled the holes for it, it goes right in and hooks up to the relay and wiring as Dave mentioned in the thread. Its not too hard and even if you're completely mechanically and electrically challenged, it shouldn't take you more than a day, and tha tincludes getting the motors at the wrecking yard.

Greg

[hls30.com]

never mind, i'm an idiot. i found the discussion about this issue in the original post about the swap. apparently the 91 civics have more than one kind of wiper motor. i got the wrong one. oh well at least they were cheap.

You are not an idiot, you suffer from a disease most of us have, but never admit to, the "Aw-sh!ts"! Pulling and Buying the wrong part is done because of the same enthusiasm that makes many of us with a low digestive tolerance of spicy food devour it so enthusiastically!

I can't count the number of times I have gone to the pick and pull to get something only to get home and find what I bought and what I wanted were two different things...It isn't the pulling and paying for the part that does it, it is the getting home ready to clean up and install the newly found treasure! The moment you realize what you covetted, so carefully removed and were so thrilled to find so cheep is not what you were after... That is when you get the "aw-sh!t"s.:sick:

I haven't found a cure yet, but taking the instructions that told me of the part I went to find and how to use it(sometimes the hardware specified in the instructions), does cut down the number of "extra" ebay auctions I list...course, sometimes those "extra" auctions have paid for new Z parts that were in "the upgrade list", but out of the budget.

Will

[mikewags]

I have a 91 civic. I wonder if i would ever need one of those for replacement...

[BRE-240Z]

You are not an idiot, you suffer from a disease most of us have, but never admit to, the "Aw-sh!ts"! Pulling and Buying the wrong part is done because of the same enthusiasm that makes many of us with a low digestive tolerance of spicy food devour it so enthusiastically!l

Yup. I've done the same thing a number of times.

Many of the items I've sold on eBay have been of the 'bought it, didn't need it' or the 'bought it, wasn't the right thing' variety....I guess looking on the bright side, you can write a good description of whatever it is once you do your homework and figure out that it's not what you needed....ha.

[blue 72]

Guilty of the same thing as well. However, many pick 'n' pull places will exchange the part for something equivalent. I did this when I grabbed a 280Z brake booster that didn't fit my 240Z. I personally have the '94-'97 Accord motor in my Z, and it worked exactly like the instructions on the site: http://www.atlanticz.ca/zclub/techtips/wipermotor/index.htm

[awenglund]

well i went back today and snagged one from a 92 Civic. I checked every 88-91 they had and they were all the same spider leg motors. On the 92, the motor was on the opposite side of the car and mounts like the one in the instructions - 3 bolts that thread into the motor and the shaft is threaded but flat on two sides. But from 91 to 92, the body style of the car changed completely, so hopefully this one will still work. It looks like it will mount the same, I'll just have to see if the wiring works out. Thanks for the encouragement guys.

[soundmasterg]

No problem! If you need further help, we're all ready to help.

Glad you were able to find the correct one.

Greg