IMPLEMENTING THE COMMON AUSSIE, 1968~79 VW TYPE 2 KOMBI, RIGHT-HAND DRIVE, FRONT-WINDSCREEN WIPER CONVERSION?

by Nigel A. Skeet

Several months ago, I learned from Ian J. Lloyd, in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, that a relatively common modification, made to Australian 1968~79 VW Type 2 Kombis, is that of changing over, the front-windscreen tandem wipers, from the standard, left-hand drive configuration, to the more appropriate right-hand drive configuration, whereby the right-hand front wiper, sweeps into the top, right-hand corner of the windscreen, maximising the zone of wet-weather vision, for the driver

http://www.vwkombi.com/ 

At the start of a several months' long, extended tour of Australia, commencing in January 2004, Ian had purchased a second-hand, 1974 VW '1800' Type 2 Kombi based, Sopru hybrid campervan, named "Ethel" (see Ian Lloyd, "Going Down Under – Falling in Love with a Cliché...", VW Camper & Commercial, Issue 19, Summer 2005, pages 40, 41 & 43), which he later shipped home to Great Britain

"Ethel", featured in the magazine article and on Ian's Internet website, can be seen to have this LHD to RHD, windscreen wiper conversion, including black, rubber blanking grommets, in the original wiper-spindle holes. This conversion is also evident, in several photographs taken at VW shows in Australia, of various Australian 1968~79 VW Type 2s, posted at the following Internet website URLs, plus a very recent photograph of Phil Lovett's all-yellow, VW 1974~79 VW 1600 or 18/2000 Type 2 Kombi:


http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b112/dortwilder/132_3244.jpg 

http://www.vwdcqinc.org.au/vwdcqimages/memberscars/originalfiles/waynekombi.jpg 

http://www.vwdcqinc.org.au/vwdcqimages/memberscars/originalfiles/unknownkombi...

http://www.vwdcqinc.org.au/vwdcqimages/pastevents/originalfiles/goldcoastdub2...

http://www.vwdcqinc.org.au/vwdcqimages/pastevents/originalfiles/bug_in_2003_1...

http://www.vwdcqinc.org.au/vwdcqimages/pastevents/originalfiles/bug_in_2003_1...

http://www.vwdcqinc.org.au/vwdcqimages/pastevents/originalfiles/club_camping_...

http://www.aussieveedubbers.com/Dubs2004/pages/109_0953_jpg.htm 


Can anyone tell me, how this conversion is implemented, because I am aware of only two examples in Great Britain, one of which is known to be an import from Australia? I imagine that the conversion, probably requires the substitution of 1980~92 VW Type 2 Kombi (i.e. T3, Type 25 or Vanagon) or similar RHD windscreen-wiper arms, but I am particularly interested to find out about the modifications to the bodywork and the mounting of the wiper motor & linkages, which might also originate from a 1980~92 VW Type 2 Kombi!?!

An alternative upgrade, might be to adopt the opposed wiper configuration, used on the VW Sharan, SEAT Alhambra & Ford Galaxy MPVs, whereby both wiper blades overlap, in the central parked position and simultaneously sweep in opposite directions, towards the upper corners of the windscreen, on both sides. This was once a common feature, on many Mercedes saloons, until the controlled single-arm system was adopted, which uses a sophisticated mechanism, to project the wiper arm, towards the upper corners of the windscreen.

Hi

They came from the factory with the 2 sets of holes, I believe that its only the wiper arms that are different. 1303s also had 2 sets of holes down here as well.

Steve