Building a restomod often means focusing on big-ticket items like the engine, suspension, and brakes. However, one detail that’s often overlooked by builders is the windshield wiper system. Upgrading to modern, reliable wipers is not just a convenience – it’s a crucial safety feature if you plan to drive your classic in any weather. In this post, we’ll highlight Detroit Speed’s Selecta-Speed Wiper Kit as a simple upgrade that brings modern functioning and wipers to your vintage ride.

Key Takeaways:

•    Modern wipers improve safety and visibility with multiple speeds and intermittent delay settings.

•    Bolt-in installation fits your classic without cutting or permanent modifications.

•    Compact design cleans up the engine bay while delivering smooth, reliable performance. 

HOW TO UPGRADE YOUR CLASSIC CAR’S WIPERS?

If your classic car or truck still uses its original wipers, you’re dealing with outdated technology. Many classic vehicles came with just two-speed wiper motors (or even vacuum-operated wipers in early cars), which struggle to keep up in heavy rain or varying conditions. If two wiper speeds aren’t cutting it anymore and you want to drive your classic without fear in less-than-optimal conditions, it’s time for an upgrade.

Today, we’re accustomed to Modern cars having intermittent settings, powerful motors, and integrated washer systems – features that greatly improve visibility and safety in poor weather. For a restomod meant to be driven, adding these capabilities can ensure safe operation no matter the weather. In short, upgrading your wipers means you can enjoy your classic rain or shine instead of worrying about a sudden downpour.

Beyond safety, there’s also practicality and convenience. Old wiper motors are slow, noisy, or prone to failure after decades of use. Replacement parts for stock systems might be hard to find. A modern retrofit kit provides new, high-quality components and often a cleaner look and fit in the engine bay than the bulky originals. It’s a small improvement that makes a big difference in driving confidence – something many builders don’t realize they’re missing until they experience it.

MODERN WIPER SOLUTION FOR CLASSICS: THE DETROIT SPEED SELECTA-SPEED KIT

Detroit Speed’s Selecta-Speed Wiper Kit provides the performance and convenience of a late-model wiper system in a package that easily and cleanly mounts in your classic car. This is a bolt-in wiper conversion available for a range of popular vintage platforms – from first-generation Camaros and Firebirds to early Mustangs, Corvettes, Chevy II/Novas, and even classic trucks like 67-72 & 73-87 Chevy C10s.

The heart of the kit is a low-profile, seven-speed wiper motor assembly that replaces your original motor and linkage. Unlike old two-speed setups, the Selecta-Speed motor offers multiple intermittent delay settings (5 delays), plus low and high speeds, giving you a total of seven wiper speeds to handle drizzles, downpours, and everything in between.

Each kit is engineered for easy installation and a factory-quality fit. Detroit Speed includes a CNC-machined aluminum adapter plate that mounts the new motor to the stock firewall bolt pattern of your vehicle. This means no drilling or permanent modifications to your classic’s body – the modern motor bolts right into the original wiper motor location. The new motor itself is compact and low-profile, which provides extra clearance in the engine bay (useful if your car has added equipment like a big-block engine, tall valve covers, or a brake booster) and a cleaner look on the firewall. In short, the Selecta-Speed kit is designed as a true upgrade that modernizes your wiper system while seamlessly integrating into your classic’s existing footprint.

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

•    Seven-Speed, Delay Wiper Motor: The electric motor offers five intermittent delay modes plus low and high speed, giving you wiping speeds for every scenario – a huge step up from the 1- or 2-speed wipers in most classics. The performance and convenience of a modern late-model wiper system means you won’t be caught blind in light mist or heavy rain again.

•    Integrated Washer Function: The kit’s rotary dash switch features a push-button washer function to spray windshield washer fluid just like a modern car. With an optional washer pump kit installed, a single press will activate the pump and make the wipers automatically swipe 3 times to clear your view – mimicking the behavior of contemporary OEM systems. This is especially helpful for cleaning the windshield or dealing with road spray.

•    Compact, Clean Look: The modern OE-design wiper motor used in Selecta-Speed kits is smaller and lighter than old motors, giving a clean look on the firewall and extra clearance for other components. This means it not only works better but also looks tidier in your engine bay – a nice bonus for show-quality builds or any restomod where under-hood appearance matters.

•    Easy Bolt-In Installation: Everything in the kit is designed to make installation as straightforward as possible for the DIY enthusiast. Based on your model, a custom mounting plate will be provided to align the new motor to your factory mounting holes on the firewall. A complete wiring harness is provided, which plugs into a small wiper control module that you mount under the dash. The harness even comes with the motor connector pre-terminated, so you don’t have to splice or pin any wires – it’s essentially plug-and-play. The harness is designed to use the factory firewall grommet opening for a clean routing with no cutting of your factory wiring needed.

•    Quality Components: Detroit Speed is known for engineering high-quality parts, and this kit is no exception. If applicable to your model, the kit includes a billet aluminum knob for the wiper switch, adding a nice tactile feel and premium look on your dash. All brackets and the adapter plate are CNC-machined for precise fit. The system also features an improved control module design to simplify the wiring harness. The result is an upgrade that feels as solid and reliable as a factory-installed system – only better, because it’s built for modern performance.

INSTALLATION AT A GLANCE

One of the best aspects of the Selecta-Speed wiper kit is that installation does not require heavy fabrication or irreversible changes. It’s not an overly simple “plug in and you’re done” swap, but it’s very achievable for a dedicated DIY enthusiast with intermediate skills. Here’s a high-level look at what the process involves:

•    Removing Old Components: First, disconnect and remove your factory wiper motor and possibly the old switch and wiring. You’ll generally leave the linkage that connects to the wiper arms in place, as the new motor will attach to it.

•    Mounting the New Motor: Using the provided adapter plate or factory plate (depending on your model), bolt the new compact motor onto the firewall where the old motor was. The plate is pre-drilled to match the stock bolt pattern, so this step is mostly a matter of lining it up and tightening a few bolts. Because the motor is low-profile, it tucks in nicely without hitting protruding engine parts.

•    Setting Up the Wiring and Control Module: Mount the small wiper control module under the dash. Into this module, plug the new wiring harness – which then runs out through the factory firewall hole to connect to the wiper motor. You’ll also connect the harness to power, ground, and plug in the new dash switch. The switch can often be installed in the stock dash opening where the original wiper knob was, preserving a factory appearance inside. All electrical connectors are pre-installed – no custom wiring needed beyond basic power and ground.

•    Final Steps: If you opted for the washer pump, install or refill it, attach your battery, and test the system. Once powered, test the delay settings and washer push-button to ensure the wipers cycle properly. Once verified, button up any panels or trim. From the outside, your car’s appearance remains stock – but now you have modern-functioning wipers at your command.

As you can see, this isn’t a step-by-step install guide, but at a high level the project involves bolting in the new motor and routing the new wiring. There’s no custom fabrication required – a testament to how well engineered the kit is for DIY use. Most builders report that it’s a weekend project that can be done with common hand tools. And the payoff is huge when you get caught in the rain and your wipers work as effortlessly as a new car’s.

DRIVE YOUR CLASSIC RAIN OR SHINE

In the world of restomods, it’s often the flashy upgrades that get all the attention – horsepower, big brakes, modern electronics, etc. But as we’ve highlighted, something as humble as the windshield wipers can dramatically improve the driveability of your classic. Detroit Speed’s Selecta-Speed Wiper Kit is a prime example of an accessory that many builders should consider, as it transforms an often-overlooked system into one that’s modern, reliable, and effective.

With features like multiple speeds, intermittent delays, and integrated washer control, you’ll have the same confidence driving in rain with your classic as you would in a brand-new car.

By upgrading to a modern wiper system, you ensure that poor weather won’t keep your pride and joy off the road. It’s a safety investment – you can maintain visibility and avoid the anxiety of old wipers smearing or stopping when you need them most. Moreover, knowing you have a quality system in place means one less thing to worry about on long drives or road trips in your vintage ride.

Bottom line: Don’t skimp on the “small” stuff. Up-to-date wipers might not be as fun as a fuel-injected crate engine or a custom paint job, but they are absolutely part of a well-rounded restomod build. Kits like Detroit Speed’s make it easy to get modern functionality with minimal hassle, so you can focus on enjoying the drive. After all, a true restomod is about blending classic style with modern comfort and safety – and being able to see the road in a downpour is about as modern a comfort as it gets!

To learn more about Detroit Speed's Selecta-Speed Wiper Kit and view the wide array of kits offered, click here.