Ok, I did as you instructed and it produced two effects. Effect #1: wipers ran until I removed 12v+ wire. (I think one of my "jumpers" shorted to another terminal) Effect #2: nothing. After the first time, I couldn't duplicate effect #1 no matter what I did. Gave up to consult the gurus at this point, but decided to get some pics of the gearbox interior so you fellows could see what I'm dealing with:
Inside the gearbox:



Inside of the cover showing Parking switch:



I got to looking at the wear pattern on the back cover and I think I know what the problem is. Are the contacts on the park switch supposed to be "normally closed"? That is to say when pressure from the cam is removed, should the contacts be closed? They were about ½" apart when I pulled the cover. I'm 99.5% sure they are because, on a lark I bent (gently) the contact so it was touching before I re-installed the cover and when I tested the wipers, the park function worked. Then it didn't, then it did, then it didn't, ad nauseum. Should I put a bit more tension on the contact (so it holds shut more firmly? I just tweaked it a bit as "proof of concept")?

Just for fun, here's a (not so good) shot of my Dart. It needs a wash, but it's fall in BC. Which, to anyone from anywhere else means the rain usually starts within an hour of washing your car.



Thanks for all the help so far,

Nat

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

nat,
your picture is too small for me to see whether anything is broken. the park switch contacts need to be normally open, the cam closes it in normal operation.

my guess is your gear and cam mechanism parts are not properly indexed to each other and your cam timing is off. i do not have specific information for your wiper motor. examine all parts for wear and damage, if you can change the settings on your camera to focus on close objects or turn off the flash and take a picture in good ambient light such as fluorescent or daylight, and post a larger picture, perhaps one of us might catch a broken piece.
also, please remove the gasket carefully from the gearbox so we can inspect the teeth.

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

why is your parking mechanism hook open? it needs to be rotated to the right, against the latch, against spring tension.

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

Which is the parking mechanism hook? The bit on the rear cover or the bit on the cam in the gearbox? It seems to be purely academic at this point because I seem to have managed to get it working. The problem I have is that you speak of "spring tension". Neither of the pieces that could be described as "parking mechanism hook" seem to be under any form of spring tension. I also didn't find any springs loose inside the cover and I'm absolutely sure nothing fell out when I opened it up. What am I missing?

Thanks again for the help,

Nat

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1970 four-door Dart, 225/A-904/2.45 gears. 0-60 in twenty three minutes!

the parking mechanism hook is the pincers-shaped device that pivots on the inner cam. there is supposed to be a torsion spring wrapped around its pivot. rotate it counterclockwise until it latches.

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I've been calling it as i see it for my entire life and that's not about to change. Take it or leave it.

Well then,
This is my issue too on my '70 Dart GT and '70 Sedan both have Variable wipers. So as I understand this the "Park" feature is in the motor? So if it quit then I need to replace the motor? Let me know please. Also Thanks for all the info you have posted so far in this thread!!!

Later,
Bruce B.

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bruce@7071dartgt.net come and visit: www.7071dartgt.net not all slant 6 cars but most were.