61 Galaxie dash lights and wipers

[SuperDave]

I have been working out a bunch of electrical problems on this 61 Starliner. lots of spliced and taped wires. I notice that the instrument lights come on with the ignition switch. Is that normal?
The car has electric single speed wipers with an add on switch. The original switch is in the proper place but is a vacuum cable type. Were electric optional on these or ?

 

[dmsfrr]

I believe the dash lights should be powered thru the rheostat in the headlight switch.
Wipers? It sounds like a diy solution to the vacuum wiper problem, done by a previous owner.

 

[LOWRIDER]

Regardless if you have electric or vacuum wipers on a 61 they use a cable to control it. I just replaced the dash loom on my Starliner because I didn't trust the PO's wiring mess under there. Mine has electric wipers and is controlled by a cable that has to be adjusted correctly to have the wipers work right.

 

[bobss396]

The wiring on my '59 was incomplete and a rat's nest under the dash. It came with the vacuum wipers. I'm running a big cam, so the wipers had to go and so did the OG wiring. I went with a Newport electric wiper conversion. Really easy to install and works fine.