Personally, I prefer the linkage with the wire cables. I'm not positive, but I thought that the gear style linkage came first, and the cable linkage was the later style ('68-on) for the 122.

Never had excessive wiper travel with that cable system.

Not so with the geared wiper linkage. A lot of slop on that one, wipers had too much of a sweep, and would continually smack into the aluminum trim surrounding the windshield. Eventually put holes in the trim.

I completelty disassembled the linkage, regreased the gears, tried welding the shafts, nothing worked. So now that motor/ linkage is installed on my beater wagon, and I don't worry about it.

That silicone works great, used to have major leaking in both lower corners of the windshield, not any longer. I used Permatex Flowable Silicone Windshield and Glass Sealer.