Ok, I know everybody has opinions on whether or not to do this...but talking to Willcox, there is a "conversion kit" used mainly on C2's..OR, for our C3's all the components are still available and I could build up a "kit" with original parts..

Anybody researched this and have FIRST HAND experience?? I think the prices are pretty comparable, either way. The "conversion kit" is around $700. I'm sure the factory doors are already drilled to accommodate either manual or power...

Thanks!

 

I am adding power window to my 69,
I replaced the doors with power window units,
bought a power window harness from E-bay.
bought a new switch, thats it. 69VETT

 

So you replaced the entire doors?? I've already put countless hrs in door gaps, bodywork, etc, so wont go that route. Good idea though, if I had thought about it sooner!

Thanks!

 

The conversion over to power windows is simple with donor corvette regulators.

 

I did my '72 conversion right off the bat 15 years ago, I THINK the rebuild regulators came from Yogi Behr, today do some shopping around.....

the motors came from a similar vintage GM car in a junkyard I frequented, the motors almost never wear out/fail, so what you need do is grab the plug/harness, also and tear down to redo all the grease/bearings.....some of the really early p/w motors were large round heavy things, like the wsw motor, get the somewhat later ones, black and flat on two sides.....

for some reason the p/w regulators with that sector gear were prone to gross rust out, so some of the rebuilts are with stainless sector gears, Mine are not, I just keep them slathered n grease.....

the regulators mount up to the door, no sweat, whole thing not a issue, and mate to the stock tracks, which BTW need removed completely taken apart, and soaked overnight in a pan of gasoline to remove all that dried out caked on grease and crud.....assemble totally naked, no grease, if the rollers are fubar get new ones.....

btw, window switches are from donor cars in the junkyard.....and I did not bother with any ignition interlock relay, mine go up/dn as the switches are always hot....

 

Power windows are too heavy.

 

Hi Guys,

I'm looking to go the other way with this...that is, convert from power to manual to save weight. If anyone wants to get rid of some of their manual parts, please let me know!

Thanks

 

Manual to power conversion is easily done and all the holes are already in place including the wiring holes from body to door frames. Make sure and test components before mounting into door frames, motors run with hot on blade terminal, and case grounded. One blade is up direction other is down TEST THEM! Lube gearbox and regulators before installing, I use grease in gearbox and motorcycle chain lube on regulator linkage. Make sure regulator gears are in good shape or change them with the avalible replacement gear that needs to be welded on. One other tip, driver's side motors see more useage and tend to fail more often, but, can be hard to track down (power window motors were used in all GM cars not just Vettes) you can unbolt motor from gear case and swap passenger side motor onto driver's side gear case if you need to, just be sure to reseal housing with Silicon Seal after you break apart the tar based sealent used by GM. Mount the regulators into doors and then fight the windows in (the hardest part of the job. Using you new found knowledge about being able to move window motors using a positive lead, you can jumper to the positive battery terminal (use a 20 amp inline fuse) and move the window mechanisim up/down and you need to to mount the window. The hardest part of the job will be the glass installation into the channels and tracks in the door. Job is fairly straight forward if you leave one side assembled so you can refrence the mounting points of the window guides. Have FUN!

 

So wanna swap?? Seriously...

 

I would be willing to swap the parts that are needed to go from power to manual, but I'm thinking that this would be just the hardware in the doors. As of now I'm not planning on pulling the switches, wiring etc. I just want to do what I need to lose the weight of the motors in the doors. So, if you're still interested, I am too. You wouldn't want my door panels though, trust me!

However, my right side window goes up very slowly and I have to open the door for it to go up all the way. Just FYI in case we can make a deal. PM me your email and we can talk offline.