Window motor? 1980 C3
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 20
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Window motor? 1980 C3
Hello guys. First I want to thank everyone that answered my questions and helped me in choosing my new to me 1980. I had a 1993 that I bought from a trade in at our dealership. Got into REALLY good, then everything went wrong. Blown engine, rebuild etc etc. It took a big loss in the end but got what I always wanted. Anyhow. The passenger window only goes up to an inch or so from being completely closed. Is this off track or should I replace the whole motor on both. How difficult is this to do. I am new to Corvettes so any help would again be appreciated. Thanks, Brian
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 2,365
Likes: 428
From: Cape Girardeau Missouri
If I had to guess there's a couple stripped teeth on the regulator gear arm. To test that theory have someone pull up on the window firmly as it is raised with the switch. If it goes up after a "skip" it's the regulator gear arm. If it won't raise any further then something is jammed.
An overlay repair piece is available that saves the rest of the regulator.
Replacing the motor and/or regulator and/or door glass and/or mechanism isn't too bad of a job. There are good instructions available here if you do some searching. Look for a photo here that shows the door with the window and mechanism installed but without the outer door skin. It is extremely helpful! The FSM is also a decent aid.
While "not too bad" of a job it's also not the sort of thing you want to do often
Given this you should really plan on disassembling, cleaning and lubricating everything inside the door (replacing worn pieces as necessary) as it is likely in serious need of such.
An overlay repair piece is available that saves the rest of the regulator.
Replacing the motor and/or regulator and/or door glass and/or mechanism isn't too bad of a job. There are good instructions available here if you do some searching. Look for a photo here that shows the door with the window and mechanism installed but without the outer door skin. It is extremely helpful! The FSM is also a decent aid.
While "not too bad" of a job it's also not the sort of thing you want to do often
Given this you should really plan on disassembling, cleaning and lubricating everything inside the door (replacing worn pieces as necessary) as it is likely in serious need of such.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
...should I replace the whole motor on both...
Last edited by Easy Mike; Aug 2, 2016 at 03:12 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 17
From: MA
1980 Windows
Brian,
The AIM is a must have for these cars, it's cheap and the info is invaluable.
I bought an '81 and the drivers window was slow and pretty much worked like crap. I messed around with moving the window forward, aft, up and down to try and "fix" the problem. But then I figured that these parts brand new were not the best quality and 30 years of neglect probably haven't helped either. So I tore it all out and got a new regulator, motor, new anti-rattle cushions and now its perfect Operates fast and smooth. You'll be kicking yourself when you try and "fix" the current components and get caught with your window down in the rain.
The AIM is a must have for these cars, it's cheap and the info is invaluable.
I bought an '81 and the drivers window was slow and pretty much worked like crap. I messed around with moving the window forward, aft, up and down to try and "fix" the problem. But then I figured that these parts brand new were not the best quality and 30 years of neglect probably haven't helped either. So I tore it all out and got a new regulator, motor, new anti-rattle cushions and now its perfect Operates fast and smooth. You'll be kicking yourself when you try and "fix" the current components and get caught with your window down in the rain.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Possibly not off track, but probably leaning in too much. If the door glass is leaning in too much, it begins to dig against the weatherstripping as it rises instead of sealing against it. If you can push the glass outward as it rises the last two inches or so and have the window roll all the way up, it's a sure sign it's leaning. Purchase the 1980 assembly instruction manual (AIM) and read the section on how to set door glasses. It tells you how to set the lean of the glass to seal against the weatherstripping. Setting glass is not particularly difficult, but it is piddly business. Expect to make one or two tries at it before you get it.
Why? You aren't having problems with the motors.
Why? You aren't having problems with the motors.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Brian,
The AIM is a must have for these cars, it's cheap and the info is invaluable.
I bought an '81 and the drivers window was slow and pretty much worked like crap. I messed around with moving the window forward, aft, up and down to try and "fix" the problem. But then I figured that these parts brand new were not the best quality and 30 years of neglect probably haven't helped either. So I tore it all out and got a new regulator, motor, new anti-rattle cushions and now its perfect Operates fast and smooth. You'll be kicking yourself when you try and "fix" the current components and get caught with your window down in the rain.
The AIM is a must have for these cars, it's cheap and the info is invaluable.
I bought an '81 and the drivers window was slow and pretty much worked like crap. I messed around with moving the window forward, aft, up and down to try and "fix" the problem. But then I figured that these parts brand new were not the best quality and 30 years of neglect probably haven't helped either. So I tore it all out and got a new regulator, motor, new anti-rattle cushions and now its perfect Operates fast and smooth. You'll be kicking yourself when you try and "fix" the current components and get caught with your window down in the rain.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 122
Likes: 17
From: MA
A quick web search should bring up the biggest suppliers.
Buy these now...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CORVETTE-198...pWdD3o&vxp=mtr
