DIY Power Windows - GM A Body Power Window Conversion
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- Опубліковано 16 лис 2024
- Today we get to see if what I have had in my head for a while will actually work. We will be converting our manual window to power windows for $31 a window. I will attempt to reuse the old manual window regulator and convert it to power windows on the cheap.
Here are the links for everything I used for the conversion.
2 Pack window motors a.co/d/4bf3C3y
Window motor wiring plug www.rockauto.c... - Авто та транспорт
It’s amazing what you can do with an idea,some scrap metal,a welder and a lot of patience. You’re the man Mark!
Thanks Lyle, I appreciate the nice comment. I know a lot of car guys that would like to have power windows but the cost has stopped them so hopefully this will make it possible.
Mark
That's the way to go buddy thanks for your help figuring this out beo
The GM G Body power window regulator motor, which looks the same as the regulator motor you purchased, comes with a bracket that attaches the motor to the bracket the motor needs to attach to. As you mentioned, a hole needs to be made to accommodate the engagement of the motor gear to the regulator gear. Although I don't have an A body regulator to compare with a G body regulator it would seem that if the G body power window bracket was used it might be modified to fit which might eliminate the fabrication of the bracket detailed in the video. Also, the G Body motor bolts are accessible through the door sheet metal making replacement in the future a little easier. The Dorman part for the G Body motor and bracket is 742-150. This suggestion might not work but it might be work looking at.
I will take another look at the G body set up. I did look at them during my research but couldn't confirm the pitch of the gear teeth were correct.
Thank you for the suggestion.
Mark
Do you think this set will work on a 1970 Cutlass/Chevelle window regulator?
@@Drekoushranada From the pictures I have seen it looks very similar. If the pitch of the gears match I am sure you can get it to work. Buying a single motor and testing it is the only way to know for sure.
Wow! I wasn't expecting an episode today. Mark, your enginuity skills are amazing! Although I probably won't add power windows to my truck, you will help countless others on their projects.
I drop a video on Ruby every Thursday and throw anything else I am doing on Tuesday if I have content. This worked out well and I hope it helps others.
Mark
Wow! I got my motor from Amazon this morning and finished making my prototype by supper time. Now I have three more to do. One of the best how to videos I've ever found on U Tube. You should be making a kit and selling it. I think this would work on any 60's or 70's GM. Thankyou very much for sharing this.
You are very welcome Jim, I am glad it is working out for you. I am not sure if the sector gear is the same in the other body series GM made but I wouldn't be surprised if it was.
Spread the word about the channel please when you get a chance.
Mark
Great work Mark as always. Recently I cut AC ducting holes in the dash of my 65 Chevelle thanks to your previous video. I made a video of my process and gave you full credit and posted links to your channel and video. Interesting to see this video pop up as I am in the process of completely rewiring my car as part of my AC install and wanted to do power windows, but had a hard time eating $1,000 to do so. I will absolutely be doing this on my car. Thanks for sharing all your tricks.
Thanks,
I saw you working on the AC system, looks like it is coming along nicely. Thanks for pointing folks to my channel. I am pretty sure the door regulators on the convertible are the same as the Hard top but the rear quarter glass regulators might be different. Easy to check once you have a motor to compare the gears to the sector. I will be working on Ruby's quarter windows pretty soon so I will know more then and will do a video on it for sure.
Mark
THIS IS THE BEST MOST CONCISE, TO-THE-POINT, PROFESSIONAL VIDEO I FOUND. AND USED! THANK YOU... I WILL EMULATE YOUR PROCESSES ON A COUPLE OF MY CARS...THANKS
Thank you for such a nice comment, I really appreciate it. Let me know how your project comes out and spread the word about my channel please.
Mark
Excellent video! The same basic idea for conversion can be applied to almost any vehicle. Thank you for posting!
Thanks I appreciate the comment. I am pretty sure it will work out great but I will not know for sure until we get Ruby put together. Time will tell.
Mark
Awesome! Thanks for the links... I'll be doing same for the 37 chevy... will be digging out the regulators and checking the tooth pattern with some 1990 Chev Suburban motors.
You are very welcome Don. I have no idea what the pitch would be on a 37 but luckily there are several different motors out there to choose from. If the Suburban motors don't match do some searching online looking at pictures and reading specs on tooth count and pitch and when you have some candidates in mind go to the auto parts store with your sector and have them bring out motors until you find one that fits. I went when they were slow and were they happy to help me.
Mark
Fantastic work, Mark. I want to try this for my ‘67 Camaro. Maybe a trip to the salvage yard to grab a few parts and experiment on the quarter windows and a spare driver’s door I have.
Thanks Charlie. You know GM, they used the same parts across all the platforms as much as possible so I would guess the Camaro and Firebird have the same sector gear pitch. I just checked my quarter window regulators and they look to be the same pitch. Let me know how your testing goes.
Mark
Great video. This is the kind of invaluable information that people can use.
Thanks Eric. Finding the motor with the correct pitched gear took some time but it was worth it.
Mark
Thanks for the details and the links on this project, I'm going to give it a try on my 55 Chevy.
You are welcome. Not sure what the pitch is on a 55 but there is a good chance it will match. I would take the regulator to the auto parts store and have them bring of the motors out and check it to see if the gears mesh before you order anything. It would nice to know how many years and what models GM used the same pitch. Let me know how it works out for you.
Mark
Thanks for the video, I love this kind of stuff. Figuring stuff like this out is what makes car building cool.
You are very welcome and thanks for the nice comment. Saving a bunch of money and doing it yourself is what us car guys love to do.
Just a quick tip - the connectors on GM door lock actuators are the same as these motors. I got mine off a Suburban.
I think that is what I ended up ordering from Rock Auto. They looked the same but cost half as much.
Thanks for the tip
Wow. Fantastic Mark. It’s obvious in the video how pleased you are with the results. Rightfully so! It’s a great solution.
You mentioned having to reverse things on the passenger side vs the driver’s side. Is that a mechanical reversal or can you just reverse the wiring? Ie. Up is down and down is up.
Hi Robert, It is a placement of the motor plate, the mount will flip and reside on the opposite side of the gear is all. DC motor doesn't care how you wire it as long as the switch is wired correctly.
Yes I was happy I saved myself a grand and helped others do the same plus that idea was with me a while so really nice to give it a try and have it work right off the batt.
Mark
This will work great in my a body buick special 👍
Thanks
You are very welcome. Let me know how it works out for you.
Mark
Thank you for your time!
You are very welcome.
I was planning to buy the $900 kit you mentioned for my 67 Le Mans. Now I can DIY and spend that money on something else. Thanks to you Mark!
Do think the rears will be about the same?
Glad I could help Ron. I just went out and checked the quarter window regulators and the sector looks like it has the exact same pitch. I didn't check it with the motor but it looks like a match to me. I will probably start on the rear quarters pretty soon just in case there is some welding/fabricating to make them work on Ruby.
Mark
First off!! Amazing video! very insightful. How did you know the motor angle or how did you know to place the motor in that specific location?
Thanks.
Thanks, I appreciate that.
I did a lot of head scratching with the regulator in the car looking for the best place where the motor could lay without hacking up the inner door panel sheet metal. There is a sweet spot that worked out great and you can access the motor mounting screws and plug pretty easily for servicing later on if needed.
Nice innovation!
Thanks Adam, looks like it is going to work out nicely.
Mark
Thanks Mark. Great job! I'm interested in the full-glass door windows. I'm looking for some for my "67 post. Got any ideas? PS I'll have to buy the kit. I'm not handy with the fabrication part.
You are welcome. The Chevelle has the same door glass so check this company out. I haven't seen their kit in person yet but it should be soon. www.onepieceproducts.com/1966-1967-chevrolet-chevelle-2d-sedan-1pc-kit/p39
Great Idea Mark! Been thinking on this for my 1965 Chevelle 2 door wagon project!! What are you going to use for switches and door flex cables? Thanks Rod
Hey Rod, Thanks and this would be perfect for the 65. I am not sure on the switches so I think I am going to walk around the junk yard looking for ideas. Ruby will have custom door panels and a custom center console so I could put the switches in either. I am leaning towards the door panels. Since Ruby is a RestMod her interior will have modern elements with the old mixed in. Flex conduit for the doors is pretty easy to find what I want just by looking at modern cars. The newer designs are way better than the old school so I am sure I will find something I want to try out.
Mark
Hi Mark, yes I recall that you had mentioned the custom aspect with the GTO seats. I would guess that any of the GM reversing switches would work. As far as the flex conduit I have used the SS flex hoses from the big box stores used on bathroom sinks (supply hoses) on a 40 Ford and a 66 F100 in the past. grommets help with the sliding Rod@@FoothillPaintandFabrication
I will more than likely use the rubber type with a 90 degree elbow at each end opposing each other. They are installed above and below each other on the door and jamb and do more of a twisting motion instead of a bend and pull motion.@@rodglaves
This is a very good project, and a well made video of it. I have a 1963 IH Scout I am considering power windows for. I understand the pitch for the gears need to match. And determining the pitch of the regulator is easy since it is in front of you. But how did you determine the pitch of the motor gear? I can't find any data to select the window motor based on gear pitch. Or even any data for the motor you selected. And then determining the plug off an Astro Van door lock is the same as a Camaro window motor, is there data available for verifying the sizes, or is it hit and miss mixed with luck? Thanks
@@djohnson4523 Scouts are very popular, you are lucky to have one.
Trial and error for the motor. I am very experienced with GM vehicles and know they tend to stick with what works for years and years so I looked at a lot of pictures of motors, counted teeth, checked out aftermarket kits and spent time at AutoZone having them pull motors to hold up to the regulator. The Astro van is a good source for a great many parts and it worked out great. I emailed a few aftermarket motor suppliers asking for spec sheets showing the pitch of the drive gear, I never heard back from anyone.
What is the pitch of your regulator?
I haven’t pulled mine yet. Still making floor pan replacements. I also sent questions to Dorman and others for data on their hydraulic clutch release bearing. I know there are likely several I could make work. But they aren’t willing to help that way.
But again, great project. When I get to my windows I check back.
@@djohnson4523 Sounds good, keep in touch.
That is BRILLIANT! Thank you!!!
Thanks I hope it helps. Nothing better than saving money and making your ride that much nicer.
Mark
Hi Mark, another great video. I am going to do some research to see if this will work on my 64 El Camino. Thank you for doing all of the “heavy lifting”, and thank you for sharing.
@@FoothillPaintandFabrication the second Gen GTO seat vid was great. But man nothing nicer than pulling up to someone and having power windows on the passenger side. Sheesh! So Rad!
thanks again!
No problem Steve. I am almost positive it will work on the El Camino, GM used a lot of the same parts across all their platforms if they could to save money.
Let me know how it goes.
Mark @@stevebeard3527
Absolutely!!! It is going to be so cool to have all the things I dreamed about while driving Ruby back in the day. @@yepyep340
Great video.
Thanks, hope it was some help to you if you give it a try.
Mark
Great video! Do you think changing the color on a # matching GTO hurts the value.
Hi Andre, Personally I think not but for some if it is numbers matching then the interior and exterior has to match the ID plate codes. If it is an investment best to go back exactly if you are doing a numbers matching car but if you are building it for yourself paint it a period correct color you like and enjoy that thing. Worry about what it might sell for later and by then it will have appreciated more anyways.
Mark
Thanks, Mark, always a joy and Great Advice
Do you think this will work on the GM B body as well? I have a 1963 Sport Sedan that I want to convert to power windows. Great video!
I am not sure. It would certainly be worth a look as GM often used the same parts/equipment across most of their models so there is a chance it could work. Comparing pictures of A body and B body would be a good start
did you have to use relays on the switches? do you know how many amps these motors are pulling?
@@jonnyc71 Until I get the glass in with all new felt I won't know for sure how many amps they are pulling but it doesn't seem like much. Early model GM switches could easily handle the draw so I will probably go with those but haven't decided on which one yet. These motors seem to be way more efficient than the ones from the 70's.
What pitch / size of teeth on the motor and regulator?
I contacted several manufacturers but none ever got back to me with specs. On the sector gear measuring at the top of one tooth to the next it looks like .240"
On the motor gear .292" and it has 9 teeth.
I think I read it was mode 3 but not sure.
Very nice i was thinking about power windows in my lemans this will save a loot of money will this also work for the rear windows or is there another video coming for that
Yes there is. Here is a link ua-cam.com/video/w-TKydISCRY/v-deo.html
It will be a little different for the Hard Top but not much. I was thinking, my parts car is a Hard Top so if you need parts I might be able to help if I am not using them. Not sure where you are located but keep it in mind and email me if you have a need.
Mark
Hello again love the videos im actually looking for the metal structure of the dash if you have one or maybe know where i can get one would be a tremendous im even looking for junk yards out west with no luck yet mine rusted out due to the windshield leaking and beyond repair thanks
@@brittneykappes7952 The dash in the donor car is in really good shape but you may not need the whole thing. Have you checked out Rust Replace website? Here is a link. www.rustreplace.com/home
They sell the sheet metal for around the windows, check them out they might have what you need.
Yeah i amactually not that far from but my dash is shot and not repairable unfortunately i have already ordered the piece for under the windshield to the firewall so replacement is only choice i have i have them for just about evry other car but not the lemans crazy as that is if you want to sell or hear where i might get one please let me know i will keep looking got to be one out there somewhere lol thanks again
I will keep you in mind as I get farther along. If I don't need anything off that dash it is yours. It is an A/C dash with the vent holes cut out. @@brittneykappes7952
great idea but def not a task everyone can handle including me lol. no welder or welding skills
Definitely not everyone could do it but you would be surprised what you can learn and do with a cheap welder and some practice. It can be very satisfying.