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my car 1968 cutlass S convertible manual windows.
Possible donor doors 1968 Cutlass hardtop that were power windows
Wing window? Mine are ok can they be swapped over to the hardtop door?
Manual crank, can that be swapped to the power doors?
Or
Provided my wing windows would work could I use the power window, add switch, wiring etc. ?
Are the donor doors from a coupe or post car? Post car doors will not work.
Are your doors not patchable?
The 68 Convertible and 68 Holiday Coupe doors interchange. Except for the vent windows, The vents have a different profile due to the different slop angle of the windshields.
As you assumed you will need to use your Vert vent windows and the jamb shims.
Yes you can install power windows from a Holiday Coupe into a Vert. Its quite a job. You will need everything from the power window donor car. The interior panels, all wire harnesses, switches, relays, fuses, drill out the jamb for the wire boots. et al.
Power vents were not an option on 68 A body Olds..
I don't think post door regulators are the same as a coupe. The motors and switches are likely the same.
Mark the position of all the window channel fasteners, bumpers and adjusters on both cars. Take pictures. Mark the thread depth on the vent frame adjusters. This will get you in the ballpark before you start final adjustments. Adjust with all seats removed, easier. Adjust the vent and door glass together then go at the rear windows. All adjustments are made with the top up. You may need to dial that in as well.
Consider replacing all soft rubber seals, bumpers and inner/outer window sweeps.
Are the donor doors from a coupe or post car? Post car doors will not work.
Are your doors not patchable?
The 68 Convertible and 68 Holiday Coupe doors interchange. Except for the vent windows, The vents have a different profile due to the different slop angle of the windshields.
As you assumed you will need to use your Vert vent windows and the jamb shims.
Yes you can install power windows from a Holiday Coupe into a Vert. Its quite a job. You will need everything from the power window donor car. The interior panels, all wire harnesses, switches, relays, fuses, drill out the jamb for the wire boots. et al.
Power vents were not an option on 68 A body Olds..
I don't think post door regulators are the same as a coupe. The motors and switches are likely the same.
Mark the position of all the window channel fasteners, bumpers and adjusters on both cars. Take pictures. Mark the thread depth on the vent frame adjusters. This will get you in the ballpark before you start final adjustments. Adjust with all seats removed, easier. Adjust the vent and door glass together then go at the rear windows. All adjustments are made with the top up. You may need to dial that in as well.
Consider replacing all soft rubber seals, bumpers and inner/outer window sweeps.
Thanks for the reply. The donor is a coupe. Sounds like trying to use the power window would be big job so I would probably retain my manual crank, that can be done correct? that is I can use the manual components from my door on the power window door?
Condition wise my passenger door appears to have been in accident and was dented pretty bad, pulled out and filled. The mud is pretty thick and is cracking. Mud at the top trim line completely covered the trim mounting pins to where they glued on the clips for the trim. Driver door has a patch in the lower front skin by the front fender and the inside fold for the skin was filled with mud to where you cant see any definition in sheet metal. I have not stripped the doors yet just guessing both need a lot of work so if donor doors are good and reasonable cost maybe better off than reworking my doors.
Manual crank to manual crank will not be a problem.
Not discouraging you from doing the power window conversion its just involved with many more parts. Its plug n play for the most part as long as the system in the donor is complete.
You have to be methodical about inspecting and refreshing everything electrical & mechanical for trouble free use.
In other words the donor system would need to be restored & tested before installation.
The motors need to be tested and or come apart to be cleaned regreased rebrushed.
The tracks and rollers need to be cleaned regreased replaced.
All the electrical connections need to be verified fresh and shiny.
You will need to cut holes for the PW switches in your panels. You will be left with open crank handle holes.
Clean and regrease the manual system.
Consider reskinning the original doors if there isn't rot on the inner shell. Donor doors would be far less time consuming and more economical.
Id pull the interior door and quarter panels off both cars. Snap a pic of where everything mounts and compare.
Regardless of what you do take a lot of pictures and notes while disassembling.
GM would not have made different doors for power vs manual windows within the same body series.
Any car could have whatever options were on the option sheet with few exceptions or limiting factors.
Last edited by droldsmorland; Jan 11, 2025 at 12:32 PM.
Manual crank to manual crank will not be a problem.
Not discouraging you from doing the power window conversion its just involved with many more parts. Its plug n play for the most part as long as the system in the donor is complete.
You have to be methodical about inspecting and refreshing everything electrical & mechanical for trouble free use.
In other words the donor system would need to be restored & tested before installation.
The motors need to be tested and or come apart to be cleaned regreased rebrushed.
The tracks and rollers need to be cleaned regreased replaced.
All the electrical connections need to be verified fresh and shiny.
You will need to cut holes for the PW switches in your panels. You will be left with open crank handle holes.
Clean and regrease the manual system.
Consider reskinning the original doors if there isn't rot on the inner shell. Donor doors would be far less time consuming and more economical.
Id pull the interior door and quarter panels off both cars. Snap a pic of where everything mounts and compare.
Regardless of what you do take a lot of pictures and notes while disassembling.
GM would not have made different doors for power vs manual windows within the same body series.
Any car could have whatever options were on the option sheet with few exceptions or limiting factors.
………The vents have a different profile due to the different slop angle of the windshields
Steve,
the vent windows have the same slope, the weatherstripping channel is just a little different. I think the convertible is on the left and the coupe is on the right. It’s been years since I took this pic.
BTW, I still have that nice set of coupe vent windows for you
Mike
Last edited by allyolds68; Jan 11, 2025 at 06:48 PM.
Hey Mike,
So the 68 coupe vent window & frame will physically interchange with the 68 Verts?
The slope angles of the Vert and Holiday Coupe windshields are the same.
So Mhollida still needs to swap vent frames so the Vert top roof rail and A pillar weather seals engage properly?
Mhollida are you buying the donor doors. If so you will be the lab rat to let us know.
Either way the donor doors will do what you want them to do.
Hey Mike,
So the 68 coupe vent window & frame will physically interchange with the 68 Verts?
The slope angles of the Vert and Holiday Coupe windshields are the same.
So Mhollida still needs to swap vent frames so the Vert top roof rail and A pillar weather seals engage properly?
Mhollida are you buying the donor doors. If so you will be the lab rat to let us know.
Either way the donor doors will do what you want them to do.
Still considering the donor doors, just waiting for shipping estimate as they are across country for me. If I do go that route will post what I find. Thanks for all the help.
I just went out and took pics of my windows (68 Holiday). The drivers side roof rail seal profile looks different than the drinkers side. I've been aware of this since day one but never really investigated it.
Mind you this is an earlier production Z code 68...09C.
Im 99% confident the drivers side is OE (born with) from the Fremont plant. I replaced the drinkers side with a 68 Chevelle bone yard assembly, as the car got broken into many years ago while at a Dead concert. The thieves busted it out to gain access to my stereo. I still have the OE frame.
Not 100% sure but the driver side profile looks like it could be for a vert?
Time for all you 68 owners to observe and report out for data purposes....Mike.
