Hey everyone, how hard do you think it would be to convert to power windows in a 70 Cutlass convertible?

I'm on the lookout for a car but not many of them come with power windows, and instead of waiting for one to come around I thought I'd make my own.

Is there a kit that I could use, or are the instructions here or on the web anywhere?

Thanks much.


Mike

 

It is a fairly involved job but not that difficult. A body manual is a big help. Any 1970 to 1972 A body 2 door power window set up will interchange. You will need all the wiring, switches, and window regulars/ motors. Drilling the door and cowl for the wiring harness is much easier with the front fenders off the car and running the dash wiring with the dash out of the car is better, but not absolutely neccessary.

 

Mike, when you have time read through Rob's thread below:

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...onversion.html

 

And you will discover about a thousand reasons to avoid the stupid chinesium kits.

I am on the THIRD rear regulator - and it that one is stripped out again!!

Get some used original parts and clean them up, regrease, and repaint. They will fit and last much better.

 

Wow that was quite an involved writeup. You may have just talked me out of the conversion. I may hold out for a car with power windows and not worry about it.

Thanks everyone for chiming in.


Mike

 

Did not mean to scare you off, but I meant to get original parts and not the repro kits.
I screwed up trusting the kit to fit and last, but it didn't.
Original parts would have fit and worked much better, making the conversion much easier and cheaper, too.

Not many cars out there with factory PW, so if you find the right car without them, the conversion can be done in a much better way.

 

I think if I end up with a car regular windows, I'll look for a whole donor car to get the parts off of.

Here's a thought, are two door doors the same as convertible doors, or could they be made to work? That would eliminate half my work right there.

 

I'm not sure how hard it's going to be. I have an NOS set I bought 4 years ago still waiting to go in. It also means changing the door panel (different hole patterns) and installing a boot between the front inner door to the A pillar. You will also need to look at your fuse box to see if there is room for more options. If not you'll need a junction block or an option pigtail. I have a Fisher body manual that sort of helps. I also read Robs thread. I think the biggest challenge is going to be access to the inner workings of the door and quarter panel areas. While I'm in there I'm also installing PDL. Since the door will be pretty much apart, it will also be the time to install the new window fuzzies and the B85 belt line moldings. Since the glass has to come out anyway, I have new softray tinted glass to install. + transfer the 1/4 glass chrome channel and install a new weather seal.

There's nothing like having an old car and finding out that one upgrade can mean that much more work. This definitely qualifies as another 'might as well' danger zone.

 

Yes, all the same. Glass too. The windshield is different, though on '68 to '72 A-bodies: one for convertibles, one for all others.

- Eric

 

When I was restoring my '71 Convertible, I had a 'loaded' parts car that had PW & PDL - I did the conversion on the convertible - was involved, but do-able. Hardest part was switching out the regulators in the rear quarter windows - having the parts car there as a 'blueprint' was an invaluable resource - if I had had to put it together out of a box by song would probably be a little different.

Incidentally, that was 20 years ago, used parts, used motors - all cleaned up and greased, etc...and (knock on wood) everything still works like new.

Just my 2 cents...

 

Allan, no door panel replacement is needed, as switches will mount in the place where the cranks were. Just have to cut the holes to fit the switches.
Those NOS parts should install well without mods and last a lifetime.