Vintage Power Window Systems?

[thebankerstoy]

So, have some of you folks been thinking that it would be cool to have factory installed power windows on your vintage Mopar? Be careful about what you wish for! For those of us who DO have those factory power window systems in our old Mopars, here is just one example of what we face when trying to find and purchase parts for those systems and the 1966-1968 owners have it the worst!

I am SERIOUSLY considering swapping out the factory power windows on my '66 Coronet 500 for a full manual window set-up! pissed off

Richard

Ebay Link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/281376663586?_tr...EBIDX%3AIT

[theman440]

My dad had a '64 Sport Fury with factory power windows - imagine trying to find that stuff! It is the only '64 Dodge or Plymouth I've ever seen with power windows.

[67r/t4speeder]

Did you ever find the switch you were looking for Richard?

[65rbdodge]

that's a lot of $$$

I never liked power windows, I`ve only had 2 cars with them. a 69 imperial, had problems with the drivers rear window which turned out to be a bad connection, easy fix. the second one is my daily driver 2008 Dakota that I`ve had for a year, 37K miles. passenger side stopped working this spring. $130 for a new regulator/motor. if given a choice I would choose to have manual windows.

[ws27]

That's just ludicrous Richard (the price, not you)

I bet you can get a harness guy to make a copy of one for much less.

Either that or I'm movin' on up with the Jeffersons. LOL I bet I have at least 4.

I have two cars with power windows and I'll be adding them to my silver car if I ever get to it in my lifetime.

I've been collecting parts for a while now.





So...

If you change you car out to manual windows, can I have your switches?

[thebankerstoy]

Did you ever find the switch you were looking for Richard?

Hi Andy,

I have 1 n.o.s. 4 gang switch for the drivers door and 2 n.o.s. single gang switches that are used on the passenger front door and both quarter windows, so I still need to find 1 more n.o.s. single gang switch to have a complete n.o.s. set. The last one of those that I saw on Ebay a year or two ago had a "Buy-It-Now" price of $250.00 so I passed on it. I also have several used single and four gang switches, but I won't use any of those unless I'm forced to. Those are kept for spare parts only.

By the way, the Ebay auction that I posted above is ONLY for the main wiring harness, so it may or may not include the separate pieces of the harness that go to the rear quarter windows and it also does NOT include any of the master 4 gang, or single gang switches!

Shown below is the master 4 gang switch that is used on all of the 1966, 1967 and 1968 B and C-Body cars with factory power windows (part number 2580 613). The last one of these that I saw on Ebay started out at $400.00 and that was not a "Buy-It-Now" price. The one shown below is mine and if I remember correctly, I paid $250.00 for it many years ago.







Here's what the back side of the '66-'68 single gang switches look like (part number 2580 614).



On the very few occasions that you do find any '66-'68 power window switches for sale on Ebay, this is what you usually find. The "Buy-It-Now" price is $59.95. Sellers part description.

Used Master Power Window Switch. Chrome has pitting. Switches all feel a little loose. Untested. Would probably need restoration.

Translation? This part looks like crap, doesn't work and good luck trying to find ANY parts to restore it, because NOBODY reproduces ANY parts for these '66-'68 power window systems!

Richard

[thebankerstoy]

My dad had a '64 Sport Fury with factory power windows - imagine trying to find that stuff! It is the only '64 Dodge or Plymouth I've ever seen with power windows.

I feel your pain Jeff! I will say though, since 1989 when I started collecting power window parts for my '66, I've seen more of the '64-'65 n.o.s. power window switches for sale than I have the '66-'68 switches, but they are still very difficult to find and those style n.o.s. switches sell for ridiculous prices as well.

Richard

[thebankerstoy]

That's just ludicrous Richard (the price, not you)

I bet you can get a harness guy to make a copy of one for much less.

Either that or I'm movin' on up with the Jeffersons. LOL I bet I have at least 4.

I have two cars with power windows and I'll be adding them to my silver car if I ever get to it in my lifetime.

I've been collecting parts for a while now.





So...

If you change you car out to manual windows, can I have your switches?

Yep, you and me have been fighting it out on Ebay for years now for power window parts!

Just wondering out loud here, but other than purchasing the manual window regulators that I don't have and digging out the manual window lift handles which I have in a spare parts bin, what else would be needed to make a power to manual window swap? I would think that the regulator attaching hardware would be the same and all of the door and quarter window glass and the plastic window glass to regulators rivets are the same. I would have to purchase another new set of Pearl White door and quarter door panels though, because the set I purchased from Legendary already have the larger cut-outs for the power window switches, so that would be a bummer. Maybe I could sell those to somebody on the east coast who has a '66 Coronet with power windows........

Richard

[71_deputy]

Rich- been collecting for years up here for all types of power window stuff too. most times you can find a old c-body power window wiring and get it to work as it's close with a few mods. yes- that early master sw. is hard to find in any condtion!!
I have a real nice one for when I put them in the 68 vert!!!!! 1k for a non complete wiring is outta this world- maybe for a 100% harness and switches with the regs would be about right!!!!!!

[thebankerstoy]

that's a lot of $$$

I never liked power windows, I`ve only had 2 cars with them. a 69 imperial, had problems with the drivers rear window which turned out to be a bad connection, easy fix. the second one is my daily driver 2008 Dakota that I`ve had for a year, 37K miles. passenger side stopped working this spring. $130 for a new regulator/motor. if given a choice I would choose to have manual windows.

I really like the power windows in my '99 Ram, but if something goes bad there, parts are still available at the parts department at any Mopar dealership, or via most any parts store. The older cars like my '66 Coronet are a completely different story though, as absolutely nothing is available for them, so the only option is to pay ridiculous prices for whatever n.o.s. parts are still around and after 48 years, trust me, there isn't much left.

I can sure see why Chrysler redesigned the power window switches that were used on the '66 through '68 cars, as the buttons on those switches are kept centered in the bezel by one small spring, so once that spring ages and goes out of their original specifications, the switches become very difficult to operate. I can't speak for the 1967 or 1968 cars, but on my 1966, the power windows are hard wired hot at all times, so they can be operated without even having the key in the ignition! A very poorly designed system in my opinion. :p

Richard