Power window question

[PHINFAN]

If you have a GN with manual windows, how hard would it be to convert to power windows? Has anyone here ever done this? What parts exactly would you need, 2 switches, 2 motors (are there better motors to use?) wiring harness?

Thoughts?

 

[Dennis Kirban]

Kirbans 2 cents worth. You may want to rethink that game plan. Be grateful you have crank windows. First, having crank windows work just as fast. Also, Usually have less trouble with them rattling.

Crank windows are very rare in these cars. Also means they are lighter, therefore your car is quicker in acceleration.

I am not 100% sure of everything you need, but the good new is the holes in the door panels for the cranks are in the same spot for power window buttons. The bad news is you need all the guts I think from a power window set up plus the harnessed and probably have to remove the doors to drill the hole to run the window motor harnesses from the doors to the dash.

Easier project would be to install a power seat in a non power seat car. That upgrade would give you better creature comfort.

Again since you have a GN crank windows is very very rare as I have only had a few.
My personal Turbo-T has crank windows.

kirbanperformance.com

denniskirban@yahoo.com

Have had numerous Turbo Regals in the past.

 

[bosted86]

Keep The Crank Windows. Wish I Had Them.

 

[turbojd]

Keep The Crank Windows. Wish I Had Them.

Yeah they're faster than the power windows!

 

[turbofish38]

Go for it. Rare? Since when that make a difference on our cars? Crank windows are for cheap Chevys. Weight? How's an extra 5 pounds going to slow it down? Crank windows faster? Not a chance. Try rolling both windows up at the same time!

Okay it's pretty easy to add them. Just time consuming. I'll just explain the wire harness end of it. The regulators and motors are straight R&R. Pull the rubber plugs off and see if you can find the cross body wire harness. It helps if you have a Factory Shop Manual for a reference. If it's there than all you need is to plug your door harness' in and run the main power wire from the fuse block to the C453 connector. If it aint than you have your work cut out as you'll have to yank the dash out to run the wiring. Reply back in this thread if you would like me to post some pics of what wires you need for the conversion.

 

[krom415]

Yeah they're faster than the power windows!

x2

 

[Dennis Kirban]

To answer the above, I would think by now any Turbo owner that has power windows surely realizes they are slow compared to other cars with power windows. The weight issue is an accumulation save a few pounds here and a few pounds there and yes it makes a difference when added to other weight savings. One reason our cars got a space saver spare.

Rariety does increase value among collectors whether its rariety in having a lot of options or very few options. Having sold over 300 of them I can tell you from hands on experience that rariety is a factor.

As for rolling crank windows up or down I based it on doing one at a time. l To each their own as far as what they want but in the real world of Turbo Buicks I don't think many owners with crank windows are wanting to install power windows.

kirbanperformance.com


denniskirban@yahoo.com

owned a few over the years

 

[turbofish38]

Yeah they're faster than the power windows!

I would think by now any Turbo owner that has power windows surely realizes they are slow compared to other cars with power windows

Put 12V or more on the big pink wire that powers the window circuit and you'll have windows faster or just as fast as any new car. I've got a 85 Riviera with what has to be the fastest 28 year old motors I've ever seen. Just as fast as my 95 Roadmaster with Express Down. And I've tried several different motors on the 86 GN and acheived the same speed as the newer cars. You aint going to get good results with a sub par electrical system. Start there if you want fast windows. I guess everybody forgets how great the windows were when these cars were new.

I do have to agree with you though. Switching from one to another doesn't make much sense if you're trying to retain the value of your car through orginality.

 

[Dennis Kirban]

Kirban again

I had these cars when they were new, the power windows never operated quickly. Even low mileage examples I have had over the years all operate slowly...perhaps a few escaped from the factory with quicker motors, but none I have ever seen. I do know the new window motors we sell are quicker than the originals with no other changes. At the time in I also had a 1987 5.0 Mustang and granted the Mustang was slower in performance, but in the window "race" the Mustang was quicker. Again going stock to stock.

I am sure had production continued after the 1987 models with the rear wheel drive G body platform some of the short comings would have been corrected.

kirbanperformance.com

denniskirban@yahoo.com

had a few Turbo Regals over the years.

 

[turbojd]

Dennis, do you guys still sell that "faster power window kit" all plug-n-play wire harness thats supposed to supply more volts to the power window motor? I remember you sold this years back.

 

[salvageV6]

You can buy a DC to DC converter high current 20-30A and run 15 volts to the windows for about $150 plus some rewiring time, that may include cutting and soldering the main feed.

That and a good lubing and you could easily outcrank Superman. :biggrin:

Never tried it however since they don't bother me much, although you will catch a few drops in a sudden downpour trying to close them.