1971 Corvette Hot Rod Build

[Arrowsmith]

It was my plan from the beginning to install power windows in the Corvette. Since the interior was out, it was a pretty straightforward task, but there were a few, uh, learning moments…L-O-L

I purchased a complete power window kit from Corvette Central. It uses mostly US made reproduction copies of OEM parts (I’m not sure of the motor source). In terms of fit, it was great. The backorder time was brutal, but it eventually arrived. In the photo below you can see the differences between the crank up setup and the PW system.




The console part of the install equation was easy-peasy. Pretty much a plug and play job. I could have used the repro non-power window console that came with the car, but it was just easier to buy a new console with the switch holes already opened up. I treated the console to a new park brake slide while I was at it.



Installing the mechanism in the door was straightforward, but I made a dumb mistake. I forgot I hadn’t installed the upper window stops when I went to test the setup on the driver side door. To compound the dilemma, I had a made up a jumper harness for the PW motor. I used a red wire and a white wire to go to a shop battery. But…which wires connected to yellow and to black? The window can work either way. So naively I moved forward. Ooops! I picked the wrong color mix...L-O-L. The power window regulator shot the works right up out of the top of the door and with it, the spring exploded out the big opening in the door. Lucky for me, the spring missed me, Teddy, the Corvette and my pickup truck. It took a bounce off the garage door and ended up underneath my truck. So, I took everything apart (again) and re-installed the spring. This can be done by clamping the body of the regulator in a shop vice and manually cranking the spring back into place by way of the main arm. It’s not difficult but you have to be wary: That spring is under a lot of tension. Getting the window installed is another challenge. You basically have to drop the front end of the glass in first (the window is almost at a 90-degree angle in relation to the door), align the front roller and then work your way back with the glass. Sounds easy enough, but this part of the assembly took some teeth grinding and a few choice cuss words. The reason is, there’s precious room for the rollers at the top of the door.



Next, there’s rubber wire conduit that must be installed between the door jamb and the door. I initially thought it could be maneuvered into place by hand by opening the door all the way. Not so fast Buster! I searched the internet and someone suggested I might be able to accomplish the install by fishing it into place with a section of twine. After an hour or so of playing with that notion, I decided to do what I swore I wouldn’t do: Remove the door. Because I work alone, I had to come up with a MacGyver arrangement (there are some specialty tools for this job that attach to a floor jack but I don’t have them). I used some moving blankets, a jack stand and a cherry picker to hold and maneuver the door while I installed the conduit. Here’s a little tip (no picture available): Instead of scribing the hinge mount bolt locations inside a door, simply spray them with a contrasting color of lacquer. No one will see the paint when you’re done and it’s way easier than scribing around a washer in a tight location.



This is the rubber conduit I’m referring to. You can’t see it here, but it has a molded index pin on the door jamb side, so it can only go in one way.



Next up: Carefully slide the door back into place and before it’s all the way home, pop the conduit into the door.



All of that to get these two wires inserted into the door…



This is the finished conduit install…



The gaps and alignment on both doors were the same as before…



I installed new window fuzzies (wipes) and re-used the OEM stainless molding. Once that was done, I adjusted the windows. It’s not a difficult task, but I did remember to tighten all of the adjustment hardware…L-O-L. And as a preview, you can see I installed Hushmat in the cockpit. I’ll get to that next.