manual to power window swap

[iwmc9448]

First of all, this site is incredible! I've learned so much just perusing. Thanks, Tim & Gwen! I'm shopping for an 86-89 van. I'd like it to have power windows but most of the ones I find for sale have manuals. That's not a deal-breaker; I'm just wondering how difficult it would be to swap manual regulators out for powered ones - either with door panels/switches from a donor van or an aftermarket kit. Has anyone done this? I tried a few searches but didn't find any posts. I'd appreciate any advice. Thanks!

[timsrv]

Personally I'd rather have cranks. Everybody likes electric windows.......until they stop working. Then, instead of only mechanical issues, there are multiple other potential electrical issues (motors, switches, connections, wires, etc)...........don't forget these vans are becoming 30 something years old now.

If you really want electric, it can be done. I've swapped out the contents of manual window doors with electric (and visa versa) for restoration/body repair reasons. Everything swapped over okay without issue. As long as you have donor doors with good interior parts and appropriate interior panels, it's just a matter of swapping over.

In your case, if you want to convert the vehicle too, that would be a bit more complicated. You could probably strip out the harness and other parts from a salvage yard van, but I'd probably wire my own circuit from scratch. The window circuit isn't that complex and most of the circuit & components are inside the doors. The rest of the circuit could be constructed fairly easily (as far as these things go). Good luck. Tim

[ViennaSausage]

I have similar problem, but in the reverse order. The power window on my 1987 4wd van stopped working. My mechanic opened up the panel and noticed that the wiring looked strange and he suspects that someone had swapped in a power motor and that it may have originally been manual. The mechanic tried to put in a new motor but was not able to get a fit. He has reached the limits of what he can do. He suggests that I search ebay for a manual regulator. Just in reading through some older threads this morning it looks like manual regulators on these vans are hard to come by.
I appreciate any thoughts you guys may have. Do you think I could find a manual regulator online, and if so what is the part number? Should I search for a different power motor?

[timsrv]

If I had this issue & didn't have spare parts, I'd be checking the local yards. Here's one in your area: http://www.lkqpickyourpart.com/locations/LKQ_Pick_Your_Part_-_Chula_Vista-264/recents/ & looks like they have an 89 van.

[ViennaSausage]

Thanks Tim, you rock.
I made it down to the pick and pull and found the van, actually found two, 1989 and 1984. Incidentally, if anyone in the San Diego area goes to check these vans out, LQK runs two separate lots, on the same road, less than a mile apart. I had trouble figuring that out and the employees weren't very helpful in explaining. Anyway, I pulled the driver and passenger regulators from the '84. Only installed the driver's side so far but it fits like a glove. The power regulator that had been installed was massive, don't know how the PO got in in but props to him.
Windows are working, ready for spring break road trip!

[timsrv]

Thanks for the update. I think the dancing banana would be appropriate here :dance1: