Has anyone succeeded with adding power windows (electric)

mike37mini

I know this has been asked before, but i'm really hoping someone out there has the answer. I am currently restoring a 1971 Karmann Ghia coupe. Its going to be a surprise gift for my wife as a karmann ghia was her first car back in the 70's. We live in Florida so I will be adding Ac, I have some comfortable bmw leather seat that will go in fine. but I am stumped to find a kit for the driver and passenger windows to make them electric.

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If anyone could help that would be great.
Thanks
Michael Razz

Bloku · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 2:52 pm Post subject: you are reading this XD

I have seen this, but I know 0 about this. Has anyone tried this power window kit? It is from JC Whitney

http://www.jcwhitney.com/power-window-kit/volkswagen-karmann-ghia/c2797d14340j1s21.jcwx

c21darrel · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 2:58 pm Post subject:

Watsons has them too.
http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=516
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mike37mini · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys! I have seen these the J c Whitney shows it's the same model for a beetle, the Watson looks interesting if it can be bent a little it might work as it's designed for flat glass.

Kmolenda · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 4:43 pm Post subject:

I have done them on other cars, most of these kits are "universal" the best one I used was auto-lok. It went in pretty easy compared to the others. BUT you will be fabricating and spacing things out, getting the wires into the door could be tricky on a ghia, might want to use a line of spring contacts in the door jambs. If it was me I would make here use the crank... It's good excersise.

spectre6000 · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:06 pm Post subject:

Part of the reason I'm into VWs in the first place is because they're not holy and can be modified without people jumping down your throat; especially the late models. That said, this is the sort of modification that typically ends up with some guy with a mullet just leaving the windows out because they cut out all the inner door structure before realizing it wasn't going to work, and then tries to get it in the background of one of those shitty HVW "articles" where they go to a show and take terrible photos, claims it was in a magazine, and tries to pass it off as "custom" and "as seen in HVW" for a gagillion dollars before eventually letting it go for $700 because the engine still mostly runs. Look in the classifieds for similar examples of this like suicide doors, beetles with a "safari" windshield and/or "safari" rear windows that look like bizarro split windows, late beetles with early rear windows, verts that are actually just coupes with the roofs cut off and doors that won't open, etc.

If there were actually a quality kit out there that was proven to work, the community would know about it. There isn't though, so you're not going to find anything about them, and it's a really bad idea. Never mind the sort of quality you're likely to get from the likes of JC Whitney, but Ghia windows are NOTORIOUSLY difficult to get to align and seal properly in stock form with all the stock adjustment abilities. Throw in some shitty aftermarket bling kit, and you're really not going to be happy with the results.

Hand cranks work, they don't fail like electric regulators (especially not cheap chinese ones), they fit, and it's part of the charm of these sorts of cars. If your wife can't handle hand cranked windows, she's REALLY not going to like that air cooled engine, the unassisted steering, the unassisted brakes, etc. The windows will be the least of her worries.
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mike37mini · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:46 pm Post subject:

Thanks for your thoughts Jason. This is my first Vw renovation and I'm getting a crash course on the good the bad and money. I'm not trying to win any trophies or awards. I just want a cool Vw that is safe and a fun second car for us to have.
I have made a video that is a video diary of the car ( video needs to be shortened once finished) I only get to work on the car once every few weeks as it at a friends house who live 45 min away. So I just have to be patient.

Link

SoCalJes · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 5:47 am Post subject:

Have you seen this one?

http://www.a1electric.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?S...e=VK57-KSW
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DorianL · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 6:58 am Post subject:

I'm interested in doing the same - can you keep us posted?

D

Mark33563 · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:10 am Post subject:

When I get started on my ghia project I am going to install a set of these to allow for future speakers or electric windows, or what ever comes to mind (electric locks?).

http://www.autotoys.com/x/product.php?productid=6750

SamBerr74 · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:39 am Post subject:

If it were me , I would take 4 doors off a 2000-2003 junk yard jetta take out the guts (all on a steel structure that bolts onto the door) and modify it to fit the ghia doors

The Ghia door inner structure would have to be modified tho

Mark33563 · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 7:41 am Post subject:

It would be a shame to hack up a 1-year door though.....

SamBerr74 · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 8:36 am Post subject:

it would be a shame indeed but others will cry fowl at the whole notion of his restomod any way.

Why not build the car for himself? im sure my idea will not be implemented but it would be something i'd do even if I sourced another set of doors (to put it back stock at a later time.

there have been plenty of Ghias that were scrapped and no longer need doors.

Mark33563 · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 8:42 am Post subject:

don't get me wrong, I am by far not one of the purist-nazi types.

it is his car, he can do what he wants. I have a '71 ghia that I plan to do some minor tweaks to in preparation for my daughter for when she gets to driving age. that gives me about 5 years and I figure it will take about two to get it to where I want it for her, safety wise.

I have no desire to own a show car. I only care to own vehicles I plan to drive and use so as to not be scared of a simple scratch or ding.

What I was getting at is there has to be a better, more gentle way to add power windows to the car without gutting the structure.

That is why I suggested the wire tubes through the jamb. That operation can easily be reverse by some future owner if desired.

mike37mini · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 2:58 pm Post subject:

mike37mini · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 3:01 pm Post subject:

mike37mini · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 3:03 pm Post subject:

ivwshane · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 3:29 pm Post subject:

I plan on buying some cheap replacement kits from ebay and modifying them to see if I can get them to work and then I'll buy a quality setup. No sense in spending $200+ for something that may or may not work.
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sum4all · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 4:51 pm Post subject:

I'm also planning adding power windows. Here's a guy that did it using Camry power window motors. It doesn't seem all that hard and looks minimally invasive as far as cutting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhS8RVj0BBo

mike37mini · Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 5:34 pm Post subject:


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Has anyone succeeded with adding power windows (electric)
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