Adding Power Windows to the Vintage Volkswagen

This is how I added power windows to my Volkwagen Karmann Ghia for around $40. The procedure should be almost identical for a bug/beetle, bus, thing or any other air cooled vintage vw.

[@GregsGarage]

Agreed. I find myself always needing a way to roll down the passenger window. This will help. It also gets rid of the ugly window crank.

[@wfd805]

I've been thinking of this for 5 years now when working on my Malibu. Now that I know it will work... Looking for Camaro or Fierbird motors now. Thanks!

[@GregsGarage]

Yeah. Your ghia will be nicer with a set like this! I'll keep you posted on how they perform and what switches I wind up with.

[@GregsGarage]

Yeah, I forgot to give him the inspirational credit. You are 100% right. This has been on my todo list for a long time. He got me motivated. Perfect timing with the other electrical work going on inside the car.

[@tomswonderfulworld]

Nice work Greg, A very nice touch to the ghia

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Neill! The door lock will be an experiment for another day. It opens up all kinds of possibilities for remote unlock buttons etc.

[@Jx1x3]

This is great DIY for the people looking for power! You made it look simple lol

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks for watching Thomy Shuu.

[@GregsGarage]

I think it would be a good one to do. Much easier than I thought.

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks! And you're right. There are about a billion of those toyotas in yards.

[@GregsGarage]

Yeah, I've been focused with my head down deep in work the last week. I have a bunch of video to edit... With the wife out of town I wanted to get maximum time in on the car so editing was pushed off. Should have a few vids this week.

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Matt. Jim needs to get his done.

[@satajet883]

That is going to be a nice little upgrade. I like!

[@iceman22st]

Sweet. I kept all the motors and lock solenoids from a Camry I stripped a few years back for that very reason

[@GregsGarage]

Hmm... Not sure on that one. It takes a reversing switch, but the motor I have is a power up/power down motor.

[@vw64manyrd]

very cool,and replacement parts are probably more plentiful than the stock ones! Nice Job!

[@AlbertaClimber]

That's going to be one kewl Ghia with this little addition. I have to credit Rasd4Metta though on getting me stoked to put power windows in everything now.

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Hanson. The windows will be on hold... I gotta focus on the essentials. I'll get back to them once the car is on the road.

[@1968hambone]

Great work Greg......very nice!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Tom! Can't wait to see the next box stickered up!

[@VintageVaughnVehiclces]

Thats some pretty good rigging i will try usiung 300D window motors and single rear door ;switches one per door i can reach across to the other door it may work great

[@jwhrivnak]

Great job Greg, I'll have to add this to my favorites for future viewing.

[@GregsGarage]

Yeah, I think you nailed it.

[@GregsGarage]

HAHA... I didn't catch that you were talking about the spelling!!!! Now I get it. Dyslexia, gotta love it.

[@Thisoldcar]

Sweet upgrade Greg. I like that upgrade. Some upgrades I can easily do without but I do like power windows, mainly so that I can raise or lower ALL windows from the driver seat. Cheers OLDDUDE

[@muddywaters6]

nice work that worked out really well

[@danelectro68]

Now that is cool!!! central door locking would be good too. Nice job Greg :-)

[@MrComaToes]

Vintage, brother... vinage sounds like napa valley! Love junkyard scrounging.

[@danelectro68]

Yeah absolutely Gerg, would be very cool if it all works out!!

[@paky66]

i was talking about the motors (actuators) for opening/closing the door

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Tony.

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks man! Can't wait to roll em' down on the freeway!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Cecil.

[@GregsGarage]

Yep. Takes a bit of courage to chop up a good door, but I think it will be worth it. Gotta replace that binding slide before I commit to hacking my real doors.

[@VintageVaughnVehiclces]

On my Audi Fox I got a power window for a Ford F-150 and the guide rail then I got the rubber strip that goes on the bottom of the glass from eBay and from eBay I also got the universal two power window kit which switches and wire harness it all went together well and I have fast reliable power windows with all new parts cost me about $200 for the window regulators and $50 for the window tint and the rubber strips. The F-150 Regulators have a straight arm I simply look at all the power when The Regulators until I find one that's similar or very close to that looks like the one I removed. You did it to a dots and I use put maximum window regulators in a dots and 510 and another pair of Nissan rear window regulators I simply just find a regulator that looks similar to the manual one I've removed.

[@jevchance]

Looks good Greg. Might be doing this mod myself.

[@GregsGarage]

I decided not to do the power windows in order to save time. I couldn't get the switches to work like I needed them to work. I would have cut off the crank attachment, and I believe I could have hidden everything under a flat door card.

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Ron!

[@GregsGarage]

So far so good!

[@fatstercat]

oh hell yeah greg power windows its gonna be nice man

[@265chevy]

great job greg it looks like it will work now you have power windows later

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Darrin!

[@cecil6711]

This is very cool Greg.
Way to get er done. :-)

[@SYFGARAGE]

awesome! nice work

[@GregsGarage]

It will be close enough. I believe it's within 1/8". I can design around that.

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks HB!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks Rich. Sad thing is, I plan to NEVER have the windows or the top in the up position.

[@vwdarrin]

very cool sir

[@BelgianMuscle]

Awesome fab vid! thanks Gregg!

[@robbiegwinn]

i haven't put my regulator in yet due to rain. Maybe tomorrow ;-)
awsome hat my friend

[@19charger74]

man that came out sweet !!!!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks.

[@benzlover55]

That's some hackin, and packin as pisser would say. Cool stuff Greg!

[@GregsGarage]

Good thinking my friend!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks!

[@GregsGarage]

Slow and steady. It takes a lot of bites to eat an elephant. Thanks for the kind words.

[@tertessa]

Nice work...That might work for my 47 Pickup.

[@MrComaToes]

It's all cool, man, no worries.

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks man!

[@davemiii]

Catching up on you still. Nice work.

[@Timetotinker]

thats so cool, nice job....tony

[@Milogarage]

nice work man ,,was wondering where you were

[@GregsGarage]

I bet it would. You might need a bigger motor though.

[@GregsGarage]

You must have a crystal ball!!!

[@finpainter1]

nice job

[@jdmcommute]

Sick dude!

[@TheWreckingYard]

Good stuff

[@paky66]

I think you need 2 motors for each door (to open/close it). A friend of mine has a vw bug and only one motor did not work.

[@GregsGarage]

It took some head scratching... I think it took about 3 hours start to finish.

[@robbiegwinn]

cool stuff....ty

[@wtbm123]

Cool

[@Procrastinatorgarage]

Coming along sweeet

[@MrComaToes]

Sounds good to me... although I just was trying point out that in your haste to post this for us, that you mis-spelled vintage in your title. Marketing junkyard parts to hipsters, that actually could work, though... You going to use VW switches,or something like nice simple 60's GM switches for the windows?

[@ak47popoff]

sweet!

[@Rasd4Metta]

Good job Greg!!! Is the motor going to clear your door panel?

[@GregsGarage]

Hackin yes!

[@MrComaToes]

Nice... Karmen Ghiyota ; D

[@GregsGarage]

You should... I did!!

[@GregsGarage]

Hmm... Some car parts get better with age, maybe you are onto something. We should market junk yard parts to all the hipsters as a better way to accessorize their cars.

[@GregsGarage]

Man, you're behind! Skip ahead now!

[@GregsGarage]

Ha! Star-Trek has nothing on this!

[@GregsGarage]

!!!:D

[@wildeyednorthernboy]

schuuuprint

[@vwfoolwhy]

I'm steeling this idea.

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks man!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks man!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks man!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks man!

[@GregsGarage]

Thanks man!