Electric Windows on 79 Bronco

[ruger1022]

Gotta give a nod here to 7LBRONCO for his posting of the XLT door panels here: http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...d.php?t=210776

BigWheelz and I were toying with the idea of electric windows last winter after I spent a day trying to put in a 80-95? motor into an extra door shell that he had. Both of our interests were peaked, and he ran with it. We figured out that the arm of the later model was a different length and had a different mounting point where it meets the bottom of the door glass. He removed the arms from the motor on the later model, and the arms from the 78-79 window regulator, and with a 1/4-20 tap and die, reinstalled the 78-79 window arm onto the later electric motor.

BigWheelz knew that the problem with the electric motor was the plastic bearings in the motor, they shrink and warp, causing intermittent action and eventual failure. I ordered a bar of aluminum round stock, I think it was 7/16th, and cut them to length to fit in the motor for new bearings. Here's where we went different paths....I ordered a wiring harness and electric switches from Electric Life-turns out they are the same manufacturer for a lot of the OEMs http://electric-life.com/shopdisplay...ow+Switch+Kits and he used the Motorcraft switches and harness from same years as the motors. We both are using the Auto/Up switches pulled from the Crown Vics and wired using the diagram posted by Steve83 ( http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/show...=199571&page=5).

We both also used Motorcraft wire looms for the doors, both required taking the doors off and cutting holes for the looms. I bought the Electric Life Wire looms but decided the diameter was too small for the speaker wire, window wire, and electric door locks, if anyone is interested in them-here's a link (http://electric-life.com/shopexd.asp?id=860). I'm only doing the Auto Down on my front windows because of young kids and doing both up and down on the tailgate window.

BigWheelz motors and switches are in and functioning, and mine is wired, but the motors still need to mounted. Spent a lot of time reconditioning my door panels (they were the light cream/beige) and I decided to redo the interior panels in more of a camel color. Carpet already was done, console and panels are completed. Anyway, here's a pic of the panels with the GM Electric life switches.

[ruger1022]

Pic of the door looms...

[BigWheelz]

Those door panels are a work of art my friend, very nice.

[InfoFord]

I used the electric life regulators and the joker style switches on my dually

plus their central door lock system

pictures here http://www.ncspecialties.com/autobody/dually/doors.htm

[ruger1022]

Thought about doing it that way, but they wanted a pretty penny for the motors and switches and harnesses.

After we figured out the the arms could be mounted to the salvage motors, and the motors could be rebuilt better than OEM, it was obvious which way to go...if the motors ever went out, they were easily replaceable. They were mounted in the same place, just clocked a little bit. If the switches went out, my GM switches are carried by multiple places, and the Motorcraft switches are still found in the salvage yards too.

I got really lucky with the electric door lock kit, my Father in Law bought a kit from JC Whitney a couple of years ago for his old Beetle, but because the actuating arms weren't compatible, he just gave the kit to me. Turned out to be a really nice kit with two key fobs. When you crank the ignition, the doors lock, when you kill the ignition the doors unlock. We're going to wire the trunk unlock button on the key fobs for the back window. There's options on the processor to wire the dome and parking lights to blink when activated along with the horn sounding.

I'll try to post the name of the company that produced the door unlock kit.

[ruger1022]

Originally Posted by InfoFord

I used the electric life regulators and the joker style switches on my dually

plus their central door lock system

pictures here http://www.ncspecialties.com/autobody/dually/doors.htm

Why didn't you go ahead and do the back doors too?

[ruger1022]

The remote control power door lock kit came from www.icdynamics.com

Gotta say, didn't think much of this at first, but its a very cool inexpensive kit.

[InfoFord]

the door locks is all four doors

the rear doors have goofy regs and not much room

I could do it with a lot of work then the transisation fom cab to rear door was yet another issue

I decided I don't sit back there and with the amount of work involved to build a regulator it was not worth it

I used a astro remote start kit to control my door locks

[OX1]

Got pics of the regulator arm mod?

[harleytech]

pics of how the motors are reclocked and mounted in the doors too please

[ruger1022]

I'll make sure to take pics of the install on mine. Won't be til later this month at earliest. I've got to on orders for a little bit, and no telling when BigWheelz and I can get back to his garage. Maybe even get a video for the back window key fob.

[BigWheelz]

Sorry Ruger, this pinko company has me working my you know what off.

[ruger1022]

No problem, I have the same issues!