Hi all: I am wokring on a '75 308GT4, currently taken the doors apart (in the process of getting her ready for new paint). When I bought the car, the windows had ben converted to manual, but I did get the original electric motors (in a box). I am wondering if I should test/rebuild the orignal motors or buy a kit (J.C. Whitney, for example)??? I have read some of the posted messages on slow windows and applicable remedies, and thus I am torn between originality and more modern alternatives... Thanks in advacne for the feedback, Gianni
The most common answer to this will be to upgrade to Birdman's Fuse Box. (Birdmanferrari.com) I have them and my windows move up just fine. That being said, I have no experience with anything 'new' out there. JIM '74GT4
I saw a hot rod show on Speed where they put modern aftermarket window lifts in an old car and it looked SLICK. I thought, man, that's the way to make the windows go! The fuseblocks only help some cars. The slow windows are the result of long wires/bad connections/bad fuseblocks (voltage drop), hardened goop in the window gearboxes, tight cable wire, sticky pulleys and a bad design. They just suck. Birdman
Jim: thanks for the feedback - I do have an updated fusebox, so I guess it could support the original motors.
Only problem is if the cable snaps you can't just buy the winch, it comes with the motor and the original part is NLA so they send you a motor and winch for a 308. The problem is that the 308 cable is too long for the GT4. Ask me how I know. I made my own cable by taking a winch apart but it's about 1.2" too short so I get some creeking at the top and bottom of the lift. It is also very difficult to find something to "cap" the end of the cable so that it fits on the pulley and doesn't tangle. Anyone who has taken one apart will know what I mean. I wish we could add a modern lifting system and scrap the wires.
This is the system I saw used on a classic car to add power windows on a SPEED channel show. They looked very easy to put in and fast as hell. I just don't know if they will fit in a 308. http://www.specialtypowerwindows.com/streetrodkits.htm Not expensive at all. Birdman
Here's the "limited space" version http://www.specialtypowerwindows.com/tallT.htm It requires 5-1/2" of space below the glass in the full-down position. Do we have that?
Thank you guys - excellent info. I will keep this in mind as I ponder on the choice when I get the car back and I start putting things back together. To answer Perfusion's inquiry, this car is orangeish and it is out of Los Gatos, CA.
I have a lot of experience with Audi ur-Quattro and 4000 sedan power window systems that have a cable loop. Not as bad as a 308, just one loop, pulleys top and bottom. Aftermarket replacement assemblies used a Bowden cable style like the link above, end of problems.
I just finished putting my door panels back on yesterday but I think 5 1/2" is no problem. Here is a photo of my window(fully down), it looks like there is plenty of room. My old 70' Corvette had the best power windows, I've ever seen, fast and powerful. They use the traditional sizzors regulator. I thought about trying to adapt them but this 'hotrod' kit looks interesting. Image Unavailable, Please Login
