The whole enchilada, here’s...
The whole enchilada, here’s everything needed to convert the ’55-’59 GM truck to power windows; a power window kit from Specialty Power Windows, and a one-piece window kit from Brothers Trucks.
There’s something about jumping behind the wheel of an old truck. The cockpit consisting of minimal buttons, switches, toggles . . . it’s as if ya jumped on board an old tractor it’s so bare! Yet, that is what’s killer about old haulers. The bells and whistles weren’t even a glimpse in the eye to the truck designers of their times. The designers showed up to the drawing board with ideas of what made a truck a truck and as Paul McCartney would say, “Let it be.” Put all of those factors together and that’s what makes piloting an old truck what it is; a step back in time when things were straight forward and to the point. A stroll down easy street, yet in style, may be best suited to describe the feeling.
By today’s comparisons trucks are by no means simple. In fact, I don’t even think it’s politically correct to refer to a truck as a truck. I believe the proper term is “LUV”, Luxurious Utilitarian Vehicles! Reason being is they still handle the task of the working man, but inside it’s all frills and no thrills. For someone like me, I can do without all the hoopla. (Being you’re reading from a guy who hasn’t had A/C in his daily driver in five years and up until a few months ago a heater was outta the questions as well!) However, one thing I can’t live without is power windows.
The first step is to remove...
The first step is to remove the factory brackets for the wing-vent windows in the confines of the glass opening along the sill of the door. A cut-off wheel or air saw is quite adequate.
Whether it is old or new, the one thing that is a must on the list is the convenience of that little button that will open the outside world to the cab of a truck. When it comes to the trucks of yesteryear the absence of the handiness of power windows is just another example of the shades of the times in a bygone era. Yet, as the world turns the demand to fuse the old and new overwhelmed the truck aftermarket and companies came to the conclusion that a power window kit is a must for these dinosaurs. One of the leading competitors in this field is a company’s name who says it all, Specialty Power Windows. SPW is a company that not only sells and distributes their products, but they design and engineer their products in-house, which allows them to make sure each kit is up to SPW specifications. They offer several direct fit kits for various makes and models, as well as universal kits. Here at Star Kustom Shop we are dealing with a ’55-’59 GM truck, so our interests in the company’s offerings were direct. What we found was quite intriguing. SPW offers several kits for our truck, the first being a kit that will retain the vent window, and allow the side glass to be motor driven. It’s their other kit, though, that’s what we’re after; a one-piece window kit that is centered around SPW’s Power Wonder-Lift. The Power Wonder-Lift is a cable driven GM motor kit that provides ample power and is a breeze to install. The ’55-59 GM kit completely replaces the old crank handle and regulator, and it comes complete with regulators, lower glass channels, GM switches, complete wire harness, with switch and motor plugs, and a flexible stainless steel wire conduit kit for door opening.
About half way down the door,...
About half way down the door, more or less smack dab in the middle, there is another brace that will obstruct the path of the new glass; therefore it will need to be removed as well. To remove it, drill out the spot welds on the inner doorskin, and then cut the bracket at its outer brace.
Instead of using a factory...
Instead of using a factory style scissor lift, we’re using regulators from Specialty Power Windows. The Power Wonder-Lift regulator will mount smack dab in the middle of the door. Being the regulators are universal for several applications the length gets cut to a specific door’s dimensions. At this point, I have mocked the regulator in its soon-to-be-mounted position with the stop at the maximum height of the window’s lift.
Provided in the kit is a template...
Provided in the kit is a template that will help determine the length of the regulator. Towards the bottom of the template is a printed line, which marks where the bottom of the glass will sit when placed in the window channel on the regulator. I placed that line at the bottom of the Brothers glass and then marked the top of the glass on the template. From there I transferred that template to the door, as if the glass’ upper edge was in the down position at the doorsill. I then marked the door per the dimensions of the template. This will also help determine where to place the regulator mounts.
With the regulator in the...
With the regulator in the down position, transfer the template by placing it clear against the bottom of the regulators lift. Transfer the glasses top edge to the regulator, and then add 3/8-inch for some adjustability when mounting. Cut the regulator at that line.
Remove the regulator stop...
Remove the regulator stop from the top of the discarded channel, and reinstall it to the altered regulator. If it doesn’t line up with the adjustment slots, simply lengthen the upper slot.
In caption #6, I marked the...
In caption #6, I marked the glass edges to the door. By holding the newly adjusted regulator to the door I was able to see where an appropriate mounting tab could be installed to the doorskin, without interfering with the glass. The Specialty kit comes with two U-shaped slotted mounts. By cutting a rectangular hole in the skin, the mount can slide into place. Then bend the tabs over the doors and weld or bolt them in position. The depth of the mounts should flow with the glass on an imaginary perpendicular line to the angle of the door opening. (On a side note, if welding, only tack them in position until the window is installed in the regulator and has been tested.)