This spring I got our sons wagon out and tried to roll the (manual) rear window down. It jammed, I went up and down a couple times trying to get it down to open the tailgate, and the little gear in the regulator stripped. Ugh. Since there's no replacements available for the regulator or any parts (that I could find) I got a new power window assembly from somewhere for (I think) a mid 90's F150. I got the regulator adapted to fit the tailgate inner bracing, and go up and down OK, and a single pole, double pole momentary switch to operate it. I put the switch in the recessed spot in the original exterior crank bezel so the handle covers it, and have been waiting on new window channel to get the thing back together. The straight channel came today, I cut pieces to put in the original tracks, which had (deteriorated) rubber liners, and got the glass back in. It goes up and down seemingly OK, but I don't have the upper channels in the body back in yet as I'm waiting for a roll of 2" wide sticky backed Velcro to line them with. As a result, the glass isn't supported by a run in the body once it's more than about halfway up and it binds as it's almost out of the tailgate channel by then. I think this is going to work out OK, once I get all the bits. There are no reproduction rubber parts (or ANY parts for these wagons) that I could find for these glass runs, I think the Velcro will work great in the deep (2") roof pillar glass channels. That seemed to be an acceptable solution for these.
Put a bit "DONE" stamp on this project. Certainly took much more time and effort than I anticipated, when I tried to roll the window down and stripped the regulator gear. My Velcro idea for the glass run worked perfectly. I got some plastic door edge protectors (I wanted black but all O'Rielley's had was stupid chrome) and finished the raw edge of the channel with that. Originally these had rubber that wrapped over the edge and was glued or vulcanized to the metal channel, but that was long gone. I stuck the Velcro into the channel, pushed the edge trim on, and put it all back together. Worked great after I figured out the reason why the window wouldn't go all the way up, but stopped about 3/4" short at the top. The two bolts that hold the original window mount channel to the new regulator hit the tailgate upper inner brace. I cut the excess bolt off, 1/4", and the window whistles up like there's no tomorrow. Now, back to work on the Impala, and figure out where coolant is leaking from the Hemi in the DeSoto wagon...
Slick! I had a 68 squire that had an electric back window. Nice feature. You need to add a switch on the dash though for "flow through air conditioning"
If they want to do that, they can stop the car, go to the tailgate, roll the window down, get back in and continue. My part is done.
The chrome strip means it’s the deluxe model! Power baby! Save those delicate wrists! Great job on thinking outside the box.
Don't forget to add a switch that disconnects the window power when the tailgate is down. There is a spot for it on the side of the tailgate. so the glass won't accidentally roll out and possibly break.
Here the switch from the factory I happen to have a full rear window setup when I had my wagon- this is just the old left overs
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