Tailgate window motor

Hi, I need to replace the tailgate motor on my 68 Colony Park. Are there any good quality units for sale at auto part stores. I see A1 Cardone units ranging fron $40 to $82.ave others used a part store unit with success and if so, what did you use? Thanks, Wayne

 

www.hydroe.com , A couple of weeks ago the rear window motor failed in my 1973 Ford Country Sedan. I went looking on E-Bay and found a motor at Hydro-E-Lectric, I did the buy-it-now and a couple of days later the new motor showed up. The bad news was I had a 7 tooth gear and this one had a 9 tooth gear, and you could tell the motor wasn't OE, as the holes for the bolts weren't threaded. I E-mailed them to complain, and they told me to send the original motor in with the return. I sent them both back, and within a week I got my original motor back, and it works perfect. They went out of their way to make things right. Heck, the motor was so nice, you almost wanted to display it on a shelf. I would use these guys again in a heartbeat.
941-639-0437 and the guy's name is Paul.
The original price on the replacment motor was around 80.00, but I didn't get charged for them rebuilding the original motor. They probably lost money on me, but you should give them a call or e-mail. They are in Florida.

 

I would get the original rebuilt, before doing a aftermarket....

 

HI, I was thinking of taking the original apart myself and rebuilding it. I'm definately not throwing it out. I was just wondering if there were any good ones already rebuilt out there.

 

When I purchased my '70 Squire, the plastic gear in my tailgate window motor was worn out and slipping. If I remember correctly, I purchased a salvage-yard side-window motor out of a Thunderbird, and it fit correctly and worked fine.

Now that salvaged cars of that vintage are getting harder to find, I think I'd go with a rebuilt, also.

 

Hi everyone. I purchased a passenger side motor out of a 73 Continental. I plan on installing it this week on my 68 Colony Park. My concern is what would happen to my tailgate glass if I remove the motor from the regulator. Since the glass is all the way up, will it come crashing down? Do I need to support the glass from coming down? I'm trying to do the swap with the regulator and glass still installed. I may have to loosen the regulator bolts to make enough room for the motor to slip out. Thanks, Wayne.

 

When doing the side window motors, I snagged some rubber shims. I dropped the windows down a little so I could see / reach the mounting hardware but still get to the regulators and then shoved those rubber shims between the door and the window to hold it in place while I did the repair.

On my minivan, I just used duct tape, but I like the wagon more than the minivan and didn't want to risk the paint. And the wagon doesn't have rails around the rear window to do that anyway

 

If you have someone who could help you, they hold the glass up while you swap the motor. That way, when it comes time to line up the bolt holes, they can move the window up and down to assist in that.

 

It's been a long time since I did mine, but I think I used a couple of sticks to prop the window up while I replaced the motor.

 

I can't speak to the Ford products, however, on GM products, there is a very large spring and gear that gives the motor assist in raising and lowering the window. GM, in every manual instructs that a hole must be drilled into the the steel plate and the large gear first before removing the motor, and insert a bolt into it to pin the two parts from moving. If you don't, when you remove the motor from the gear, the window regulator will spring closed, and it can cut your fingers off, or do some serious damage. I would inspect the Ford regulator carefully for this gear and spring, and if it is there, pin them before you remove the motor, or at least, check with the factory service manual before you attempt this repair. Windows and motors can be replaced, but hands and fingers can't.

 

Thanks Everyone. Junk, thanks for reminding me about the gm spring. I know Vista Cruisers/ Sportwagons have a red flag of caution when fooling around wit the tailgate motor for that reason. I don't think Ford used the spring of doom on their regulators. I guess I'm going to prop up the window when I do the swap. Thanks, Wayne

 

A few years ago I replaced the window motors on a Imperial that I had. On that first window, once I pulled that last attaching bolt the window came crashing down. I was lucky no digits were harmed that day. I was also really surprised by how heavy that glass and window mechanisms were and can only imagine how much heavier a tailgate window would be. Just like Junk said, be careful and prop or lock that window mechanism first.

Chris

 

Chris, I will sure be careful. It stinks that there was a '67 Country Squire in a yard that had its tailgate plucked out that I could have practiced on. That gate was a rust bucket too!