Team Chevelle banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

72 Wagon liftgate power window

Jump to Latest
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
F

frankf72malibu

· Premium Member
Joined
·
1,180 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Gentlemen,
I just got my 72 wagon home. I bought it out of South Carolina. It is an original California car. I love it and am thrilled to have it. Check out the pictures to see it and my 72 2 door Malibu that I SS cloned. Now to the question: the rear window is power. It sometimes goes down and I always have to help it back up. Do these motors typically have this problem? Is there a specific spot where the wires get frayed and ground out? Does the connector typically have a problem? I have not pulled the inner panel out yet due to just getting it home. Anyways, I am looking for hints and previous knowledge with this. Thank you.
Frank
 
#4 ·
There are adjustments to the window. You may adjust the angle that the window goes up and down by adjusting the track that the window slides up and down in the door. Also the weather channel that the glass seals to in the body is adjustable. Make sure that the glass is not dragging on the weather strip and keep it lubed with graphite and it sould work fine.

John W.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Well,
I messed around with it this evening. The gears are all liberally coated. The connector was slightly loose. The window looks like it is riding in the tracks like it should. The window goes down easy and consistently but to get the window up I have to lift up on it while my wife is holding the switch. Could it be a bad motor or???? Thanks.

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/frankf72malibu/
 
#8 ·
i figured that.
this the interior pannel off, open the gate with the window down. then you can override the switch which doesnt allow the window to work while the gate is open. then you can open the window. the service manual describes it. i cant remember the exact details.
 
#10 ·
The Fisher Body Manual has a whole chapter on just the tail gate for the Chevelle wagons. If you do not have one, I certainly would get one, they are a invaluable source of information. The tailgate is designed just like a door, the water that runs down the window continues to run throught the tailgate and out the drain holes in the bottom of the tailgate.

John W.
 
Discussion starter · #11 ·
I got it fixed! The motor was intermittent and I replaced it with a new one. Now the window works great. Interestingly enough, I picked up a passenger power window motor. It was about 3/8" too tall to where the gear would not be engaged. I asked at the Oreilly's and he brought out the motor for the liftgate. COMPLETELY different than the motor I pulled out. There would be no way for that motor to work on my car. I ended up using the passenger motor and cut off around the 3/8" to get the gear to engage. Are there different window mechanisms in the 72's? The last thing I need is the cam that is in the rear key section. It is what makes electrical contact when turning the key. Anyone know where I can get one? Thanks.
Frank

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/frankf72malibu/
 
#12 ·
I just re-installed the rear gate window in my '69 Concours Estate. The plastic cam Frank is speaking of is roughly in the shape of a rain-drop, upside down. When the key turns, it rotates the cam left or right, pressing electrical 'points' together to complete the circuits for up or down. Frank, I don't know where you're going to find that mechanism, other than a wrecking yard, or on eBay. I'm needing to look at a few wagons I know of here locally, and I'll keep my eye open for the key mechanism you're needing when I do. ;)
Tim
 
Discussion starter · #17 ·
Tim,
I would appreciate that. I have exhausted the E-bay categories. FO_FDYFO might sell his to me. Looking at this part I can understand why it failed. It is not very thick in the areas where the greatest stress is (did I mention that I am a Mechanical Engineer?). It probably cracked when the window wouldn't go down so the person holding the key turned the key even harder hoping that would work. I was trying to think of what material I could use to re-make this part myself but don't have any pieces of hard plastic laying around to whittle on.

John W,
That is not suprising on the locksmith's part. These pieces seem few and far bewteen. I am OK with the keying section due to having the original door locks on the car. Thanks.
Frank

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/frankf72malibu/
 
1 - 17 of 17 Posts
About this Discussion
16 Replies
5 Participants
Last post:
frankf72malibu
Team Chevelle
posts
5.3M
members
131K
Since
1998
A forum community dedicated to Chevrolet Chevelle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about restorations, builds, performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Bench Racing Performance Engine Chevelle Tech Body Shop