Power Windows for your Bug.

Hi All,

Last weekend I installed a power window setup from an 85 Jetta into my drivers door in my 74 Super Beetle. It was a great installation, and it works really good. Not very many modifications to get it to work. I could probably do the passenger side in two hours start to finish now that I know exactly how to do it.

I was thinking when I convert the passenger side, I was going to take pictures during the process, and post a "how to" section on my website. Would anyone be interested in this?

In a nutshell, here are the steps on how I did it:

1. Removed power window motor/cables/track assembly and switches from the jetta donor car.
2. Pulled the window crank and cable/track mechanism out of my beetle door.
3. Compared the two mechanisms, they are very similar, but with slightly different bolt down locations. Bent the mounting tabs on the new power track to make them flush with the track (to make it similar to the beetle, and so it would fit in the thinner door)
4. Straightened the jetta power window track. It has a curve in it to match the curve in the jetta window. The beetle window is totally flat, so there is no need for a curve. The track is made out of aluminum, so its easy to straighten. I left an ever-so-slight curve in it to keep the cable in the track.
5. Drilled a hole in the door to mount the top of the track. (took some eyeballing to put the hole in the right spot).
6. Modified the mount on the bottom of the door to accomodate the new track, and drilled a hole for a new bolt location.
7. Raised the bottom window stop, as the beetle window is shorter. Just used a bolt with a rubber hose on the end to provide cushioning. Took some eyeballing for that one, nothing scientific here.
8. Installed the power window track and motor/cable setup. Glass must be installed first.
9. I only used one bolt to hold the window base to the power window setup, as the second hole doesn't line up. I might fix this later, but I dont see any problems yet. (must have used my window 50 times later that day).
10. There are a few tricks to getting the motor to fit, and get the top cable between the window track and the inner door, but it all fits fine. Pictures would help show this.
11. I spent more time doing the wiring than everything else, and I put the Jetta window switch in place of the window crank. Just made the hole a rectangle with a knife and hacksaw blade. It looks completely factory.

I asked on here a couple of months ago if anyone thought there would be problems with this. Most of the concerns were with the alternator not being able to keep up. Well, I turned on everything electrical in my bug (gas heater, dual bilge blower fans, high beams, radio, brake lights, winch for the plow) and the window goes up and down just fine, even with the engine only idling. At first, I had problems with the window going up slowly, but I put a heavier guage wire between the door and the fusebox, and it really goes fast now.

Sorry this is so long, but I figure somebody out there might be interested in how this can easily be done. I wouldn't recommend this for a novice, but if you are handy with wiring, and are comfortable modifying your beetles door, its a great modification.

Ryan Lester