1971 Mark III Rear Quarter Window Repair

[stovebolt1]

Happy Saturday!
I'm thinking I have a few months of winter remaining when I won't be able to drive my Mark III and am considering getting to those rear quarter windows and repairing them. When I was shopping for a car almost all of them said the rear windows were inoperable which makes me think they're a real PITA to repair. I've seen the Cross Creek video where he repairs the window once the Regulator Housing is out of the car but I think getting the Regulator Housing in/out is going to be the bulk of the work. From your experience where am I going to run into major issues?

Is the motor readily available if I need it? Is it different than the motor used in the doors?

Is the regulator itself a source of failure? I can't imagine it could go bad.

I see a couple of vendors out there with a window motor gear repair kit so that is good news. From what I've read the original motor had a plastic gear that tended to wear down over time.

If you've done this before, will I regret ever trying?

Thanks - Stovebolt

 

[Action]

I have not done this and I have one window that is slow and the other inop.
Mostly I have not done this is because it is labor intensive and I have other things higher on the list.
Plus I am only with my Mark III about 2 weeks out of the year.

To do it, the entire seat needs to come out. Bottom and back.
Then the arm rest and upper and lower trim panel have to come out and there may be other trim that has to come out just to access the regulator.

While the regulator is unlike anything in any other model, I think the motor and general principals are all the same. The issue is dried up grease, dirt, broken gears in the motor or mis-alignment.
Even if the motor is trashed, likely you can adopt pieces from a good motor to this motor if the mounting is unique. Motors are actually pretty easy to get working again unless they have been submerged in water.

Newer greases are the best thing for window regulators. If the slides/guides are not excessively worn, cleaning and applying today's grease goes a long way. Especially if the window works and it is just slow.

You have winter so that can be a good time to address the issue.
It is a task.

If you feel inclined, post pictures of your progress.

Action

 

[stovebolt1]

I have not done this and I have one window that is slow and the other inop.
Mostly I have not done this is because it is labor intensive and I have other things higher on the list.
Plus I am only with my Mark III about 2 weeks out of the year.

To do it, the entire seat needs to come out. Bottom and back.
Then the arm rest and upper and lower trim panel have to come out and there may be other trim that has to come out just to access the regulator.

While the regulator is unlike anything in any other model, I think the motor and general principals are all the same. The issue is dried up grease, dirt, broken gears in the motor or mis-alignment.
Even if the motor is trashed, likely you can adopt pieces from a good motor to this motor if the mounting is unique. Motors are actually pretty easy to get working again unless they have been submerged in water.

Newer greases are the best thing for window regulators. If the slides/guides are not excessively worn, cleaning and applying today's grease goes a long way. Especially if the window works and it is just slow.

You have winter so that can be a good time to address the issue.
It is a task.

If you feel inclined, post pictures of your progress.

Action

It does sound like a job. I just don't want to spend a lot of time getting to the regulator only to find that I cannot repair it. I'm expecting to find that the regulator cog is made out of heavy gauge steel like the front ones but I've seen pictures of motor gear replacements made out of rubber that lead me to believe that the regulator has a rubber component.

If I'm taking that much apart to get to the regulator I'm probably going to replace the motor and any other wearables I can find. Not that they'll get that much use but I'll feel better knowing that I won't be going in there twice.

 

[Action]

Looks like the motor is going to be the same. Or at least rebuildable.
The regulator is weird. See attachments.
Mostly because the window slides back and not down.

Here is an ebay listing it ain't cheap but has the motor.

1969-71 Lincoln Mark III LH Quarter Window Regulator Motor Assy. #C7SZ-6530381-B | eBay

Up for Sale is a New NOS 1969-71 Lincoln Mark III LH Quarter Window Regulator Motor Assy. Part # C7SZ-6530381-B.

www.ebay.com

If it works now and is just slow, I would expect a clean and regrease.
Inop I would hope it is the motor and not the regulator

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