Passenger Side Window Crank on the Driver's Side

[Hugh Heifer]

I got an idea!

There seem to be plenty of used passenger side front window cranks out there that are serviceable for the FJ40 since it is the driver's side that gets all use. The gears on the driver's side seem to strip out, the crank handles breaks or the rivets wear out etc.

I was building a couple half doors for my trail rig and figured I would use a couple stripped out driver's side crank panels to cover the holes where the cranks normally would be and I started looking at the passenger side and driver's side cranks and realized they were very much alike.

Below is the intact passenger crank gear set up next to the driver's side gear and lever that I removed from the damaged set up.



As you can see, they look alike but the gears on the driver's side are 180 out.

All you have to do is drill out these two welds and flip the lift bar around and weld it back together! I found the two welds to be pretty stubborn. I would recommend about a 5/16 bit to easily drill them out.



You can not take the bar off because the spring retainer is on top of the lift bar.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Once the welds are out, rotate the bar around 180 degrees and weld it in place.



Then use a grinder to cut a notch in the lever to retain the big spring that helps raise the window.



I cleaned it up with my Dremel and put the spring back in place.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Lube it up with a little grease and put it in place.



There ya go! a serviceable driver's side window crank and all it cost you was drilling two holes and a couple tack welds.

Looks like it's time for a beer!

 

[John McVicker]

Good work & documentation.

John

 

[bikersmurf]

Good job.

On a related note... My spring was broken on the drivers side. I found a replacement in a box of window regulators from other cars. The spring looked similar, so I went with it, and it worked. Sorry, I don't know what it came out of.

 

[IDave]

Excellent!

 

[Hugh Heifer]

Good job.

On a related note... My spring was broken on the drivers side. I found a replacement in a box of window regulators from other cars. The spring looked similar, so I went with it, and it worked. Sorry, I don't know what it came out of.

I kept the springs from the two stripped driver's side sets if anyone has a need.

This was a job although you need to be able to weld a little.

 

[yooper]

You are a fricking genius.

 

[jmdaniel]

I thought this thread was going to show a crank on the driver's side that rolled the passenger side window down. Doh!

 

[Hugh Heifer]

You are a fricking genius.

Thanks for the validation

 

[shelfboy1]

the cranks will interchange without any work but the crank will be lower.i know people that have switched them to keep from hitting their knees,nice writeup though snce i have a pile of those and this keeps the crank stock looking.

 

[fj404life]

I know people that have switched them to keep from hitting their knees

I am so gonna do this!!!

 

[fjkev]

Nice write up and a homebrewer to boot!!

Finally rebuilding some front doors.

View attachment 487162

 

[fireflyr]

I was recently told that my window cranks were installed on the wrong sides. It puts the crank at the bottom of the plate, but works just fine. So, without too much monkey motion they'll bolt on either side with no modification at all. You'll just look like an idiot, but that's never stopped me.