Retrofitting manual windows on 80 series

[djJelt]

Heya has anyone tried (successfully or not, the value of failure is widely underappreciated) to retrofit manual ('wind-up') windows on an 80 Series? Electric windows (and mirrors) are *the* Achilles heel of the 80 Series ... along with the powersteering pump of course .

 

[deltapine1]

Will be following this one. Going to a simple arm rest, not map pocket at the bottom of the door and manual windows is one of my ideas as well. I have an 80 with manual roll ups out back. I haven't spent time and torn the door down but I did note that it does not have the side impact bars in the doors. Not sure if that comes into play or not but the overseas variants didn't have to meet side impact requirements and have more room inside the door.

 

[landcruiser3DP]

i was just taking about this with someone.
then i want to get a power rear window in the lower rear hatch...

 

[djJelt]

i was just taking about this with someone.
then i want to get a power rear window in the lower rear hatch...

Why?

 

[landcruiser3DP]

Why?

i'm half joking. but i'd use a power rear hatch window whereas i won't use power rear seat or passenger side or driver side windows if i didn't have to have them.
not sure what to say except i have a two door tacoma and it has manual windows and a manual slider for the cabin and it seems to make sense to open that rear window. your not going to do it manually afaik.

 

[sunrk]

Pretty easy - just replace all the power window mechanisms in the doors with manual ones, source and fit manual window window handles, etc. and bob's your uncle. My 80 has had manual windows from the get-go. Sure it makes for a bit of gymnastics to open the opposite side front window en-route if required but I've never had working AC in my 80 either - AC equates to 'windows open' in hot weather.

If you dont have (or need/want) central locking and don't have (or need/want) door speakers or power mirrors you can completely delete all wiring into the doors. My 80 has no wiring into any of the side doors - only the barn doors at the back have wiring into them. No power mirrors or windows, no door speakers, no central locking. Happy days.

 

[Marvelicious]

If you're going to all the effort of replacing regulators, you could replace the power ones and be fine for a couple more decades...

I know some guys just prefer the vibe of manual windows, seats, etc, and that's fine if that's your preference. Seems like more of an Achilles hangnail though... It's an inconvenience, not a terminal vulnerability!

 

[mudgudgeon]

I think sourcing all the parts required would be a challenge, and $$ would add up. I'd be surprised if everything was still available?
Some time spent on partsouq or toyodiy comparing parts diagrams and part numbers for a DX model and your model would soon show if it's a real option or not.

There's no way it's less work or less $$ than repairing/ replacing power windows.

 

[mudgudgeon]

I know some guys just prefer the vibe

 

[djJelt]

If you're going to all the effort of replacing regulators, you could replace the power ones and be fine for a couple more decades...

I know some guys just prefer the vibe of manual windows, seats, etc, and that's fine if that's your preference. Seems like more of an Achilles hangnail though... It's an inconvenience, not a terminal vulnerability!

I've been driving 80 Series LandCruisers for ... call it 30 years. Admittedly I drive them hard, use them for work mostly. I do not get the electric window mechanisms to last anywhere near as long as a decade! Same for the mirror mechanisms. For me a major draw of LandCruisers over lesser vehicles is the lack of gimmicky & vulnerable electronics. Likely you take better care of the interior of your rigs than I do, as I confess I focus pretty much all my maintenance on the engine bay and undercarriage. I also lost two friends when I was a kid because they weren't able to open their (shorted) electric windows when they got stuck in a flooding riverbed, I'm not gonna deny that plays a role for me too.

 

[Marvelicious]

I've been driving 80 Series LandCruisers for ... call it 30 years. Admittedly I drive them hard, use them for work mostly. I do not get the electric window mechanisms to last anywhere near as long as a decade! Same for the mirror mechanisms. For me a major draw of LandCruisers over lesser vehicles is the lack of gimmicky & vulnerable electronics. Likely you take better care of the interior of your rigs than I do, as I confess I focus pretty much all my maintenance on the engine bay and undercarriage. I also lost two friends when I was a kid because they weren't able to open their (shorted) electric windows when they got stuck in a flooding riverbed, I'm not gonna deny that plays a role for me too.

LOL, nope. I'm almost positive I don't. I did toss an errant handful of accumulated gravel out of the floorboards the other day... My 80 was intended as a wheeler, though I drive it on the street a lot more than I expected to. Still, I've had excellent luck with Toyota power windows in several rigs over the years. Lots of sand, grit and mud and very few problems. I don't know what I'm doing differently than you, but I'm sure it's not due to an overabundance of care!

That said, I learned my way around fixing messed up window regulators in a body shop, so it's not a big deal in my mind. Maybe an hour to swap one out, including taking care to not destroy the vapor barrier.

As for the nightmare scenario of stuck windows and flooding, I've basically always got something around to smash a window with if it came down to it.

 

[mudgudgeon]

Looks like regulator, winder handle and a few minor bits are all you need.

Partsouq shows left side regulator as unavailable.
I'm guessing coz Aussie driver side regulator is the only ones that get worn out

 

[Gerry McGerry]

I had a DX with manual windows, loved their simplicity and reliability. I now have a newer 80 with power windows, never looked back. Not fun to operate the PS window while driving, and pulling over to close the rear windows when you hit rain is annoying. In winter they can be just like the electric windows and be heavy to roll up, but now you're the motor groaning about having to work.

That said, the manual arm rest is way more comfortable and the swap is simple.

There are cheap aftermarket options around.

Window Regulator PAIR Front Manual Fits Toyota Landcruiser 80 Series 90-98 - Panel House

Window Regulator PAIR Front Manual Fits Toyota Landcruiser 80 Series 90-98 - Panel House - Pair - Drivers Side + Passengers Side

www.panelhouse.com.au

Window Winder Handle suitable for Landcruiser 40 75 80 100 Series Hilux | eBay

Window Winder Handle suitable for Landcruiser 40 75 80 100 Series HiluxWindow Winder Handle suitable for Landcruiser 40 75 80 100 Series Hilux. Window Winder Handle suitable for Landcruiser 40 75 80 100 Series Hilux Window Winder Handle suitable for Landcruiser 40 75 80 100 Series Hilux.

www.ebay.com.au

Looks like regulator, winder handle and a few minor bits are all you need.

$80 bucks?! Tell him he's dreamin.

 

[sunrk]

I can't see I'd ever go away from manual windows on my DX 80 unless when the 80 dies due to body rust I need to consider a replacement. They're so simple to work on, and with no wiring at all out of the pillars into the doors there's less mess to contend with.

There's no working AC in my 80 (never has been) so windows down a bit if it's hot. Windows up if it's not. Back windows are for back seat passengers (usually only my school age daughter) to use. But sometimes if it's *really* hot I will close the windows and use the tinting to keep the direct sun off me.