I'm happy if mine simply work, all the way up and down, in all weather conditions.
Don't keep us in suspense with your install and glowing report on the upgrade.
Window Rocket - who’s tried it? (10 Viewers)
- Thread starter FIDO96
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Don't keep us in suspense with your install and glowing report on the upgrade.
$300 bones is a bit spendy, but when you think about it, replacing window runs would be even more and you still won't see speedy results like this 
Thinking about pulling the trigger on one myself even though my windows work fine as is and I'll most likley be listing her on BAT soon anyways (probably make a good selling point to see lightning fast glass in a video)
Curious about the sunroof operation though
Perhaps we can get a mud group purchase for a little discount?
Thinking about pulling the trigger on one myself even though my windows work fine as is and I'll most likley be listing her on BAT soon anyways (probably make a good selling point to see lightning fast glass in a video)
Curious about the sunroof operation though
Perhaps we can get a mud group purchase for a little discount?
Thanks to a member sending me a link to this thread!
The Window Rocket is my product.
I'll start by answering a few questions-
Austin didn't do anything sneaky in his video. He's a stand up dude and calls it like it is. I told him about the product and asked him if he'd do a no BS tell it like it is video on what he thought of it if I sent him one. I was bummed it didn't clear his clutch pedal so he ended up installing it in his dad's 80.
The video turned into a bit of a how to install it thing instead of a review. I got the impression there wasnt much video potential in just a review. Just watching windows work faster isn't very exciting material i guess. He made the video, I had no say is what he said and I think he did a fine job. All he got was a Window Rocket for his dad.
The module is not an off the shelf voltage booster. We tested a bunch of them. The module is a high current switch mode power supply with reverse polarity protection and overcurrent protection that defaults to battery voltage. It is made specifically for us, engineered and built by a company I have vetted to make high quality products. It costs me a hell of a lot more than $25 in 250 piece orders.
I bought my first 80 in 2011. The windows barely worked. I replaced all the window runs and motors, adjusted the windows properly and had decent windows. Within a few years the windows were slowing down in the winter. I lubed them and limped them along until I sold that 80.
When the windows slowed after just a few years I was annoyed. It got me thinking.
I have a background in CNC machining and CNC machine repair. I've done some advanced repairs on machine tool way systems and have a lot of training with box way systems. There's a phenomenon known as stick-slip. It's something we have to tune the drives and servos for and advanced machines with high speed box ways use air/oil injection ways to alleviate high friction at slow speeds.
This is where I got the idea that increasing the window velocity could increase the reliability of the entire window system. There is a big correlation between glass velocity and seal friction. There's a velocity where window motor current drops dramatically. The 80 series windows operate below this velocity threshold.
Over the course of years I dissected the 80 power window system. Measured currents, voltages and temperatures under load. I found that while going up it was common to see less than 10 volts at the window motors. I saw 8 volts even with the alternator charging.
Early on I was surprised to find the power window relay gets very hot in normal operation, over 250 degrees on the outside. The contacts are hotter than that inside. Yet the rest of the window wiring is pretty robust.
Exactly what the window rocket does is eliminate the relay as the current choke point and raise the voltage upstream to get 14 volts to the motors. This keeps the glass velocity above the high-current threshold. It does this well, it does work and it won't damage anything in your window system.
If you want to DIY something like this you'd think just cut the top off a Denso relay and solder or crimp some wires in there. Problem you'll encounter is the crossection of the terminals inside the relay you need to attach 10awg wires to are too small for that. There's no connector that plugs in where the Denso relay does.
We designed a new connector body around high current terminals to plug in where the Denso relay did. A lot goes into this connector. We machine them from solid rod using a fixture and 14 different tiny tools one of our HMC's. I'm pretty proud of that connector. Nobody who plugs it in is going to know how much work goes into making that little part. But it makes the whole shebang not just possible, but very easy to install.
The rest is just common sense design so it goes in easy, connections stay tight for the life of the vehicle, it looks good and is anodized so it won't corrode. The Window Rocket will install without the standoffs fine, but the standoffs come with it so you can install it with one hand. It mounts in a place that isn't fun to get to.
The final product was installed in a couple cruisers in October 2023 and has been torture tested since. It has worked great in all the daily driven test cruisers so in May I put the product into production and here we are today.
I look forward to real reviews from those who've used one already. And I'm always open to criticism. I'm not new. I have thick skin. Tell it like it is, but don't think this is some half-baked overhyped BS. A lot of work has gone into this product to get it where I feel it's right.
And yes, I know the price is on the higher side. I'm looking into what can be done to lower the cost. A big factor is the volume. If I can buy in thousand quantities and streamline some of the labor intensive assembly I can work the price down without sacrificing quality. Sales have been more than anticipated. I'm seeing what I can do. And I very much appreciate all those who've stepped up to purchase already. Your support is huge!
Thanks!
Dustin@PIP
The Window Rocket is my product.
I'll start by answering a few questions-
Austin didn't do anything sneaky in his video. He's a stand up dude and calls it like it is. I told him about the product and asked him if he'd do a no BS tell it like it is video on what he thought of it if I sent him one. I was bummed it didn't clear his clutch pedal so he ended up installing it in his dad's 80.
The video turned into a bit of a how to install it thing instead of a review. I got the impression there wasnt much video potential in just a review. Just watching windows work faster isn't very exciting material i guess. He made the video, I had no say is what he said and I think he did a fine job. All he got was a Window Rocket for his dad.
The module is not an off the shelf voltage booster. We tested a bunch of them. The module is a high current switch mode power supply with reverse polarity protection and overcurrent protection that defaults to battery voltage. It is made specifically for us, engineered and built by a company I have vetted to make high quality products. It costs me a hell of a lot more than $25 in 250 piece orders.
I bought my first 80 in 2011. The windows barely worked. I replaced all the window runs and motors, adjusted the windows properly and had decent windows. Within a few years the windows were slowing down in the winter. I lubed them and limped them along until I sold that 80.
When the windows slowed after just a few years I was annoyed. It got me thinking.
I have a background in CNC machining and CNC machine repair. I've done some advanced repairs on machine tool way systems and have a lot of training with box way systems. There's a phenomenon known as stick-slip. It's something we have to tune the drives and servos for and advanced machines with high speed box ways use air/oil injection ways to alleviate high friction at slow speeds.
This is where I got the idea that increasing the window velocity could increase the reliability of the entire window system. There is a big correlation between glass velocity and seal friction. There's a velocity where window motor current drops dramatically. The 80 series windows operate below this velocity threshold.
Over the course of years I dissected the 80 power window system. Measured currents, voltages and temperatures under load. I found that while going up it was common to see less than 10 volts at the window motors. I saw 8 volts even with the alternator charging.
Early on I was surprised to find the power window relay gets very hot in normal operation, over 250 degrees on the outside. The contacts are hotter than that inside. Yet the rest of the window wiring is pretty robust.
Exactly what the window rocket does is eliminate the relay as the current choke point and raise the voltage upstream to get 14 volts to the motors. This keeps the glass velocity above the high-current threshold. It does this well, it does work and it won't damage anything in your window system.
If you want to DIY something like this you'd think just cut the top off a Denso relay and solder or crimp some wires in there. Problem you'll encounter is the crossection of the terminals inside the relay you need to attach 10awg wires to are too small for that. There's no connector that plugs in where the Denso relay does.
We designed a new connector body around high current terminals to plug in where the Denso relay did. A lot goes into this connector. We machine them from solid rod using a fixture and 14 different tiny tools one of our HMC's. I'm pretty proud of that connector. Nobody who plugs it in is going to know how much work goes into making that little part. But it makes the whole shebang not just possible, but very easy to install.
The rest is just common sense design so it goes in easy, connections stay tight for the life of the vehicle, it looks good and is anodized so it won't corrode. The Window Rocket will install without the standoffs fine, but the standoffs come with it so you can install it with one hand. It mounts in a place that isn't fun to get to.
The final product was installed in a couple cruisers in October 2023 and has been torture tested since. It has worked great in all the daily driven test cruisers so in May I put the product into production and here we are today.
I look forward to real reviews from those who've used one already. And I'm always open to criticism. I'm not new. I have thick skin. Tell it like it is, but don't think this is some half-baked overhyped BS. A lot of work has gone into this product to get it where I feel it's right.
And yes, I know the price is on the higher side. I'm looking into what can be done to lower the cost. A big factor is the volume. If I can buy in thousand quantities and streamline some of the labor intensive assembly I can work the price down without sacrificing quality. Sales have been more than anticipated. I'm seeing what I can do. And I very much appreciate all those who've stepped up to purchase already. Your support is huge!
Thanks!
Dustin@PIP
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 31, 2011
- Threads
- 21
- Messages
- 112
- Location
- Arrowbear Lake, CA
- Website
- www.jchattdesign.com
It’s worth it. I’d changed the runs, greased and cleaned, siliconed the runs and nothing really improved. Especially slow in winter. I’d hoped a product like this would come out when, years ago, Icon mentioned how they upgraded the electrical to address the slow windows but never elaborated how.
Just installed mine today and very happy with the product and how quickly I installed it. Didn’t even need to remove the front seat. Thanks Dustin!
Here’s a set of before and after vids. 30year old factory takes about 15sec to cycle. Window Rocket is about 8sec.
Just installed mine today and very happy with the product and how quickly I installed it. Didn’t even need to remove the front seat. Thanks Dustin!
Here’s a set of before and after vids. 30year old factory takes about 15sec to cycle. Window Rocket is about 8sec.
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- Thread starter
- #45
Hell yeah! Thanks Dustin@PiP for joining in And Mino for the review! I’m just glad I got my order in earlier, because this thing is going to take off….like a rocket! (Pun fully intended)
(Anyone who wants to tell me to just accept I have a 30yo truck, how’s that cassette tape working out for you or your stock suspension?)
(Anyone who wants to tell me to just accept I have a 30yo truck, how’s that cassette tape working out for you or your stock suspension?)
The mounting is different, but electrically they are the same as FZJ80's. The 91-92 kits will be ready in August.
Sign me up for four sets.
I finally got rid of the cassette system but the stock suspension (with new shocks) is awesome!
But yeah, this power window upgrade sounds quite promising, especially for those of us who see cold seasonal weather.
Any plans to make a modification to allow installation with a clutch pedal?
On a different request - my imported 80 does not have the bracket to which the Rocket mounts to. Do you have any ideas on an alternative way to mount it? Could I buy the bracket and mount it where typically the ecu is mounted so there is clearance for the clutch pedal?
- Joined
- May 31, 2011
- Threads
- 21
- Messages
- 112
- Location
- Arrowbear Lake, CA
- Website
- www.jchattdesign.com
From what I saw on my installation, he could possibly make a different bracket that tucks higher up in the dash and longer wiring. There’s even a few threaded studs up there.
I installed a Window Rocket in a LHD FZJ80 with a stickshift and it fit fine. The one I installed it in didn't have the assist springs on the pedal. Austin's pedal does have the assist springs and was shaped differently from the one I did.
The 91-92's don't have the brackets either because they don't have ABS. There's a good chance the kit we make for the 91-92's will fit 93+ LHD 80 series without ABS. Stickshift or automatic.
RHD is in process as well.
My cassette deck works great. I blame my 80 for my ridiculous cassette tape collection.
That said, I don't blame you for wanting faster windows.
Screen name fits
Been riding in the 80 since 1994 and still sounds fine after 230,000 miles and 2,300,000 brain cells. 
Ops obviously put much effort into the Window Rocket development and certainly addresses an 80 issue. I'd just measure my new voltage at the motors and if it's above the rated motor spec just understand what happens to DC motors when being fed excess voltage.
Nice implementation and good luck all!
Nice implementation and good luck all!
You've held out long enough. I heard a young person mention the other day that they're "getting into" cassette tapes.
I understand the fascination with physical media as a response to streaming services generally sucking but... TAPES? No thanks, they sucked the first time around.
Back to the topic... I'm glad Pip weighed in. I don't think this is "snake oil" in that I'm sure it solves the problem, I just haven't had a problem after replacing the 30 year old parts on my cruiser. YMMV.
I just installed mine... took about 15 min... stupid simple. cut the time in half, it's about 80* today and down it took about 3.5 seconds, up it took almost 6. (that was rolling all windows up at once... I did that because that was when I noticed the biggest slow down in the warm weather)... after it was just over 2 seconds down... 2.4 seconds up.
Also increased the speed of the sunroof, and seats as someone suggested it might (didn't time those)
I also saw a much more substantial increase when just doing one window at a time, roughly 2 seconds from full open to full close.
for comparison, they're as fast as my 09 GX470's windows... just wish the 80 had the auto up/down for all the windows that the GX does lol
I'm happy. and I'm actually anxious to see how it preforms in the winter. definitely worth the 300 IMO.
Thanks @PIP (any chance you can work your magic on the windshield wipers? lol)
Also increased the speed of the sunroof, and seats as someone suggested it might (didn't time those)
I also saw a much more substantial increase when just doing one window at a time, roughly 2 seconds from full open to full close.
for comparison, they're as fast as my 09 GX470's windows... just wish the 80 had the auto up/down for all the windows that the GX does lol
I'm happy. and I'm actually anxious to see how it preforms in the winter. definitely worth the 300 IMO.
Thanks @PIP (any chance you can work your magic on the windshield wipers? lol)
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me too and thought the same thing.
