[DeTomaso] How long for windows to open/close?

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

I had the same sticking problem in our driver's door since 1990. After 
fiddling with our lifts for years- including making multiple spacers and cutting 
new guide bolt slots- I lost patience and threw the entire OEM assemblies 
on a shelf and added Ted Mitchell's cable drive lifts. Problem solved- and 
the glass retracts fully instead of almost. Time to close= 2 seconds on both 
sides and the change significantly lightened up the door assembly. Sure, 
they're expensive but how much is a year or two of unproductive, frustrated 
fiddling worth? It gets really old having to grab the glass and 'help it' go to 
the top on sucn otherwise spectacular car.

I believe the problem is in the stock rear window guide track- it's either 
slightly the wrong contour and/or has worn out fuzzy liners- and no amount 
of fiddling with what you've got will fix the problem of sticking 2/3 of the 
way up. Ted's assembly uses a new rear window glass guide of different 
design. The OEM problems are made worse by a relatively weak French-built DC 
motor which after 40 years can have multiple problems of its own: no lube in the 
bushings or good grease in the gear drive, worn brushes or smeared copper 
commutator, etc. Changing motors to Aerostar fixes that part of the problem 
but not the worn out/wrong glass guide. And you also need Hall's bronze gears 
in the still-used OEM drives even with a new Aerostar motor.
Good luck- J Deryke