Team116 #2 cronicle 9th Oct 2008: hand cranked windows

[B13]

I've been ill for a while but now I'm getting better I thought it was time to get back into whitey project and so started with something I've been meaning to do for some time... hand cranked windows.

Thanks to the kind donation from Oscar I had a complete set to convert my car thought there has always been a question mark over whether its worth the effort? Would there be any weight savings and how much work is required?

I can say IMHO its well worth doing, the hand crank hardware weighs around 1.5kg whereas the motor/bracketry of the electric windows weighs around 5kg. They take about 1hr each to do, and in the case of the rear doors, the winders come out where the old window switches were.

Weight comparison:

Next item.... sports seats (pair)... hopefully...

I.

 

[oscar]

That's a surprise Ian. I really didn't think there was going to be that much difference, but I haven't held an electric winder in my hand yet to feel how heavier they are.

FWIW, the door shells from the yellow wreck that I've got in the shed still weigh a tonne each with just being metal and glass and everything else stripped off them. The fronts especially are so darn heavy that I'm more amazed that w116 doors don't sag after 30 years. I reckon we'll have to cut holes from the metal on the inside to lighten them eventually.

 

[Styria]

Hi Ossie and B13, I can concur with your observations, especially at the end of a long, hard day, or when you're hanging them up to create extra floor space. That becomes just about a two man job, although I have done it by myself. Pic. to follow. Regards Styria

 

[B13]

By my calculations, on say a 450SEL, if you removed the three electric window motors and sealed the windows shut, and replaced the drivers side motor with a hand crank you'd save around 19kg already.

Even more if you changed those three windows for perspex.

I.

 

[SELfor50]

Even more if you changed those three windows for perspex.

I.

But why would you wanna do that? "...you'll never be competitive.."
-The porsche guy who was slow

That's pretty crazy, didn't think it would be that much!! You're right with all that out and perspex replacing glass it'd be very substantial!

How's the fuel cell going??

 

[Michel]

All you need is experience and guidance....

I guess driving skills will get better with experience..

Like they always said at school.. "You can only do your best"