conversion to windup windows is pretty simple. Replace motor and current regulator with the windup regulator. You have to pull the existing one out anyway. 

Truth is, I find the power windows much more convenient than the wind up ones (I usually am the only one in the van, so this makes it much easier to get the passenger window down (or up) when I am driving�

Come on! Your van is 20 years old! (at least). These types of things happen on cars. Most cars are engineered with an expected lifetime of 10 years. And most people replace theirs about every 5-6 years. 

It's our great community and vendors that allows us to keep these relics from from the 80s (and 90s) alive and functional.. and in some cases better than when new. I love my Recaro seats, my H4 headlights (or South African ones), and my subaru powered vans. Nothing else out there is nearly as fun or as functional as these beasties. 

On Jul 31, 2011, at 10:43 PM, David M wrote:

> Got the door panel off thanks to Haynes manual.. well not quite... the power window switch and door speaker wires prevent that but at least I can see the mechanism...  well sort of, most of it is hidden behind metal.
> The window sits in some kind of track. I operated the motor (up and down) and could tell something was working but seemingly no connect between the motor mechanism and the window.
> Racing against time... thunderstorm imminent. Cut an approx 3.5 in 
> length of wood, pushed window up (boy its heavy!) and jammed it closed.
> The van will now have to sit unused until I can look at it again.
> What is involved in replacing the regulator?
> I'd love to convert to wind-up windows. 
> 
> -David (1987 Wolfsburg)
>