Any interest in modern window motor conversions for S3?

[ae_mike]

I've talked with Ray at RD Ent and he confirmed that he doesn't see a lot of demand but he might be interested. I'm going to submit the parts for quotation in the next week or so for 6-12 pieces (3-6 sets) to see what the actual costing will be on the adapter and the sheet metal bracket. Most likely I'll just offer those parts in a kit and let people find the motor, hardware and connector on their own from a list supplied with the kit. That way I can figure out what a real price would be for those components and not my guesstimate.

thanks for all the constructive feedback.

[rgh0]

I think the demand would be there for the adapter kit without the motor. Personally I would buy a set to keep on the shelf in case I have a motor die and I would then take the opportunity to change to a modern motor.

cheers
Rohan

[TBG]

I would be interested..............

[skelteanema]

I too would be interested in a pair of kits.

[phil1800]

I would be interested in a kit as well. At 700 gramms, this should be a @ quarter of the original motor.

Philipp

[ae_mike]

Just a quick update, I have quotes for almost everything, just waiting for the zinc plating quote for the sheet metal brackets but I've found some good suppliers (nice to work for a company that buys stuff like this all the time so I could ask our procurement folks who does good work at reasonable prices) for all the other parts and my guesstimates were high. The plan is to sell kits that consist of enough parts to do both a drivers and a passenger door (the motor bracket is the only unique part) that would include the sheet metal brackets, the drive adapters and the connectors for the motor. The kit will not include the window motors or any of the bolts/washers. The kit will supply the part numbers for the motors and the description for all the hardware. From the pricing I have an a rough plating quote, the kit will cost between $200 - $225 US. Much better than my original guess of $600 for both doors. Motors seem to be available worldwide as the car I took them from is a world model and cost $45-65 US each. Hardware needed is 12 small bolts and 4 small dowel pins, all standard common stuff.

I'll figure out in the next week or so how to allow people to order kits, payment will be via paypal and shipment via US Post Office (best prices in flat rate packages) to make my life easier.

More info hopefully in a few more days once I get that last quote.

Michael

[rgh0]

Hi Michael
Sounds great I will get a kit.... what cars is to donor motor off ? In Australia we have almost every car brand model ever sold in the world available at the wreckers. It is the most diverse multi cultural car market in the world or was until GM decide to stop making RHD cars but even then lots of people here still doing GM RHD conversions for Corvettes and big trucks
cheers
Rohan

[gherlt]

CHEVROLET CRUZE Hatchback (J305)
"11-16 CHEVROLET CRUZE WINDOW MOTOR 98820-J305 - USED OEM | eBay" https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/142445344635

[The Veg]

BRAVO, MICHAEL!

I don't need the kit because my Plus 2's stock motors are already a common GM type, but I applaud your effort on this! It's this kind of can-do spirit that makes the Lotus enthusiast-community so great.

[nrwian]

I would be interested in a pair .

[ae_mike]

Okay, all quotes are in and with the interest level shown, I've pre-ordered enough parts to fabricate 10 kits. I should have kits ready to ship by the end of May. The cost is $210 US per kit plus shipping cost. US shipments $8.45 via US Post, international shipments will also be via US Post at whatever the rate costs but they are the cheapest method that I've found. Payment via Paypal. To order send me a private message and I'll give you my paypal account info and get your shipping address.

A kit has the custom parts to convert both doors and consists of 2ea 3d printed drive adapters, the zinc plated sheet metal brackets (1 set for driver & 1 set for passenger doors) and 2 connectors and 6 connector crimp terminals (you only need 4 plus 2 spares just in case).

What you need to supply are the 2 window motors (2014-2020 Chev Sonic/Aveo rear door also used in some Cruze models), 4ea 1/8" x 1 1/4" dowel pins (could be steel bar or drill rod as well) & 6ea 10-32 x 1" long hex bolts with flat & lock washers of your choice. The 1/2-28 bolts from a stock setup should work to mount the brackets.

The mods that you need to do are to drill out the mounting holes in the window motors to clear the #10 screws (motor is designed to be attached with self tapping screws), drill out the holes in the printed adapter & press in the 1/8" dowel for added strength and to add the connectors to the end of your existing wiring or to make wiring adapters to go from stock to the motor connector if you wish to keep the wiring stock. You will also need to sort out which wire is which to make the window to go in the correct direction on each door. Sorry my car is missing the stock wiring & switches so I can't help with the color coding info but as there are only 2 wires on the motor, it should be pretty simple. Maybe someone who installs one can share that information.

I'll be writing up a set of detailed instructions that will be supplied with the kit.

[elancoupe]

It might be useful to come up with specifics on which motors to use. Are these motors handed, or will one part number work for both sides? Maybe somebody has actual GM part numbers for cross referencing? I know that these are used on a lot of models, but there do seem to be more than a few variants.

[ae_mike]

Hey Mike,

so I'm working up the instructions right now, those will include the GM & Dorman part numbers for the motors and which one goes where (yes, they are flipped from the Sonic to the Elan, drivers goes to passenger etc). I didn't bother to post all those details, I'll end them via private message to those you have purchased a kit

Michael

[TBG]

How do I buy a kit..................?

[ae_mike]

A couple of people have asked about international shipping. I just checked on the US Post costing, $40.85 from US to England, kind of steep but not out of line from what I've been paying for parts shipped from the UK which typically have been being shipped via DHL. I haven't checked other sources since I don't have an account with UPS/FedEx but my friend who sells auto parts worldwide and has accounts with all three shippers, uses US Post for almost all of his shipments due to cost, so I'm following his advice.

Again to purchase, send me a private message with your shipping address and I give you my paypal account info and finally cost including shipping