1972 Chevrolet Truck - Install Window Regulators - Tech

To get the door panels off, the door handles and window cranks need to be removed, which requires the right tool. If you don't have a door handle/window crank remover tool like this, they can be had at almost any auto parts store and will make your life much easier.

The armrests are held on with two screws that go into the door. Don't try to take the door panel off without removing these first.

Since there is only one screw on the outside of the door panel, the rest of it is held on with these plastic clips, sometimes called Christmas Trees in body shop slang. Again, be careful not to scratch the paint.

The rear window track prevented the door glass from sliding back to allow the vent window to be removed, so it was disassembled as well.

After assessing the situation, it seemed like the vent window would need to come out before the door glass and the window regulator. Besides this screw, there were five others that needed to come out.

It takes a certain amount of patience and dexterity, but the vent window assembly does come out. It may help to have a helping hand to actually spread the door open a little during this and reinstallation.

Next, I removed the four screws that hold the regulator to the inside of the door and let the front of it drop while holding the glass as the regulator slid out of the window track. Again, a helping hand would make this easier.

It was quite easy to see that the old window regulator wasn't working right and had no intentions of doing so for the remainder of its life. The gear that connects to the window crank was all chewed up, and the bushings that hold the gear in place weren't doing much of anything. It was obvious that my money was well spent at Classic Parts Depot on the new regulators.

Make sure to install the new rubber gaskets before cinching them down.