Djaz

[Djaz]

Hello everyone, You can add me to the list of the opel addicted. I bought my 73 GT in june of this year from the parts listing on craigslist az with many of you,I too had always wanted one of these cute cars!! How ever as we all know It needs some work. I have been reading for a few days in the forums trying to find out how to replace the cables in the regulator for the windows. Mine have broken. Are they soldered in or what? How dose one replace these? In reading some of the nick names people have givin their cars (Frankinopel) is one I found that makes me laugh alot. I named mine opeless rhymes with hopeless: Any way If you can help me out that would be great!!! Thanks Dawn

[Gary]

Welcome to the site Dawn.

Check out this thread for cable install tips.

We have a very powerful search engine that scans the 188,000+ posts here.

Enjoy the site!

[BQS4]

I have been reading for a few days in the forums trying to find out how to replace the cables in the regulator for the windows. Mine have broken. Are they soldered in or what? How dose one replace these? Thanks Dawn

Dawn;
I can't take credit for this repair, as I read it from another Opeler somewhere and I can't remember, but, you can fix both the regulators for less than $5. If both of the basic units are in good shape, then clip a short section of wire from one of them and find a GOOD hardware store that sells "clothes line", or garage door cable, and get as close as you can to the size (meaning thickness) of the original cable. Then get two piece about 85 inches long. Then you take a DREMEL tool and cut off the old cables as close as you can to the spool they're attached to. Even take the DREMEL and grind off the cable INTO the grooves, but, careful not to mess up the grooves. Next drill out the rest of the original cable through the spool. This is best done on a drill press, but, if you're careful and steady, you can do it with a vise and a hand drill. Now you have the regulator and two holes through the spool. Take one of the new cables and fold it in half, and thread the ends through the holes you drilled in the spool, from the INSIDE of the spool to the out, so it comes out looking just what you had before. Then using the FSM (factory service manual) wrap the cable around the spool accordingly and lock the loose ends on the clips on the regulator plates (it shows this in the FSM) then install as per the FSM, except that when you lock the two ends under the plate on the center slider, you can use a pair of needle nose pliers to take the slack out of the cables.

[Djaz]

Thankyou so much !! I do have drill press an that is how I think I'm going to tackle this project. Just want to add how much I enjoy this club. I'm really happy to be part of it. I'm hoping to soon have the opeless on the road in AZ soon, I'm also working on a complete rewire of the car. I took one look at that wade of a rats nest under the dash an though Its got to go. Thanks again. Dawn

[jlthunder]

Dawn;

Welcome to the madness. Congrats on your purchase. Let us know if there is anything you need help with. The search function can answer most of your questions, but feel free to ask.

If you need any parts, there is a classified section or just let us know. We have a lot of misc parts lying around(it is part of the disease).

Since you are in AZ, does this GT have A/C?

We love to see pictures of your car. We like to see them in any condition

[SpringGT]

Dawn, welcome to the site. Your '73 appears to be in solid shape in your garage pictures and you seem to really have a "can-do" attitude. With that and all the good help available here, you'll be just fine.
Bob

[Djaz]

There is such good info. here. I find myself spending hours just reading in the forums. I'm Glad Bob checked out the pic in my garage. The car is in really good shape there were only two rust spots, one in the drivers floor pan a bout the size of a dollar and some bubbles behind the drivers front tire, easy fix. When I bought the car I was told it had been setting for about six years. Towed it home. I needed to know if the engine was froze so slowly rotated the fan an got the distributor to move. ( Palms sweating ) changed the oil, an plugs added new plug wires. flushed the radiator. disconected the gas line. Hooked up a by pass jump start. ( Held Breath ) added small amount of gas to carb. IT STARTED!!! What a sweet sound!!! ( Happy Dance preformed) no smoke, never missed a beat!!! I have removed int. cleaned an sanded ect. added new wireing harness ( Not done Here ) but havent hook anything up yet.

[Djaz]

The info on fixing the regulator was right on!! Worked like a charm. An to answer Jeffs question. No I have no AC So Its a 2 60 type for now!!!
Two windows down an 60mph. A spary bottle helps too! Thanks for all the help.

[jlthunder]

The info on fixing the regulator was right on!! Worked like a charm. An to answer Jeffs question. No I have no AC So Its a 2 60 type for now!!!
Two windows down an 60mph. A spary bottle helps too! Thanks for all the help.

thanks for the morning laugh. I had an S-10 pickup with 2 60 air, but I upgraded by putting a rear sliding window in and made it 3 60 air.

[Djaz]

Wow Maybe I should re-think that sun roof Dawn

[jlthunder]

Actually, you have 4-60 air. Since you have a '73, you have the pop out rear quarter windows.

[BQS4]

Wow Maybe I should re-think that sun roof Dawn

I don't think you'll want to do that, as no one makes an aftermarket sunroof that small. J C Whitney used to, but, not any more.