Yep I knew so many people in the 70s and early 80s who had electric windows that just didn't work and never even thought about having them fixed. When I was a kid we had a 72 Gran Torino wagon and in those days the back window of station wagons was one of the first places where electric windows were standard. But the darn thing went out on us just before I started driving, which really sucked because we lived in Southern California and the AC used so much gas and the air didn't flow through as well with that back window closed. I took apart the door once looking for loose wires but everything was intact so I assumed the motor was bad, but never knew or imagined that I could get another one anywhere (this was before I discovered junk yards). I was hiking in a remote canyon with an older cousin and we came across the same model wagon rolled and flattened and it looked like it had been there for years, but the back swing-out door was intact. I told him I was coming back with some wrenches and screwdrivers to see if the motor was still there. Not being very handy with tools he was astounded that I would know how to get the motor out, or what to do with it. So I went back on my own a couple days later and got the motor out. Back then they were almost as large as a coffee can and weighed a ton. I got it home, cleaned it up, took apart the family car's back door and that thing just bolted right in place. (To this day my cousin who is president of a well-known company still tells that story with his eyes wide in amazement.)
So I'm impressed when guys tackle these things...and my hat's off to you and my friend.
Then there were the tube tires. I can hardly imagine that.