I'd like to add power locks and eventually power windows to my '69, but short of removing the doors to drill the holes where the grommet goes, I can't think of a way.

Has anyone come up with an ingenious way to do it? Short of that, as a lone hobbyist with no helpful neighbors nearby, what about the door cradles you can buy at Harbor Freight and so on? Are they worth it?

I haven't removed a door in a couple of decades, and I remember it being quite a job to get everything lined up properly. Any tips are welcome!

i put my holes in while i was restoring the car.....however i have added power door locks to other vehicles.....sometimes a right angle drill will work.......other times i've had to drill out from the inside of the door and from under the dash.....i was able to get some offset door gromets kinda shaped like a "Z" so that both holes don't have to be in alignment with each other.

I think it can be done. Maybe use a 90 degree air drill with a unibit.Then use a Greenlee punch.

There are small dimples to help you locate the drill.

Take your time.Think as you go…Patience is the key!

I have converted 2 - 68 Camaros to Factory power windows, I used some appropriate size electrical knockout punches once I drilled a pilot hole, It was not that hard, just a little bit awkward. The doors were on by the way.

Did it about 3 weeks ago....
The factory holes are marked with dipples in the steel
Remove door panel.
wind the window up
Get several battery drills..diff shapes brands
with one of these u will be able to drill a 1/4" hole hole where the drimple is..tight fit.
Then in several steps increase the size to a little under the factory or required size

you can now drill from the inside of the door, thru the hole into the dimple in the pillar at a slight angle...again starting with a 1/4" bit

Leaving the door hole slightly small, alows to have the bit against the side without distorting the final sized hole.

Increase the pillar hole to the reqd size.

The powr locks I mounted down the bottom of the door, verticatly , connecting directly up onto the lower portion of the door knob wire....measure this out very carefully and place carefully so there is very little side movement on the soldeold piston, to get a smooth acting and no binding inside the solenoild.

do something like this. these are common items and used in newer vehicles. simple operation to do. i guess you can put it somewhere near the light switch on the door.

http://clauto.manufacturer.globalsources.com/si/6008802297088/pdtl/Automotive-switch/1000703450/Van-Door-Switches.htm

that's more of a sliding door type switch......not sure if there is enough room to mount it at the hinge side of the door. it would be a much nicer installation if you can get a green-lee hole punch......or try the right angle drill.

yes, thats correct that is for a sliding door but it can be adapted with minimal mods and can be used for any kind of application besides sliding doors. after all, they are just contacts. i believe summit or some others sell contacts like these though they are probably more expensive. i have original power window wiring boots on my 69 but for my 68 camaro and my 67 chevelle, i will be putting in some kind of contacts like these. the only downside to these are that you cant actuate the windows when the door is open.

Sliding door harness...well by the time it brought them , shiped , customs etc iy was not going to be wort it, so I made mine
The hole in the door I used part of a HT boot off a GM HEI and pushed a bit of fine plastic garden irrigation hoes thru...
and the wires go thru this if lubed with a bit of silcone
This is then jamed tight into the door hole

On the pillar I used another old spark plug boot cut down which the irrigation hose just slides thru...this is forced into the door pillar hole.
I then ureathaned the boots to the inside of the door and pillar

The result I was quite pleased with until my son in lwas who is an auto sparky saw it..he asked me where do you buy those from!!!!
Now its a bragging point lol