How about a proper ONE PIECE WINDOW thread......

[Tony M]

Only needed to glue the curved ends - the rest is ok - Hey Donny B. I like those - Clean finish - What did you use - Are those made by you - or ?

[Jim Ratto]

Nice work Donny B 

[louisb]

Donny was kind enough to send me a couple of pieces of that molding. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have his talent for making it look right. 

--louis

[Frenchy Dehoux]

   Pretty cool subject to talk about. When I restored my 1952 split window I found the window felt / and window channels here in town and made my own outside window scrapers with the rear lid seal with the late GM buttons. As for my 54 oval I also bought the window felt here in town and had them installed all the way down to the bottom and I had to make out of pine wood a piece that I could screw on the inside edge to hold down the felt and I also used the 1951 to 1955 window regulator.The other thing I had to do was after the vent windows were removed to weld a small piece of metal across to add and to be able to drill a few more holes for the outside scraper to be held this way you have the scraper all the way a cross nice and tight. You can also put a small amount of surfboard wax on the inside edges of the window felt channel to help it go up and down smoother. I had tought about doing a video on this installation at the time. I also did the window frame inserts and felt restoration on Randy Gates split window some years ago. And this week I am doing another set of window channels for Brad Thompson from Irvine which Buddy Hale is doing a restoration on his 1950 split window. Any other question please let me know.

Frenchy Dehoux
 Doctor Detail

[Zach Gomulka]

Your windows in the '54 were smooth, Frenchy. I remember you let me try them out at the Pavillions one night... 10 1/2 turns gives you a little exercise!

[Black Sheep]

My car came with them fitted as standard 
But seriously Im looking into grafting some 65ish inner door sections into my original split  doors , so I can use 67 twin lifters , as the split lifters are a bit pants after nearly 60 years of use .

[Donny B.]

Donny was kind enough to send me a couple of pieces of that molding. Unfortunately, I don't seem to have his talent for making it look right.  Embarrassed

It just takes a little time Louis.  I cut the rubber with sizzors then used emery paper to sand to the exact shape and taper.  The sanding is what takes time.  It goes kinda slow.

The corner seals are from some one piece kits that Car Custom and some others sold back in the '80s.  They were strange with a channel for a metal strip with holes to slide into to support the seal against the door.  At the ends they could be bent up by notching the inside lip and they had a hole that went all the way through that you could put a piece of aluminum wire into to hold the shape.  I long ago lost he aluminum and use small dia welding rod.

Here's some photos of the rubber I used for the corners.  I had to do a lot of trimming, but it worked for me.

[alfie the monster]

then there's the black bitch that runs them.

I spoke to Alex about putting one piece windows in mine, he swore at me and we satin blacked the quarter light surround instead 

[Dougy Dee]

I used a set from Topline in the early 90's. It had an an aluminum rod that slipped in the end of the scrapes that could be curved to the doors contour.
Dont 64 and earlier cars need to be 'upgraded' to 65 and newer for the regulators to work?
This is the only upgrade I did to my 61 that I regretted.
Never again.

[Harry/FDK]

After all the pro's and con's i'm gonna stick to original, maybe black powdercoat frames.

[Lee.C]

After all the pro's and con's i'm gonna stick to original, maybe black powdercoat frames.

I'm still gonna do one piece  At least I have the "Easy" doors 

[SteveW]

How does the metal section that is in the window aperture (where the 1/4 light should be) come away from the rest of the door? This obviously needs to be removed for the 1 piece window to fit/slide in.

Thanks

[nicolas]

i have to read through the topic again and see if there are some bases not covered or things i did differently, but i do have a set off call-stops that i don't use as type3's don't need them.

[Donny B.]

How does the metal section that is in the window aperture (where the 1/4 light should be) come away from the rest of the door? This obviously needs to be removed for the 1 piece window to fit/slide in.

I used a die grinder with a parting wheel 1/32" thick to cut it out.  Just be careful it doesn't jump out while you are doing it.  Go slow so as not to get the paint or the top of the sill.

[louisb]

How does the metal section that is in the window aperture (where the 1/4 light should be) come away from the rest of the door? This obviously needs to be removed for the 1 piece window to fit/slide in.

I used a die grinder with a parting wheel 1/32" thick to cut it out.  Just be careful it doesn't jump out while you are doing it.  Go slow so as not to get the paint or the top of the sill.

Put a little tape ont he door edge to keep from ruining the paint.

--louis

[JSL]

After all the pro's and con's i'm gonna stick to original, maybe black powdercoat frames.

Hi,

I started a thread on how to remove the glass and powder coat the 1/4 lights in the 'In da works' section as thats what I would like to do, entitled 'Powder coating 1/4 lights'

Any advise on this would be greatly appreciated as it sounds like a bitch to do  

Sorry I know this is slightly off topic.

I ran one piece windows in my first bug, like people say if you take your time and install them slowly they should be ok, I didnt trust the clips would hold my scrapers in so I used stainless steel sunken screws too, it held up fine, never a problem.

Only thing I didnt like was (as everyone has pointed out) how the ends met the channel. I cut and curved mine up ok (looked good) but it was still a water trap in the UK Grrrr... fine for people living in sunnier climates! ;-) but then I notice a touch of sun bleaching to the felt channels  

The other problem I had with mine was in winter. Frozen windows meant you couldnt wind the window down without risk of pulling the lifter off at the bottom due to the size of the window that was frozen in place.

I cut my windows ready for one peice a few years back, now I wanna go 1/4 lights again! Hahahaha idiot!   Anyone done this? One piece back to 1/4 light?  

J

[danny gabbard]

I took a junk door and cut the outer skin off and used as a jig . first made pattern of original glass and added extra for wind wing portion, So now I have something to slide up and down for prototypeing. Then found a pair of stock window channel, The one's on rear of door by the door handle. Cut a section of channel that I could use as a guild channel for front of glass. and made bracket and tacked together. After I got new window slideing smoothly up and down I hooked window regulator up. I hope this helps guys

[Lee.C]

I took a junk door and cut the outer skin off and used as a jig . first made pattern of original glass and added extra for wind wing portion, So now I have something to slide up and down for prototypeing. Then found a pair of stock window channel, The one's on rear of door by the door handle. Cut a section of channel that I could use as a guild channel for front of glass. and made bracket and tacked together. After I got new window slideing smoothly up and down I hooked window regulator up. I hope this helps guys

Hmmm very good idea about the scrap door - I might have to get myself one 

[louisb]

I took a junk door and cut the outer skin off and used as a jig . first made pattern of original glass and added extra for wind wing portion, So now I have something to slide up and down for prototypeing. Then found a pair of stock window channel, The one's on rear of door by the door handle. Cut a section of channel that I could use as a guild channel for front of glass. and made bracket and tacked together. After I got new window slideing smoothly up and down I hooked window regulator up. I hope this helps guys

Cool, I was thinking of doing something along the same idea. Maybe you should consider making some channels and selling them to augment the kits out there already.

--louis

[ESH]

It seems appropriate that the thread dropped and then took a while to get back up to the top again. I think I can hear it rattling a bit too. 

[nicolas]

It seems appropriate that the thread dropped and then took a while to get back up to the top again. I think I can hear it rattling a bit too. 

...

but, most don't get it up a second time.

[Diederick/DVK]

i haven't read all the posts of this thread, but what's wrong with the many one piece window kits that are listed on the samba?

[danny gabbard]

about 3 things wrong with all the kits. First there no front guide for the glass to go up and down properlly. Two you cant use the stock check strap because it will hit and break glass if you shut door with window rolled down. And you need to weld sections were wind wing glass use to be , No place to attach scraper rubber un front edge of door. The kits you buy will kinda work but kinda micky mouse. as I posted early in this post the key is to make some kind of guide channel for front edge of glass. Just my three cents . bye for now

[SCOTTP]

I put a set of one piece windows in my 67 last year. The kit came with glue in scrapers. Throw those away and buy the snap in ones.  A couple of places in So Cal sell them separate... Pacific Customs Unlimited... Moore parts.They don't come with the holes in them, so I used a paper punch. The area on the door that doesn't have the holes needs to be glued. Use the black 3m stuff. You'll need to glue the curves also, then shape with a razor blade. Let the glue set for a long time, or you'll be throwing parts and tools like I did. Make sure you leave enough new felt past the channels at both ends to guide the windows. Roll the windows up and down a few times to check for proper operation. Don't forget the door stops!!  Took almost a week of sore fingers to get everything right. It was a genuine pain in the ass to do.. but they look so nice.

[Donny B.]

I never liked how the corners of the windows looked and I didn't like the way the snap in seals looked when they were curved in the corners so this is what I did.

[SCOTTP]

Here's how mine turned out

[SCOTTP]

Sorry about the crappy picture

[Donny B.]

To heck with the crappy photo, that looks great.  Nice job!

[low oval]

wondering if anyone can help.  after 3 years i am going to put my windows back in and can't find the passanger side regulator.  at the time the only one that worked.  driver side always would break.  anyway I am going to give the mechanical regulators one more try if they don't i'm throwing in some electrics.  can anyone post a photo of the regulators with the one piece window bracket attached, and also anybody know where i can find another window bracket (piece the window slides into)in case I can't find mine?
thanks for any advice,
jim

[mikesmith22]

Any link of sales page ?