Hello fellow prancing horse enthusiasts. So pulling everything apart, cleaning, polishing, painting is the easy bit.... but getting it all back together again is another challenge. Just wondering if anyone has undertaken the restoration of the front vent windows before and if there was any specific advice and steps they suggest that might help avoid any unwanted heartache. When I pulled apart (2) was glued in with a type of silastic... is it recommended to fit the new rubber in with this as well given the new rubber looks like with screws, it's going to have a much better seal than original (and being considerably firmer than old looks like things are going to get awfully tight and tough going back in). any advice appreciated Image Unavailable, Please Login
No glue or mastic. Mount the new rubber using some silicone lubricator. Fit small counter sunk flat head screws through the small holes in the vertical pillar and into the metal bracket that's inserted in the rubber. Also fit screws through the upper window frame when the whole unit is inserted in the door frame. It is one of those challenging jobs that should be done in the morning when you are fresh....- Regards Peter Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I have no advice, I am however, responding to see how this goes for you. I do have a question. The glass is a moving piece within the frame, right? So fitting the actual glass shouldn't be that difficult. The tough part, in my mind, will be getting it locked shut without having the closer pop off, if it is in fact a tighter fit. D
yes... rubber definitely far firmer and what looks a VERY snug fit. I should probably get my wife to record my efforts. Am sure the profanitys that are let loose when I lose some skin off my knuckles or stuff something up would make for hilarious viewing for everyone. *The notoriously rubbish window closers are not currently attached to the glass and I am somewhat deliberately avoiding locating them.... ---- Peter H - really appreciate your advice... thanks
I'm having the same issue - the left side window closer broke off, and because the window seal is too tight the window will not close properly... Need to have a look at this. Very useful tips here.
wow.. ok... this task is a definitely a patience tester. Firstly - You need a heap of bees pi$$ (silicon spray)... to try and squeeze the rubbers into where they need to go. The task is not made easier by the fact that new rubbers are longer than old... so prepare to get them in as much as you possibly can first... and then be prepared to take your knife out on those expensive new parts you've just gone and bought! You're also going to need to get your drill out as none of the holes in the pillar rubber line up. Despite all my efforts I ended up giving in and removing a few rivets holding in the base of the window frame. I simply couldn't find a way to get the frame with window installed back into the chrome surround without doing so. I can see why worldwide owners have issues with the window closers snapping off or simply not being strong enough to hold them shut and fully sealed. There is likely a few tricks and snips that can be made to the rubbers to get them to seat in better perhaps. I looked long and hard at the old rubbers for clues and tried to replicate them appropriately. No matter what I've done with my little Alfa GTV I have always had a bit of wind noise via door gaps and window seals.... it seems this might also be the case with the Dino! Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hopefully up early in the morning for this "cutting in your new expensive rubber" job......otherwise I can imagine the swearing from the workshop.....
so true mate... you want to be fresh. 2nd side is soooooo much easier once you've learned from mistakes on the first. Removing the rivets and taking the inner frame out of the chrome surround makes this a far quicker and easier job. I noticed on the nose of rubber (image (3) from my first post) had been trimmed slightly at the very end. By doing so it allows you to squeeze the rubber into the frame far further without as much heartache. With the inner frame removed from the chrome surround I sprayed a lot of bees p!ss into the lower horizontal channel and on the rubber as well. Thereafter you can simply slide the rubber right the way along from one end to the other. The rubber can then be angled into angled channel of the frame and i used a plastic paint scraper (it's very blunt and won't cut into the rubber) to feed this into the channel. What took me a few hours on first side... took me 25mins on the second. Glass goes in with a few washes and the pin to hold it in and then it's simply feeding the frame back into place. I put some temp screws in place to hold it in until I can borrow a rivet gun from a mate. The end result is that the vent window is TIGHT in place and once I have the holders back on... I'd say the windows won't really be getting used as my father mentioned the closes popping off the car from when he got it brand new! The rubber may soften slightly over time (maybe). will post a finished pic when phone charges up
