Replace Late Hardtop 1/4 Lite Glass

[tylerite3124]

Has anyone taken on the task of replacing the glass in the 1/4 lite hardtop windows? Or is the best answer to take them to an auto glass shop to have the work done? Thanks for any guidance on this project.

Rick

 

[junkman]

I had some made out of lexan And have extras if you would like I will sell them for $20 a side plus shipping. Call me on Monday 78l 829 o550 Easy to DIY
8-5 EDT.
Jeff

 

[tylerite3124]

I have some from SS Jeff. Looking for the degree of difficulty given the rivets in the frame.
Rick

 

[junkman]

I found it quite easy to do, I 'm not sure but I think you don't need to remove the rivets as there are screws that can be accessed to do the job.

 

[tylerite3124]

There are screws on the inside of the frame but they would not be accessible once the glass is in place in the frame. The only way I see to take the frame apart is to drill the rivets.
Rick

 

[DanR]

There are screws on the inside of the frame but they would not be accessible once the glass is in place in the frame. The only way I see to take the frame apart is to drill the rivets.
Rick

Rick, Here are 3 pictures of the quarter window. The one with the hinge showing is where I would that the rivets from. There will be 2 rivets on each side of the hinge.

 

[tylerite3124]

Thanks Dan.

 

[Warren]

Not much fun of a job especially with new glazing. I put in tempered glass windows that were a tad wider. Mashing the new glazing and getting the grip length of the rivet to grab the little L bracket is challenging.

 

[tylerite3124]

Thanks Warren. What did you use to replace the OEM rubber seal? Some have said I should just use a silicone sealer in the glass channels. Do you remember the size of the rivets you used?

FYI I went to 2 auto glass shops to see how much they would charge to put in the glass if I supplied the glass, the seal and the rivets. One gave me a price of $70 per window. The other said he charges $150 for the first hour, $75 / hr for each additional hour and estimated the job would take 4-5 hours. I have bought whole cars for less than that!

 

[puff4]

Glass shops never thrilled me. I sent my MGTD screen to one... he sat on it for 2 months until out of frustration I retrieved it and sent it to another shop where they completely bent up the top rail whilst removing the glass, cracking off the chrome entirely... I had to source a whole used screen assy from California for about $900 (which they had to eat). In the end they still screwed up installing the wiper motor wires in the frame. Grrr. Next time I’m doing it myself.

 

[DanR]

Rick, You can do it! Order the seal materiel from SS or CS. I believe the rivets are 1/8. Can check one of mine for you. In the mean time the Parts Catalog will be a good place to verify what rivets.?

 

[Warren]

The SS catalog I have doesn't list the HT53 rubber glazing.
What you get is one strip that you have to cut in half for both windows, not any to spare either. My glass is a tad thicker so it compounded the fitment and compressing the glazing under the small L brackets that the 1/8 rivet with 3/16 or 1/4 grip length. Maybe smashing the glazing last inch woul be better than brute force and a slightly longer grip length to pull the pieces together and compress the glazing.

 

[Warren]

Adding a post and not editing as I want to get everyone who may have done this job before. The 3 side screws that go thru and hold on the qtr. windows? How the heck do you mash the window frame in enough to compress the new rubbers and locate the screw and hole. Mini C clamps with wooden paint stick shims?