Installed my removable rear window
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 9
From: New England
Installed my removable rear window
Well, my wife bought me all of the parts to replace my rear window on my 76 to a removable one. All of the parts were purchased from paragon except the alum frame and window which I won on ebay for $150.00.
Everything just about bolted right up except for drilling a few mounting holes. I got it completed in about 7 hours. Installing the gasket was a real PITA but I was able to get it in and hold it in place with the window while the adhesive cured. Can't wait for summer now. Total cost was about $400.00 not that bad. I bet you could even keep the cost down if you bought all of the parts on ebay. I wanted new latches and gasket bit I did see used items on ebay. I think this one of the best conversions that I have done on my car .
Dario
Everything just about bolted right up except for drilling a few mounting holes. I got it completed in about 7 hours. Installing the gasket was a real PITA but I was able to get it in and hold it in place with the window while the adhesive cured. Can't wait for summer now. Total cost was about $400.00 not that bad. I bet you could even keep the cost down if you bought all of the parts on ebay. I wanted new latches and gasket bit I did see used items on ebay. I think this one of the best conversions that I have done on my car .
Dario
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 403
From: Nashville TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I want to do the same thing on my '76. It's on my list, but not at the top . . . will get to it one of these years. That is going to feel so good and will look great too.
Did you give your wife the list of what to buy or do what I do and order for her?
Did you give your wife the list of what to buy or do what I do and order for her?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
I have a 72 and like driving around with the tops off and the window out. On my 73, I miss having the same experience and have often wondered about doing the conversion.
It sounds like it can be done, at a resonable price, and make it a weekend project. I can put it on my later list.
Glad you got yours in, and enjoy the new drives with the window out.
kdf
It sounds like it can be done, at a resonable price, and make it a weekend project. I can put it on my later list.
Glad you got yours in, and enjoy the new drives with the window out.
kdf
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,337
Likes: 14
From: Norfolk VA
Im concerned about the increased "theiveability" with the removable rear window. I read a book on corvettes several years ago and it stated this was one of the reasons why Chevy discontinued the removable rear window. Is there any truth to this or is it just an opinion?
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Im concerned about the increased "theiveability" with the removable rear window. I read a book on corvettes several years ago and it stated this was one of the reasons why Chevy discontinued the removable rear window. Is there any truth to this or is it just an opinion?
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
Did my 73 and happy with it. Not hard at all the weatherstrip takes the longest. However I see a problem with later cars without the deck grilles. Pretty hard the get the metal anchor plates in for thew bottom guide pins. Thats the only thing holding me back to do it to my 77 I'll figure something out
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 9
From: New England
ArtsVette73
I didn't have a problem with the metal anchor plates for the bottom guide pins. The cutouts in the fiberglass were already there for the pins and the upper hindges. What would the deck grills do for securing the window pins? I never got a good look at an earlier c3 that had the option so I don't really know if mine was different or not in the back. Can't figure out what the deck grills would do for securing anything back there? Clue me in here while I already have the rear molding off and I can add some more support if needed.
Thanks Dario
I didn't have a problem with the metal anchor plates for the bottom guide pins. The cutouts in the fiberglass were already there for the pins and the upper hindges. What would the deck grills do for securing the window pins? I never got a good look at an earlier c3 that had the option so I don't really know if mine was different or not in the back. Can't figure out what the deck grills would do for securing anything back there? Clue me in here while I already have the rear molding off and I can add some more support if needed.
Thanks Dario
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Nanty Glo PA
This is on my to do list for my '76 also. 
Any chance of seeing some pics of your finished product or the install?? Any suggestions on how to install the seal/weatherstrip?? That seems to be everybody's difficult part.
Any chance of seeing some pics of your finished product or the install?? Any suggestions on how to install the seal/weatherstrip?? That seems to be everybody's difficult part.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 9
From: New England
Bric, go to my public profile ,I posted a few pics of my conversion in my album.
. I installed all of the latches 1st so the window fit into it and than I did the weatherstrip.The weather strip was pretty easy,because I repainted my car last winter and installed new weatherstrip on the car ,t-top and all so I really got good at it. On the rear window weatherstripping start the bottom 1st and after that is cured work yourself up the sides and cut the top to fit in the middle,( you want the cut on top not on the bottom ) about an inch will be cut off, from what I am told they all need to be cut because they are always to big. I used the window itself to hold it in place as it dryed, pretty easy job overall. I thought that I was going to have problems with the rear halo panals,but when the screws were all out ,they just dropped down.
. I installed all of the latches 1st so the window fit into it and than I did the weatherstrip.The weather strip was pretty easy,because I repainted my car last winter and installed new weatherstrip on the car ,t-top and all so I really got good at it. On the rear window weatherstripping start the bottom 1st and after that is cured work yourself up the sides and cut the top to fit in the middle,( you want the cut on top not on the bottom ) about an inch will be cut off, from what I am told they all need to be cut because they are always to big. I used the window itself to hold it in place as it dryed, pretty easy job overall. I thought that I was going to have problems with the rear halo panals,but when the screws were all out ,they just dropped down.
Last edited by dariopop; Jan 10, 2009 at 03:00 AM. Reason: correction
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
ArtsVette73
I didn't have a problem with the metal anchor plates for the bottom guide pins. The cutouts in the fiberglass were already there for the pins and the upper hindges. What would the deck grills do for securing the window pins? I never got a good look at an earlier c3 that had the option so I don't really know if mine was different or not in the back. Can't figure out what the deck grills would do for securing anything back there? Clue me in here while I already have the rear molding off and I can add some more support if needed.
Thanks Dario
I didn't have a problem with the metal anchor plates for the bottom guide pins. The cutouts in the fiberglass were already there for the pins and the upper hindges. What would the deck grills do for securing the window pins? I never got a good look at an earlier c3 that had the option so I don't really know if mine was different or not in the back. Can't figure out what the deck grills would do for securing anything back there? Clue me in here while I already have the rear molding off and I can add some more support if needed.
Thanks Dario
______ top guide pin plate
______ plastic guide
______ fiberglass
______ bottom guide pin anchor plate
Last edited by Artsvette73; Jan 10, 2009 at 10:23 AM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 9
From: New England
Artsvette73'
OK, now I know what your talking about. On my car,as should be on your 77 ,if you remove the bottom interior bar that gives you access to that area you should be able to get to the underside of the area that you are talking about. On my car it was completely open and accessible to bolt the metal and plastic guides in place. That was where you were confussing me, maybe it's differant on the 69-72 models, but your 77 should be just like mine in back, only change was your console . I will check to see if I posted a pic in my profile album,if not I will take a picture of it and post it.
Thanks Dario
OK, now I know what your talking about. On my car,as should be on your 77 ,if you remove the bottom interior bar that gives you access to that area you should be able to get to the underside of the area that you are talking about. On my car it was completely open and accessible to bolt the metal and plastic guides in place. That was where you were confussing me, maybe it's differant on the 69-72 models, but your 77 should be just like mine in back, only change was your console . I will check to see if I posted a pic in my profile album,if not I will take a picture of it and post it.
Thanks Dario
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
dario:
I had a 71 coupe with OE Removable Window ... it was nice ... you'll probably enjoy your RW a lot.
Does your conversion/retro also include an interior storage tray for RW per the OE design? Not necessary but handy on a trip if you have other stuff back there when you take RW in/out.
-add- as for theft ending RW for 73 ... dunno? Ragtop lasted another year or two right? Maybe it was more a safety perception/lawsuit or combo of reasons? My best guess ... more profitable to make t-top & t-top only.
I had a 71 coupe with OE Removable Window ... it was nice ... you'll probably enjoy your RW a lot.
Does your conversion/retro also include an interior storage tray for RW per the OE design? Not necessary but handy on a trip if you have other stuff back there when you take RW in/out.
-add- as for theft ending RW for 73 ... dunno? Ragtop lasted another year or two right? Maybe it was more a safety perception/lawsuit or combo of reasons? My best guess ... more profitable to make t-top & t-top only.
Last edited by jackson; Jan 10, 2009 at 01:34 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,991
Likes: 3
From: Piscataway NJ
Artsvette73'
OK, now I know what your talking about. On my car,as should be on your 77 ,if you remove the bottom interior bar that gives you access to that area you should be able to get to the underside of the area that you are talking about. On my car it was completely open and accessible to bolt the metal and plastic guides in place. That was where you were confussing me, maybe it's differant on the 69-72 models, but your 77 should be just like mine in back, only change was your console . I will check to see if I posted a pic in my profile album,if not I will take a picture of it and post it.
Thanks Dario
OK, now I know what your talking about. On my car,as should be on your 77 ,if you remove the bottom interior bar that gives you access to that area you should be able to get to the underside of the area that you are talking about. On my car it was completely open and accessible to bolt the metal and plastic guides in place. That was where you were confussing me, maybe it's differant on the 69-72 models, but your 77 should be just like mine in back, only change was your console . I will check to see if I posted a pic in my profile album,if not I will take a picture of it and post it.
Thanks Dario
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 281
Likes: 9
From: New England
Jackson,
No I did not install the window holder,seem like a real PITA to do plus on e-bay they go for big bucks.
Anybody interested can go to my profile album and look at the pictures I put there.
That 's as far as I could get the pictures to go, how in the heck do you get them moved to the thread???
Dario
No I did not install the window holder,seem like a real PITA to do plus on e-bay they go for big bucks.
Anybody interested can go to my profile album and look at the pictures I put there.
That 's as far as I could get the pictures to go, how in the heck do you get them moved to the thread???
Dario
