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There are many stories about how difficult it is to install C3 side windows. After struggling for hours to install my passenger side window, I figured out a sequence that took me only 30 minutes with no helper for the driver side and thought I would share.
This is starting from a bare door for a 1969 early coupe. My windows are dated November and December 1968 and have the short extra rear track that was changed some time during the 1969 model year. The 1969 AIM documents the later configuration, the early configuration is in the 1968 AIM. The procedure should work for both configurations.
If you try to install in a normal fashion with both rollers attached to the window and try to lower the window into already installed tracks, it won't fit. But if you change the assembly order as below, it all goes together smoothly.
1) Install the stainless trim and outer weatherstrip at the top of the door. Loosely install the two anti-rattle bumpers.
2) Install the window regulator, bolt the short lower track loosely to the door, stick the crank on the end so you can easily re-position the window. Slide the metal window track with the 3 attach bolts loosely in place onto the two upper nylon rollers from the bottom. Roll the window down.
3) Prep the window, install the short-rear track (if present) including the rear roller by the rear most bolt only. Tighten to where it can still rotate and point the track down to make it easy to slide in the door. Lightly glue (i used weatherstrip adhesive) the nylon and metal washers per the AIM to the window. Also glue the washer stack and nut for the front roller to the outside of the window (not shown in photo). This makes it MUCH easier to install the window to the door as it holds things in place so you can tighten the nuts with one hand only. Position two spring clamps about 1/3 up the window on each side
4) Slide window into door front first to clear stops, lower rear track through rear clearance hole, slide forward and let rest on clamps. Roll window up and loosely attach the 2 front nuts and washers to the window. Roll the window down to get better access to the nuts. Swing the rear track up and attach the front hole to the rearmost bolt.
5) Attach the front roller. Roll the window midway to give you the most clearance to reach. If you glued the washer and nut stack to the window, you can do this with one hand. Tighten all nuts.
6) Roll the window 2/3 up. Slide the top of the front track to engage the roller, and swing the bottom of the track forward to line it up. You will need to roll the window down to let the track clear the toothed regulator. Slide the rear track in a similar fashion. Bolt tracks in place.
Dang I wish I had this info awhile back when I reinstalled my drivers glass after installing new rollers.By far the most frustrating job ever! I finally just bent out the inner skin to get it to drop down in the door.
This is an old post but so helpful , I disassembled my early 69 roadster months ago, and was sitting there scratching my head for a couple of hours yesterday, trying to figure out where that extra little track went, as it is completely different than what is shown in the assembly manual. Once again the corvette forum comes to the rescue.
View of glass from outside of the car with the door skin removed. Don't know where the picture
came from, but it helped me after I removed the glass and was trying to figure out where everything goes.
10-09-2015, 05:02 PM
Install C3 side window in 30 minutes!
Dang I wish I had this info awhile back when I reinstalled my drivers glass after installing new rollers.By far the most frustrating job ever! I finally just bent out the inner skin to get it to drop down in the door.
