window ribbon...dumb question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
Likes: 1
From: Las Cruces NM
window ribbon...dumb question
I finally got my 86 project back home. I'm starting to tear stuff apart and I've already ordered about 90% of the parts I need to complete it before I turn it around.
The pass side window goes up all but the last 1 1/2" or so. After taking the door apart, including that aluminum panel, the problem was pretty clear. The motor drives the window up as far as the ribbon allows, so it must be missing the last couple inches or so.
Where is this rivet everyone keeps talking about? Do I need to remove the ribbon by sliding it up the top (where the rivet apears to be on the MAD instructions) or can I just pop it off, trim the new ribbon to length, snap it on the guide (or whatever the piece it clips onto is called) and feed it into the motor?
The other question is about the length. When I trim it, how exact do I need to be? If it's a little too long, is there a stop that keeps the window from going to far? I know if it's way to long, it'll break. If the old one's not the correct length now, how will I know how long to make it?
Thanks
Chris
The pass side window goes up all but the last 1 1/2" or so. After taking the door apart, including that aluminum panel, the problem was pretty clear. The motor drives the window up as far as the ribbon allows, so it must be missing the last couple inches or so.
Where is this rivet everyone keeps talking about? Do I need to remove the ribbon by sliding it up the top (where the rivet apears to be on the MAD instructions) or can I just pop it off, trim the new ribbon to length, snap it on the guide (or whatever the piece it clips onto is called) and feed it into the motor?
The other question is about the length. When I trim it, how exact do I need to be? If it's a little too long, is there a stop that keeps the window from going to far? I know if it's way to long, it'll break. If the old one's not the correct length now, how will I know how long to make it?
Thanks
Chris
Last edited by okinawa86vette; May 1, 2007 at 07:42 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
If it is too long, it will hit the inside of the door before the window is down. The window won't lower all the way. Guess how I know that. It has to be long enough for the window to close all the way and short enough for the window to go all the way down before it hits on the inside of the door.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Looking at some of my grainy photos, it looks like the ribbon has to go on from the bottom front end of the rail. If this is the case, you'll have to remove the whole regulator anyways.
I could be wrong though. I never bothered with the ribbon. Prev owner did and then that one snapped too. So I put the newer design regulators in, definitely worth it.
Pics here if you want to upgrade, or just get a look inside the door. I think at the very least you'd have to remove the aluminum inner panel.
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting...windowreg.html
Rivet is at the top end of the ribbon where it attaches to the plastic glass holder.
I could be wrong though. I never bothered with the ribbon. Prev owner did and then that one snapped too. So I put the newer design regulators in, definitely worth it.
Pics here if you want to upgrade, or just get a look inside the door. I think at the very least you'd have to remove the aluminum inner panel.
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting...windowreg.html
Rivet is at the top end of the ribbon where it attaches to the plastic glass holder.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
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From: Las Cruces NM
I have no desire to go to the later design. I'm not keeping the car, so I'm not puting money into it that won't make it worth more.
I have the aluminum panel removed, but I'm trying to figure out if I need to pull the whole regulator assembly or if I can get the ribbon in without pulling it. The top of the ribbon is held onto the window piece by an allen head screw. No rivet, but the instructions on MAD showed a rivet at the very top. What I'm wondering is if I can just yank the old ribbon out, feed the new one in and snap it into place. Or will I have to take the whole deal apart like the destructions say?
Thanks for the tips on the length. I guess you just have to guess and keep trimming till it's right, huh?
Chris
I have the aluminum panel removed, but I'm trying to figure out if I need to pull the whole regulator assembly or if I can get the ribbon in without pulling it. The top of the ribbon is held onto the window piece by an allen head screw. No rivet, but the instructions on MAD showed a rivet at the very top. What I'm wondering is if I can just yank the old ribbon out, feed the new one in and snap it into place. Or will I have to take the whole deal apart like the destructions say?
Thanks for the tips on the length. I guess you just have to guess and keep trimming till it's right, huh?
Chris
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
I think I'd see how much too short the stock one is, and try cutting there for starters. If the top of the rail is captured by the metal mounting bracket then you'll have to install the ribbon from the bottom, and pull the reg out to do it.
Before you detach the window, sharpie around all the nuts holding it on so you know where to locate it on reinstall.
It's really pretty easy now that you've got the panel off. The glass has 2 or 3 studs coming out of it that you have to fish through the slots in the top of the door.
There's only about 4 bolts holding the reg in.
Before you detach the window, sharpie around all the nuts holding it on so you know where to locate it on reinstall.
It's really pretty easy now that you've got the panel off. The glass has 2 or 3 studs coming out of it that you have to fish through the slots in the top of the door.
There's only about 4 bolts holding the reg in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,659
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From: Oxford CT
Just tip the thing out of there, then you can fix the ribbon. It will all make sense when you get it out. Its only like 4 bolts.
You can buy gm ribbons for 30, or autozone has one you will have to trim in the help section.
You can buy gm ribbons for 30, or autozone has one you will have to trim in the help section.
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
I think I'd see how much too short the stock one is, and try cutting there for starters.
I've cut it off twice, now, and it's still too short!
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Team Owner
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Come on man. 
I'm saying find out how much too short it is now, if you need 3 more inches, cut it that much longer than the one in there now.
I'm saying find out how much too short it is now, if you need 3 more inches, cut it that much longer than the one in there now.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; May 2, 2007 at 03:14 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
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From: Las Cruces NM
I had it all apart when I posted (and still do), but I was hesitant to pull the whole deal out of the door if I didn't have to. It looked as though I could replace it by snapping into place, but after looking at the tabs on the back of the ribbon, I see why it has to slide off the top.
As for the length, is the length of the ribbon needed the same as the travel of the window? In other words, the window needs another 1 1/2" of travel to close all the way, so I just need to cut the ribbon a 1 1/2" longer than the busted one?
Thanks for the responses. I think I'm just going to get a replacement one and not try to figure out the length.
Chris
As for the length, is the length of the ribbon needed the same as the travel of the window? In other words, the window needs another 1 1/2" of travel to close all the way, so I just need to cut the ribbon a 1 1/2" longer than the busted one?
Thanks for the responses. I think I'm just going to get a replacement one and not try to figure out the length.
Chris
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 165
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From: rowlett tx
I ordered one from madvet 2 weeks ago and it worked great. If i were to do it again i would get it from ecklers since they include replacement rivets.
Race Director
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From: The Top of Utah
You can buy the ribbon in the "Help" section in many auto parts stores. You may pass it by if you don't know what you are looking for. It is packaged as a replacement part for a Mopar, a van or truck, I think. It should cost substantially less than a dedicated Corvette part, especially coming from a specialized Corvette parts vendor. The part from the Help display WILL have to be shortened. That is a small price in light of the financial savings and the 5 seconds that it take to cut it.
The original ribbon isn't too short. It is broken. If it were too short, the window would have never closed. Trim the new ribbon to just slightly longer than the original (both pieces) was.
Yeah! Like you've never zinged me on a simple goof. I laughed when I read the post and I couldn't resist. It would appear you have gotten even, however. Yesterday, after I wrote that, I went to move my car and the ribbon in my drivers side window broke. It would seem you got your retribution by telekinesis. Does anyone happen to have a couple, left side at least, late style window regulators...cheap? If not, I do have a spare ribbon in stock.
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The original ribbon isn't too short. It is broken. If it were too short, the window would have never closed. Trim the new ribbon to just slightly longer than the original (both pieces) was.
Originally Posted by CentralCoaster
Come on man.
I'm saying find out how much too short it is now, if you need 3 more inches, cut it that much longer than the one in there now.
I'm saying find out how much too short it is now, if you need 3 more inches, cut it that much longer than the one in there now.
RACE ON!!!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Las Cruces NM
With the last 2 inches or so missing, it is essentially too short. The other piece is nowhere to be found, which is why I'd rather spend the extra 5 or 10 bucks to not have to worry about cutting it. If I cut it too short or leave it too long and break it, I'll be back at the help section and saving nothing.
C
C
Race Director
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From: The Top of Utah
So don't trim it until you have it in the car. When I learned about this by leaving it long, nothing broke. My problem was that I had no suspicions there was a problem before the whole door and inner trim panel was all reassembled, so like a dummy, I got to take it all back a part again. This ISN'T rocket science, and you have been alerted to the possible pitfalls, but suit yourself. Sometimes I wonder why I...
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Las Cruces NM
I ended up picking up the help ribbon. I found the last inches of the ribbon on the lower guide piece, so I used the two pieces as a guide for the length. I was originally going to get a ribbon from a vette place because everyone was making such a big deal about cutting it to the right length or it may break or whatever on the other posts I found in the search. I think folks made a bigger deal about it than they should have.
Somone had already replaced it once, since the rivets were gone and a couple short screws/nuts were there.
It wasn't too difficult and the glass thankfully wend back in perfectly aligned on the first try.
Thanks for the advice, everyone. The new ribbon cost about 12 bucks. It wasn't at all a difficult project, just a lot of stuff to dig through to get to it.
It's so nice not to have to pull the window up the last couple inches everytime I park the car.......
Chris
Somone had already replaced it once, since the rivets were gone and a couple short screws/nuts were there.
It wasn't too difficult and the glass thankfully wend back in perfectly aligned on the first try.
Thanks for the advice, everyone. The new ribbon cost about 12 bucks. It wasn't at all a difficult project, just a lot of stuff to dig through to get to it.
It's so nice not to have to pull the window up the last couple inches everytime I park the car.......
Chris
Last edited by okinawa86vette; May 4, 2007 at 12:30 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 24,337
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Let me know if you need any help, if I'm not online I'll be in the garage making my windows go up and down over and over.
http://webpages.charter.net/khasting...indowmovie.WMV
Team Owner
Joined: May 2002
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
So it looks like you're on your 3rd ribbon now. CFI just broke his 2nd ribbon. I broke two ribbons then upgraded the window regulators.
I'm sensing a trend here.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,606
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From: Las Cruces NM
Someone already replaced the driver's side with the later style stuff.
But I'm not keeping the car. I'm just fixing it up and selling it off. New ribbon, cleaned and lubed up, it works pretty ok, so that's fine for what I'm doing. If I was keeping the car, I'd upgrade, but I don't really see a point to it in my situation since I won't see that money back when I sell the car.
Thanks again for all the help guys.
C
But I'm not keeping the car. I'm just fixing it up and selling it off. New ribbon, cleaned and lubed up, it works pretty ok, so that's fine for what I'm doing. If I was keeping the car, I'd upgrade, but I don't really see a point to it in my situation since I won't see that money back when I sell the car.
Thanks again for all the help guys.
C
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by okinawa86vette
I ended up picking up the help ribbon. I found the last inches of the ribbon on the lower guide piece, so I used the two pieces as a guide for the length. I was originally going to get a ribbon from a vette place because everyone was making such a big deal about cutting it to the right length or it may break or whatever on the other posts I found in the search. I think folks made a bigger deal about it than they should have.
Chris
Chris
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