VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 38 Door Vent Window

I need to disassemble the vent window to replace the weatherstrip and to also have the glass frame rechromed. How do you remove the glass frame from the regulator/frame assembly without distorting the black frame? Do you have to drill out rivets that hold the regulator to the black frame? Any suggestions, before I tear up something. Thanks

You can buy a chromed frame and attach that to your regulator. That way you don't have to try and rechrome your existing. They also sell the outer frame that fits in the door and holds the rubber seal. That one is usually ion pretty rough shape.

Otherwise you need take a sharp flexible flat blade scraper and slide it between the glass and the frame all the way around, on both sides, to break the seal. Then use a rubber teethed clamp to pinch the window. From that you can pry the frame off.

Brian

I'm having trouble taking out the glass frame from the outer frame. The pin pivot at the top does not seem to slide far enough to allow me to get out of the outer frame. The glass has also been removed. Maybe I am wrong or looking at this project wrong, but it appears to me that the glass frame has to be removed in order to put in the weatherstrip in the black outer frame. If I ever learn how to post pictures, I'd be able to explain myself better :((

The outer frame bends so you can spread it out to give yourself some room especially if you intend to replace it.

Yes, you need to take that whole assembly out to do it right as your new rubber has a whole for the glass frame post. Take photos and you'll be fine.

Brian

Now I see the issue. No you don't have to disassemble the vent window to install new rubber. I didn't personally do mine, the body shop did but I know they didn't have to disassemble anything.

I just went through this with my 38. I did have to remove the long rivets to get it apart and that also lets you get new rubber in without cutting away the holes for the pins.

Thanks for all the help and suggestions. I finally stretched the black outer frame and was able to free the chrome glass frame. The glass frames are already at he platers. I hope I did not damage the frame by stretching, but I'll worry about that whem I reassemble the whole unit

My original frame was rusted at the bottom so I didn't have that problem. The replacements were thin enough to bend and return to original, the problem was keeping the new rubber in the frame.

Brian