does anyone know if anyone makes the window channels already prebent i got some from carpenters and they was stright peices had to bend them myself turned out ok but dont look like orgenails ive looked on theinterweb but cant find any or can anyone tell me how to bend them the right way thanks bobby
Concours sells the prebent ones for '57's. I bent mine. we had a pretty long thread on the '57 forum about doing them. I started it and several others added some good suggestions. I'll try and find it later today and post a link.
States they are pre-bent but you should call to confirm their Tech people should give you some tips http://www.steelerubber.com/beltline-weatherstrip-80-0968-57
I used the flexible run stuff and bent it myself. I think the only rigid piece I had ran up the vent window, but this is on a '59.
I bought the straight pieces from Carpenter and bent mine. The "sticks" are often cut from longer stock, and the ends are pinched or crushed. you need to cut the end cleanly, so that the outside will slide over the inner rail, allowing the bend. I used a Dremel cut off wheel and bent slow. Worked for me, anyway.
Here's a step by step, blow by blow thread we did on the '57 forumn. Lots of helpful info here. I finally found it on page 473 of my posts, lol. Good thing I knew it was one of my first posts there, so I started searching my posts from the beginning. http://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=1405.0
I made a sketch of each door and side window opening, identified what was needed where. You can get a 96" piece of the channel, but you'll pay a lot more to ship it, so 72" is the way to go. I mapped out all my cuts so I got just enough, think I had a 10" piece left over, used it to practice riveting to the hard brackets. Where they intersect at a square corner, you have to flatten out the stainless bead on one so it slides into the other. I'll try to shoot some pictures of my car this weekend. I did all my cuts holding the channel in a vise with a piece of s**** wood inside it to hold it open. I used a fine hacksaw blade, keep the cut at the edge of the vise jaw so it ran true.
I bought my first ones for my 56 and they were straight. Bending is a lot harder then it looks. I never could get the radius correct and they kink if you go too tight. At $50 a pop it is not cheap training. So I bought a set from Teebird products. They ****ed.. I sent them pictures and they made some changes to their dies and sent me another set (nice customer service) but they still didn't fit right.
Look at the flexible Y620 channel. See if it matches what you have. This is a popular Ford item for a lot of years. Most of my bends were gradual, for the rear 1/4 gl***. Where it tucked down inside the body it got a little hairy to bend, but that part is hidden from view.
One thing to watch for if ordering universal channels is the depth. There are different depths so you need to make sure you get the right one.
I did the bend by hand for my wifes 55 Fairlane. I found out real quick how easy it will start deforming while bending to quickly. I realized that i had to constantly shift the channel and work it towards the bend area. Kind of like shrinking sheet metal to make a radius. You'll start to noticing that the 2 hard wires start coming out at the ends of the channel. Once i reach the desired radius i mocked up channel to window opening. Measured and trim off the ends. Hope that helps for the next time.
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