1952-59 Ford Door glass replacement

Getting ready to replace the gl*** in the front doors on my '53 Customline. For those that have done this what size/brand setting tape did you use? I have the instructions from the factory manual, but would appreciate any tips. I don't have a lot of experience replacing gl***.

Thanks

 

I'm of no help but watching this one as I'm doing the same thing in my '54.

 

Doing my 54 as well and am waiting for the responses.

 

Take the channel and the gl*** to an auto gl*** shop and get the setting tape from them. They should be able to tell you the proper size tape.

 

I used this stuff from Mac's:

https://www.macsautoparts.com/gl***-bedding-cork-rubber-compound-1-16-thick-10-roll-32-23244-1.html

 

I use a gl*** shop that makes house calls. He took my door gl*** and channel back to his shop to set it.

 

Should have the door gl*** next week. If it shows up without being broken i'll start the removal of the old gl***.

We have two gl*** shops in town that will work on vintage cars. The videos i've watched make it look easy so I had planned to do it myself. Guess i'll make the call when I get to that point.

 

I'll pulled my p***enger side gl***. Kind of a pain! I can only imagine what it's gonna be like going back in. One tip.....get a cheap heat gun. Really helps when pulling 65 year old gl*** from the setting tape.
Cheap Harbor Freight heat gun

 

Got the door gl*** replaced on both sides. Wasn't too bad of a job. Make sure to hit all fasteners you plan to remove with penetrating oil a day or so before you start.

Remove inner door window trim piece, door panel, and remove vent window ***embly screws and bottom nut, but don't remove from vehicle. Just having the vent ***embly loose in the door was enough for me to work with. Remove the two clips that hold the inner window trim in place at the top of the window opening. Use channel locks to squeeze in on the clips and they will lift out.

Remove old gl*** by removing the rollers from arms in the channel. There is a small clip to pull on each roller. I destroyed two out of four rollers. Plan to replace these. The plastic part gets brittle over time. Since the vent window ***embly is loose in the door move it until the window is out of the channel on that side, then unseat from the channel on the other side and tilt and lift out.

I used a heat gun to heat up the old setting tape and a putty knife and small hammer to remove gl*** from the track. It was pretty easy. Clean the old track pretty well, I hit mine with some spray paint after removing the old tape and surface rust.

Take your setting tape and fold it over the edge of the new piece of gl***. Start the track on one side and gently tap it down with a rubber mallet. This part was really stressful, hammering onto a piece of gl*** seems like a very bad idea. But that is what all the instructional videos showed. Even though it stressed me out it went together pretty easily.

It was much harder for me to get the new gl*** and track back in the door than it was to remove it. I just had to be patient and try a couple different angles until one worked. Let it rest on the gl*** stop and roller pins. Stick it in the channel in the back and then move the vent window ***embly back into place working the channel onto the new gl*** in front. Screw the vent window ***embly back in place making sure it is lined up properly. Now you have the new gl*** in the channel and ready.

The installation of the new rollers gave me the most trouble. But only because I was doing it wrong. You do not have to dis***emble the new roller. Just slide it in the end of the roller channel on the track, it's open on the sides. Then pull back on the pin while you move the roller into place. Once lined up push the pin into the roller. The roller clip will snap into place.

When you go to put the inner window trim piece back in place don't forget to stick a string in the channel of the vent window weatherstrip. This will allow you to get the rubber back in place around the trim.

Think that covers it. Let me know if I missed explaining some parts or did not give enough detail. Good luck

 

Great write-up! I'll be following this when I'm ready to install!

 

Make sure you get the right rollers. Some supply places only sell the blue ones, those are for later Fords. The reddish ones were the correct ones for my car. The blue ones can be modified to work. Gl*** shops used to stock these, you may find some in an old gl*** shop.