would someone share any information on how to build this type of framework for the side windows if you chop your 41 chev and build a hard top? Thanks example:
That type of 1/4 gl*** is usually made either stationary and permanent or the owner slides it out of a channel and packs it away in the trunk when they want to run "with the windows down." Or I suppose you could use a late '50's Mopar style regulator system to make it just rotate/swing back 90º down into the 1/4 panel
At Gene Winfields workshop, he showed how to make the channel for the gl***, from flat stock. Actually a pretty simple solution. If you do a search, you'll find the thread. Stu
Found this one pic on a Winfield thread. It's called "Winfield seminar with pictures". There may be more threads with more pics.
A friend of mine has a Matranga clone and his is powered up and down. It's a beautiful thing to watch.
A lot of people seem to start with 'L' shaped channel and use a shrinker/stretcher to make them curved and then weld the two halves together to form a channel. However, that seemed way too complicated to me (for starters, I don't have a shrinker/stretcher) and I was concerned that I could not do that and have them turn out smooth enough so that when chromed, there would not be lots of ripples showing in the reflection like I saw on a lot of examples of this style window frames. So, I kept trying to think up a better way to make them. Eventually what I did was to use 9/16" square TUBING. I made templates of the shapes I wanted the side windows to be and took my square tubes over to a shop that had a power roller and had them run the tubes through the roller until they matched the curves of my templates (leaving extra length on each end to give me some play around room to fine tune the curves to one-another). I then used a small air saw to cut out one side of the tube all along the length to make it into a 'U' channel shape (easier than it sounds). I left enough of a lip on the side that was cut out to act as a retainer for the felt channel. Doing this method left me with perfectly clean smooth curves with no ripples. My 1/4 windows simply bolt into place (hidden by the inside trim) since it made no sense to me to have the quarters roll down or remove since the front frames stay up and the gl*** rolls up & down inside the frames (It would look odd to have the 1/4 frames gone while the front frames where still 'up'). The frames are lined with 'u' channel felt available from Restoration Specialties. The door frames shut against a small rubber 'L' lip that resides in the channel that was created when I welded my door tops into the roof when I hard topped it. Everything seals up nice to keep out the weather and not whistle when going down the highway. It took me a while to figure it all out and make it all bolt together with hidden mounting, but I think it turned out good for a dufus working in his garage. Here's a pic of all the pieces that were fabricated and/or modified from the original parts:
cleatus thankyou for the picture , do you have any closeups of the windows that show how well they fit? thanks Dwayne
The Jalopy Journal
