I am probably defying the Search Gods, but: Who has done the one-piece window conversion for the door windows? (55-59 Chevy Truck) Whose kit did you use? How did it work out? Any advice? Thanks!
I did one on my 57 a few months ago, kit was from brothers, it went okay, the radius on the top front gl*** could have been better, but i complicated things with a universal pwr window kit. it all works and seals good ,but would have been easier had i kept the manual cranks
I have done several trucks with kits from Brothers, but it does not matter who you get a kit from as the one piece gl*** was not made to go into a door made from two piece gl***. I would suggest that you get everything to fit before you paint the truck, because you will need to do some heavy hammering, and surgery that will destroy paint.
I did mine after paint, no hammering necessary. If i was to do it over, i would make my own gl*** patterns, and would also tack a channel in place on the fwd side of the door, I also agree that it would be easier with a larger access
I cut up the original vent frames for the front channel. they have the right off set on the bottom. just drill two holes at the bottom and one on top
I took them out of a truck, it was a botched job done by a gl*** shop, windows did not work. Vent windows on those trucks are *****in, why remove them?
I agree they are cool, but the price of reapiring them is more than twice the conversion... Are there any tech articles on how to put in new gl*** and trim?..I just want to stop the rattles...its driving me nutz!
Fifteen years ago, I converted my windows on my 55 to one piece using modified Juliano's power regulators. The only way I could get the gl*** to go down was to allow the gl*** to tip back as it went down. They worked okay for a while, but now I hate them. Last week I was working on a 55 pickup for a customer at work. He had bought the Brother's kit. It included gl***, felt, and really poor directions. I asked "where's the rest?" The kit also claimed that their gl*** would work with the stock regulators. The next day, I brought in a couple of plexigl*** patterns that I had kept from my truck. I compared the kit with my patterns, and they just trim the upper front edge of the gl*** to make it fit through the opening. I copied the gl*** with one of my old patterns, put it in the door and it wouldn't clear. I kept t******* the plexigl*** at the front until it would go up. I had to trim so much off that the gl*** would never seal on the front edge. I figured the only way to get a full size piece of gl*** to work was to somehow make the gl*** tilt with the stock regulator. I messed around with the mechanism for a while and discovered angling the roller guide that is spot welded inside the door would cause the gl*** to tip. I screwed around with angles until I got it to work. 45 degrees was too much, which caused the roller to run out of the guide. I think I ended up with about 30-35 degrees drop towards the rear of the door. The front of the guide had to be in the same position, so the gl*** would be level in the up position. The hardest part was getting the mig gun in the door to weld the roller guide in place. I also had to bend a piece of channel for the felt at the front of the door. I made it removable, so the regulator could be removed if needed. I honestly don't think a succesful kit could be made for these things. The tolerances on those doors were so poor that every door seems a little different on the inside. Hopefully this made sense. Dave
Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to describe it. It seems like it is going to be a b*tch either way. Maybe that is why it so exspensive to redo the whole stock set up too. Thanks again!
Hi Guys here is a link that might help. Actually there are 5 videos covering the complete installation. <style></style>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2_p9Ol9isE&feature=related
its a ***** either way. so you may as well keep the wing windows. if i was buying a 55-57 chev pickup it better have the wing windows or i want 1,000.00 off.
speaking of wing windows. if i was out of work or looking for extra money id be rebuilding wing windows. id grab all the 'common vehicle wing ***emblies i could get my hands on & start rebuilding. a nice rebuilt pair of wing windows (rebuilt right) polished stainless & or rechromed as needed would fetch "good money" all day long. 55-57 hardtops, 55-59 pickups, 64-68 chevelles, etc... etc...
i thought about doing piece windows in my 55 but then i realized i'd be getting rid of my A/C ! , lol
There are some pretty good videos on page 1 and 4 of this thread. http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=366078&page=6
I know its an old thread but, to anyone thinking of doing this conversion take this advice. Remove your gl*** and wing windows, drive around for a couple months in the summer and spring and you will realize one thing...... it ****s *** not having your wing windows! The way the wind noise and turbulence goes through the cab ****s, the lack of actual cooling breeze ****s and when you look at the truck from the outside the doors look like they are not finished or even broken if you will. Heaven forbid you try this in the summer without A/C in your ride the lack of fresh air will damn near kill you. I know I tried it. These trucks have those windows for a reason trust me you should keep them. Im glad that I took this same advice from a guy who made the mistake of putting them in. He and every one I have ever seen with it done regrets it.
Ive been puttin some in a customers truck for the past week. he bought brothers gl*** and and universal cable type electric motors. I figured it couldnt be that hard but what a pile these things are. Theres aboubt a 3 inch surface area on the edge of a 25 inch window thats supposed to ride in a channel and not rock back and forth. I watched that video on you tube and it wasnt much help. Im sure they work ok with stock scissor type regulators, but these uneversal (electric life i believe) motors, tracks and rollers have so much play its a real pain. i think its about the stupidest thing you could do to one of these trucks,. but thats what the customer wants ive just about got them working but if anybody has and advice or threads on this id be greatly obliged.
The Jalopy Journal
