Hi I got a 49 coupe a little while ago and need some info, first did the rear windows roll down or were they stationary, Has anyone had the flat gl*** crack cause of the heat when I got the car the driver and p***enger door gl*** was fine but here in fort worth we've had like two mouths worth of over 100 degree weather and now theres a crack on both of them. Also what year of areostar springs do I need to get and how much will they lower the front and where should I get them junk yard or parts house. Im sure Ill think of some new questions soon thanks for the info in advance.
The rear windows were vents. They swung out. I have heard that heat can crack the gl***, but here in Wisconsin we seldom have that problem. Not sure on the year of the Aerostar. Good luck, Tom
...From Johnny1290's Po-boys Shoebox Ford Builder's Guide… "1990 Ford Aerostar springs are the cheap alternative to high priced drop springs and give you a good ride. They cost around $60 and drop 2.5" (Napa #2775245, ****er #5851169 at rockauto, Moog #CC850, $47 a pair at Advanced Auto)."
Is it a regular coupe with back seat or business coupe with no back seat? I think the business coupe rear windows might not have opened at all...but not positive on that. Never had any windows crack from heat and I have owned a '49 coupe, '50 2 door sedan, '51 Convertible, and now my '51 sedan. They can crack very easly from door slaming especially if the window channels are worn with bad padding. Check out shoeboxford.com, the guys on there really know their shoeboxes! And don't forget to sign up on here for shoebox owners group. Not up on the Aerostar springs, but again join up on the shoebox site and ask the same question. Oh...post some photos of your '49
Sedan rear windows roll down all the way with small vent wing windows and coupe windows just swung out with a small lever at the rear. Still not sure if the business coupe opened at all though.
Its a business coupe and theres no way these would swing out or roll down the car has been redone from top to bottom all seals so Im sure its not the channels but it has been super hot here lately
NICE...I like...looks like a good late 50's-60's cruiser. Attached a photo of mine with my '48 raceboat at a local show a few weeks ago.
Heat shouldn't hurt a gl*** in most cases. Not unless the temp is changed from one extreme to another very quickly. If the laminated gl*** is already damaged, delaminated (gone milky on the edges) or chipped severe cold or hot can crack it off. Also if the runner the laminated gl*** sits in is rusty it will put a pressure spot on the gl*** and crack it from the bottom up. You can get toughened made up to pattern just as easy as laminated and if in an opening door thats getting slammed alot i'd go the toughened route everytime, plus its safer. All the best ,Dan
e I used to have. The windows swung out and had a latch like the one on the wind wings. Yes, I know it looks funky. That's why I don't have it anymore. Tom
Everyone is confused: if you have the deluxe version of the coupe, your rear side windows will be mounted in a chrome piece that looks just like your front wing vent but bigger. There will be a latch on the inside and when the latch is open the whole window will pivot out at the rear. If you have the standard version, your rear side gl*** will be mounted in rubber solid to the opening and won't open or move at all. It's easy to tell just by looking at them in person. From your little photo it looks like you have the fixed (non-moving) windows unless someone has painted the chrome surround black. I don't remember the company names anymore because I sold my '50 club coupe 12 years ago, but there are a couple companies out there that specialize in '49-51 Ford parts. (Dennis Carpenter has good stuff but a bit pricey.) Google search for them and have them send you catalogs. You can get just about anything you need for them because they are such popular cars. Once you put the Aerostar springs in the front you'll want to put lowering blocks on the rear. You can get those just about anywhere but I like Night Prowlers (www.thenightprowlers.com) for all my custom accessories.
So far, everyone seems to be on the right track: Coupes had the short roof, with no windwing in the rear side windows. Business Coupes had fixed gl*** and no back seat; Club Coupes had side windows that pivoted and a back seat. Don't ask me if back seats are interchangeable between two-door sedans and coupes 'cause I still don't know the answer to that one. However: Club Coupe rear side windows from anything '49-'51 should bolt in to your ride. The differences, near as I can tell, are that the latches are on the bottom of the window frame, about two-thirds of the way toward the rear of the car on everything '49-'51 EXCEPT early '49, which is what I have. On mine, the Club Coupe rear side window latches are on the TOP of the window frame--again, about two-thirds of the way toward the rear of the car. '49 Coupes also, some of them, came with gl*** interior light lenses and headliner bows that were flat. I think the bows on later cars were more rounded, like round metal stock that had simply been curved to meet the contours of the roof. Probably way more than you needed to know. Good luck with it.
It does not open and will never I just wasn't sure if it was made that way or the previous owner made it that way that what I should have made clear thanks.
You get 3 types of gl*** in most cars. Very,very early stuff had normal "plate" gl*** as found in a house door or something. Dangerous as hell!!! Alot of older stuff had laminated which is what you have there. Basically 2 thin sheets of plate type gl*** that has a plastic interlayer between it. This is what front screens on most cars have. Toughened gl*** is the stuff thats found in the sides of alot of cars. Was fitted to some cars in the front screen but laminated took over. Toughened gl*** is basically a plate gl*** that has gone through a toughening process and you can't cut it, it will explode.This is the gl*** fitted to nearly all newer cars and if hit it shatters into small tiny little bits. It's alot more durable in a side door as it takes alot of abuse. It's also safer because if your in an accident and your door won't open either you can smash it or someone on the outside can smash it and drag you out. With a laminated gl*** you'd be there for ages. Sorry not best explanation but hope that helps. Cheers Dan
Sorry, being in the UK my wording may be different but yes here it's sometimes called "toughened safety gl***". All the best,Dan
If I got my big *** in the boat it might sink. I have a friend who only weighs 150lbs and he drives it and I watch and film from the shore. It will do about 40-45mph with the 25hp Mercury that is on it right now which is plenty fast for it's age and weight. It gets more attention than the car when I haul it to the car shows. I let kids climb in and get their picture taken with an old crash helmet on, that way I usually win the most popular car award because the parents think "what a nice guy"...was there a car also ? Have won Most Popular and Peoples Choice three times now, that really pisses off some of the antique car crowd though. I overheard after one show.."I bet there are a few next year towing boats"!
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