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Post by smyrnaguy on May 15, 2012 18:40:28 GMT -5
My 1976 edition of the assembly manual mentions L-Channel molding as a requirement for installing the "Sundowner" convertible window kit (operation 45, pg 86). Does anyone have a source for a replacement? I've shaped an aluminum piece but it will require a lot of welding to finish it. My welder won't do it. Plastic would be so much easier.
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Post by crashdown on May 25, 2012 18:01:00 GMT -5
jc whitney has a lot of that in both their marine and auto catalogs
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Post by smyrnaguy on Jun 5, 2012 11:06:13 GMT -5
JCW was a bust. It seems their website lists a great many parts they do not carry. Apparently the source of L channel is a secret. Maybe I should check wikileaks. No that would only work if it was a government secret. Snopes doesn't say its existence is a myth (or even mention it).
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Post by jspbtown on Jun 5, 2012 11:21:04 GMT -5
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jun 5, 2012 12:35:35 GMT -5
Hi Smyrnaguy,  The build manual shows a metal "L" channel that screws to the lip of the roof section. The sundowner window is supposed to have a rubber "U" channel installed all the way around it's edge. The window edge (and "U" channel) are then supposed to slide up under the lip of the metal "L" channel. I assume this was supposed to seal the window and hold the top edge in place. The problem is that the roofs and windows vary so much with each installation that it becomes hard to work with. I also suspect sliding the window back under the lip each time it's removed is a real pain! When I got mine, it had holes where the "L" channel had been removed and discarded. The window was held in place with 5 (not 4) hold down clips. And when I replaced the broken window with a new one from Sunray, it didn't fit properly, and the new rubber "U" channel molding they supplied didn't fit the window either!  So ....... I ordered vinyl edge molding with rubber seal from JC Whitney and installed the window with two take apart hinges on top and 4 hold down clips. One clip on each side and two clips in back near the bottom of the window. Good luck trying to get the original design to fit, not leak, and retain the window from getting sucked out on the highway!  I like the way I did mine much better! ;D   Gary Hammond,   |
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Post by smyrnaguy on Jun 5, 2012 12:47:25 GMT -5
Gary if you happen upon that molding again let me know. According to JCW they now carry only 3 different styles of rubber window molding. It seems I've got to reinvent the wheel every time I turn around. I'm also looking for the rubber that goes across the bottom of the doors. I have the door opening rubber but neither of my cars have the bottom rubbers.
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Post by skip20 on Jun 5, 2012 13:58:44 GMT -5
"metal "L" channel" was used back in the 50 -70's to wrap around a table top! |
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jun 5, 2012 14:49:00 GMT -5
Hi, Gary if you happen upon that molding again let me know. ........ Sorry, but I never had it. It was done away with before I ever got the car. Gary Hammond, |
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jun 5, 2012 15:48:32 GMT -5
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Post by smyrnaguy on Jun 5, 2012 19:19:29 GMT -5
One more questioning observation Gary...It looks like you used the same type seal along the bottom of the window instead of the thin u channel rubber that's supposed to be glued and riveted or screwed to the plexi? I imagine that would work very well.
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Post by Gary Hammond on Jun 5, 2012 20:08:30 GMT -5
Hi Smyrnaguy, Yep! Used the same seal on the back edge of the roof as I used on the bottom edge of the window.  The rubber "U"channel I got from Sunray wouldn't work at all. It was too flimsy, fit the plexi too loose, and wouldn't fill in the gap caused by a poorly formed window. The seal I used fills all the gaps, and keeps the water out! ;D The original design sucks IMHO! No tolerance for out of spec parts which seems to be all that's available.  Gary Hammond, |
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Post by big bob on Jun 6, 2012 10:05:59 GMT -5
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