how NOT to

[60Crown]

Donor field Superior. Trial and error.

Thick aluminum side supports bolt to inner framework of rear loading door below waistline; 3 on each side. Rusted solid, can't reach backside either.

Glass held in by 3 aluminum moldings, one upper, and vertical inner side pieces that fit into larger outer. 5 accessible screws on upper came out. 6 accessible screws each vertical side running from outer into inner, all heavily rusted, only 1 of 12 came out. If only one vertical inner molding is removed, there would probably be enough room after cutting/removing glass rubber molding to finagle window out since upper aluminum is already off. Not happening. Crap.

4 rusty bolts on upper outer aluminum structure secures body panel above window. They aren't budging either. Crap.

2 small Sawzall cuts takes off tops of aluminum frames and body panel along with. Progress. Now to slowly, carefully, remove rubber molding and slide glass upward... This is how far glass made it before binding hard.



Curvature wasn't same from top to bottom, although removing rubber allowed for full width of window track allowing *just* enough room that it should have worked.

Now who is paying attention why this didn't work??? Didn't cross my mind until this point.

[EternalCombustion]

Bottom section of the glass is wider than the top?

[60Crown]

Ding ding ding!!!

Width @ top of glass - 38.5"
Width @ bottom of glass - 39.5"

Ended up making Sawzall relief cuts to driver's side outer aluminum frame before oh-so-slowly bending it outward enough to successfully remove glass. Total time in 95 degree heat with 90% humidity: 2 hours 5 minutes.

[EternalCombustion]

Total time in 95 degree heat with 90% humidity: 2 hours 5 minutes.

Wow, that's pretty brutal. But great save. That old glass on these coaches is getting increasingly hard to find. It's nice to know that there are those out there that are willing to take the time and sacrifices to save these rare windows.