Stovebolt.com Forums The Parking Lot Panels 'N Burbs Sliding windows on 1950 Suburban - help and hello from UK

Good evening all
Well its evening here in Great Britain now
I am a new member to the forum and will be a regular visitor to this site looking for info and asking lots of questions about various things
I own a 1950 Suburban which I am trying to get back to a useable condition as when I bought it last year it was not great
The former owners had not been kind to this Burb and so much was just lashed together with little care for fit and finish
Its going to be a family Hot Rod so has to be safe for my partner and her boys
Currently running 350 SBC and possibly a supercharger is in the engines future although a gallon of gas over here is an eyewatering £7.00 / $8.68

I want to put sliding windows in just the middle sections and have read Mark Smiths post about doing this job
The help am after is a clear picture of the rubber profiles and a lead on the stainless steel trims that go onto the slider glass
The ones with the push/pull plate and ideally the little locks

Very little is available here in the Uk and what there is normally is very expensive but if I can get some idea of what I need we do have trimmers etc who may be able to help out

I have a shipper in California so getting stuff over the pond is not difficult but I would like to know where I can get this stuff if anyone can help OR does anybody have a set of the stainless trims for the glass

Thank you guys/gals
Paul

Welcome to the site Paul.

Gonna move your post to our Panels & Burbs area. They'll have the best answers there. Plus, Mark is the moderator there and you seem to have read a few of his posts.

Again, Welcome to our virtual garage.

Peggy

Anyone help our newbie from England?

Hi Paul and welcome to the Stovebolt!!

Trying to find those original stainless pieces is tough here in the states, too! Best course of action might be to place a wanted ad here at Parts Wanted Forum. You could also follow eBay and get lucky. I'm sure others will be along with more suggestions.

At the top of this forum, I pinned a link for a place that sells the stainless trim that is pretty close to the original pieces in appearance. If you're good at fabricating or know someone who is, you might be able to fabricate and weld some handles to the trim. It looks like the company has the trim in stock, but they are warehouse pick up only. Hopefully, a member might live close by that could help you out if this becomes an option for you.

As for the rubber, I have no profiles pictures of the stuff. I do plan on, when I repaint my Suburban, installing new weatherstripping on my side windows. When I do, I plan to take better pictures for the tech tip. I can also take profile pictures with measurements of the rubber that our suppliers offer. The only problem is, I've been threatening to paint my Suburban for 3 years now. Maybe the fourth year will be the charm!

Again, welcome!!

Hi Mark
Thank you for coming back to me regarding this
What supplier did you use please?
I have looked at Jim Carter and Chevs of the 40's (who dont want to send to England which is a pain !) for the rubber and also found a company that will sell a complete middle and rear set of rubbers and channels for well over $200 which is a lot for what I need

Do you happen to know what the glass thickness is please?
I can possibly get some of what I need over here from auto trimmers but its the rubber that goes behind the fixed pane I really need to locate
Some of the old Mini's had sliding windows so maybe I can track down some stainless trims from one of those

Any help will always be appreciated so thank you again

Hurry up and paint your Burb!!!

The kit I used was from Classic Parts. Classic Parts Suburban Window Kit [classicparts.com]

Glass is usually 1/4" here.

Good evening Mark
What a top bloke you are
I have been in touch with these guys and think im going to place an order
Jim Carter has the glass templates and lock tabs so that wont be a difficult task to get


Thank you for sending me the link and I have passed it onto another friend here in the UK
We have our own little Facebook group over here and as far as we know there are only 10 Suburbans in UK!!
Rare beasts for sure

Does anyone have a picture of how the sliding window locks work and locate please?
Guessing they screw to the body or garnish trim and then you lift them away from the glass and slide the window forward OR am I completely wrong

As always any advice is welcomed

Thank you
Paul

Paul:
Why didn’t you look at Steele Rubber? They were the premier supplier of weatherstripping for our Suburbans?
The set from classic parts looks identical to Steele. Probably the same manufacturer at the same price.

The window handles I directly sourced from West Marine.

Regards, Mark

Thanks Mark
I have had a look at Steele products

I dont need the door rubbers so will stick with the Classic kit
Bit cheaper too
I don't need handles as such but I think the stainless U channel that goes onto the front of the slider section has something like a thumb /finger push pull tab which is what I am after
I don't think the Classic kit comes with those
Got to get the window lock tabs from Jim Carter and possibly the sliding /fixed glass templates as Classic dont do them apparently
Shame as I have to get parts from all over and get them sent to CA

Have you any pictures of the window lock tabs I can look at ?

Thanks again
Paul