The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 58 TF Vent window rebuild or replace ?

I need some expert advise on my 58 TF vent windows.
I have hardware for 2 left, and 2 right doors, including the vent windows assemblies.
All weather striping and division bar felt is rotten. All glass is separating on the edges.
One Right side vent window assembly is farily decent, with a chrome division bar strip. The other window assemblies are either broken, or badly rusted at the lower vent window pivot. These are black frames.

Option 1
I think I could maybe cut up and use the upper portion of one assembly frame, and bend it to match the bottom portion, and weld it to one useable top portion.Buy individual parts and rebuild with existing hardware. About $120.65

Option 2
Buy one complete Left side assembly, and rebuild Right side assembly. About $392.65.

Option 3
Bite the bullet, and buy 2 complete new assemblies Left & Right. About $579.90. Ouch!

Prices from Classic Parts.

Any suggestions? How easy is it to reline the division bar? Better to buy a new lined division bar?

Appreciate your experience.

What about the option of finding some used ones? Swap meets have lots of parts. I don't know about the Task Force, but I can find plenty of old parts for the AD's.

It's not hard to replace the felt in the division bar, If I remember it has adhesive on the back already. I bought new frames and glass for the vents I believe from classic( was a few years ago) a few rivets which you get from them also and your done. Just take your time and think about it before you do it.

From my experience with rebuilding the windows on my '58, here are my suggestion:

-Take your glass and have a local glass shop cut you new ones. You're going to need the glass for option 1 and the cost is suprisingly cheap when done locally with a pattern.

-Buy the odds-and-ends pieces you need to rebuild and give it a shot. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results. I know I was. Like Yakima said, if necessary, buy unusable parts from a donor.

-It is very easy to reline the division bar. The felt comes in a roll, enough for both sides. I used gasket adhesive. I made a tool from a piece of wood ~8" long and skimmed its width until it fit inside the felt-lined groove fairly tightly. I faired the leading edge so that I could push it down the length of the groove. This allowed me to get the felt tight against the radii. (You don't want bridging down there!) I let the adhesive cure overnight and then trimmed it flush with an exacto knife.

-Do one side before moving to the other. You might need a go-by. I know I did and STILL made bone-headed inside/outside/front/back mistakes.

-There is a tape used between the glass and the metal frame. The stuff that my kit provided wasn't close to the right thickness. I got some good stuff from the local glass shop.

-If you have problems cranking the side window up and down, this is the time to fix it. I thought my problem was the crank but it ended up being the regulator. The new crank's fit was TERRIBLE because the mounting holes weren't even close to the original's. I think I was a victim of "one series fits all." It didn't in my situation.

Bill

I rebuilt, rewelded, mine and purchased the glass, felt, window seal,rivets, etc. from whomever was cheapest. Came out nice. Bought the glass from vendor not glass shop. Used vents will always have issues and probably need rebuilt anyway. If yours are real rotten, find some donor vents with broken glass and bad rubber but good metal, for cheap ($10 ea) and build those. Strip them down, take out the rivets, clean/weld/fix and put back together with new rivets. It's not a hard job at all. Like said above, plan each step so that the sequence is correct that's all.
A great DIY project. Don't forget classic parts %10 discount to us, just enter ""stovebolt" in code area when checking out and you will see the new price in your basket. BTW, the chrome trimmed ones will be much nicer looking on your truck. Do you have the deluxe cab?

Don't forget the tip section on these issues: vent glass and sliders and general window rebuild.

Thanks for all your input.
Yes, I have a deluxe cab. I had one chrome vent frame, and ordered a new one for the other side, with loose glass, tape, rivets, rubber etc.
All from Classic parts, with our discount.
Looks like I'll be able to rebuild OK.

Thanks folks.