Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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Mod | | | Forums66 Topics128,004 Posts1,055,252 Members48,418 | | Most Online14,466 Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 | 1nxs, welcome to the bolt and that is a terrific idea for forming the run channel. I am going to try it. I got my cats whiskers from Classics parts in the kit they sell for the sliders. 49bourbon the one piece windows are a good idea if you have air conditioning. Mine doesn't so I am struggling with the sliders.
Weeds | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 13 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 13 | Weeds I got mine from classic parts as well, but they don't fit. How did you get yours installed?
1953 Chevrolet Suburban 1958 Rambler American 1963 Studebaker GT hawk R1 1964 Studebaker Avanti R1 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 1981 Avanti II
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 | I used a small whiz wheel on a Dremel tool to cut the old one out by splitting it down the middle. Then picked out the old split one using a small screwdriver. Then very carefully pried up the edges, cleaned out the residue and slid the new one in place. The new one was a little too long so I had to trim it off. Then using a small ball peen hammer I tapped the pried up edges back down. Seemed to work OK. Weeds | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 13 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 13 | I used the same technique as Weeds for removing the seal (I posted the technique on hotrodders 2 years ago) and on Friday I used a wide chisel to get under the groove to open it up a bit. No matter how careful you are it still leaves quite a few marks. I hope to tap the marks out with a plastic hammer. I'm not real pleased with classic parts. I've spent thousands $$$ on parts from them. When I purchased the Suburban sliding window kit for $119.00 it stated that it had enough for all four windows. In fact it has only enough beaded window seal for two windows. I talked to Steve at Classic Parts and he said the Suburban only needs four to do the windows (although he's never seen a Suburban) and if I needed eight, I would have to purchase four more. I may be looking for a new supplier. Any idea's? Weeds, Have you got your run channel installed yet?
1953 Chevrolet Suburban 1958 Rambler American 1963 Studebaker GT hawk R1 1964 Studebaker Avanti R1 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 1981 Avanti II
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | It seems that some of you are reporting that your Suburbans have 8 vertical stainless-steel bars on you rear side-windows? Mine (1954 Chevrolet) only has 4 bars and they were installed on edge of the stationary windows. On this style, there were small stainless window pullers on the edge of the sliding windows (about 3 inches long and installed on the middle of the edge of the sliding windows).
I have seen an unmolested, low mileage, 1950 GMC Suburban and it had only 4 vertical stainless bars but they were installed on the edge of the sliding windows. These vertical bars also served as the window pullers (I like this style better than my style).
Am I correct in my understanding that some of you have a full height vertical bar on both your stationary window and on the sliding window?
When I did my windows, the vendors' kits did not include the whiskers. I had to modify whiskerss I obtained from Restoration Specialties, Inc. It took about 4 ours of careful work to removed the old whisker from each channel. The seals I modified make a very good seal and installed very easily.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 13 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 13 | Hi tclederman, On my stationary glass is a full length vertical bar with the seal facing to the inside of the Suburban. The sliding glass has a full length vertical bar with a finger pull in the center of the bar and the seal is visible outside the vehicle. I've seen an unmolested 1950 Chev Suburban with 8 bars (I sold them on Stovebolt) exactly the same as my 1953 Chev Suburban and also an unmolested 1951 GMC Suburban with 8 like my 1953 Suburban. I have many photo's of these. The following link to my Journal shows the stainless from one (1) of my windows. The sliding glass pull is in the left of the picture and the stationary is on the right. I have a factory assembly manual picture showing the eight pulls as well. I wonder if you just happened to get a rare one? I can email more pictures showing the pulls if needed. http://www.hotrodders.com/journal_photos/00025573/11861098721.jpg
1953 Chevrolet Suburban 1958 Rambler American 1963 Studebaker GT hawk R1 1964 Studebaker Avanti R1 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 1981 Avanti II
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | No need for pictures - your vertical bars set-up is a far better design than mine.
I doubt if either style is rare - just different. When I needed to replace my style of window pulls in the early 70s, I had no problem finding them at a junk yard.
I think you meant 8 bars, four of the bars with 4 pulls on yours?
Is there a diagram in the 47-55 Factory Assembly Manual? What page (Section; page)?
Thanks, Tim | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 Moderator | | Moderator Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,215 | It's in section 1-20. It appears to have only one bar, presumably on the slider only. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 | 1inxs, I have made the pattern for the run channel for my drivers side rear slider. I need now to transfer it to some plywood about the same thickness as the run channel. I will then bandsaw it to shape and screw it to another piece of plywood making a clone of the actual window opening. Then I should be able to form the run channel in this jig on the bench instead of wrestling it in the window opening. I may add another piece of plywood over the cloned piece. this would make the jig exactly like the window opening. My 49 sub has a stainless channel on the front edge of all the sliding glasses. The pull handle is integral. This is turning out to be a real ordeal and it is getting personal. Me against the machine. I shall overcome. Weeds | | | | | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 | Got the drivers side rear slider in today. I am finding that the repro run channel is not an exact duplicate of the original. It is just a little bit larger on all dimensions. I had to have an eighth of an inch ground off of the top edge of the rear drivers slider in order to get it to slide. Without doing this the window is clamped tight and will not slide. I also found out that the stationary glasses are different size between center window and rear window. The rear ones are the longer of the two. I found this out the hard way. I had the shorter one set in place in the rear opening and when I put the slider in there was about a 3/4 inch gap between he edges of the 2 glasses. The longer one goes in the rear opening and the short one goes in the center opening. I also made a wooden jig out of plywood to form the run channel on the bench using 1inxs ideas. This really works good. 2 down and 2 to go. It looks like I will overcome after all.
Weeds | | | | | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 | Sliding windows are IN! Some slide better than others and hopefully they will loosen up as time goes on. Took pics of the run channel plywood jig and will be posting them on picasa web soon. On to the headliner. This has to be easier than the sliders. Right? Maybe I am in for another ordeal. We shall see.
Weeds | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 13 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 13 | Hi Weeds, Some pictures would be great. I'm hoping to have the door glass and side glass in my 53 Suburban this weekend. It'll all be worth it in the end. Good Luck Robert
1953 Chevrolet Suburban 1958 Rambler American 1963 Studebaker GT hawk R1 1964 Studebaker Avanti R1 1968 Pontiac Firebird 400 1981 Avanti II
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 63 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2006 Posts: 63 | Tim, Thomas, Weeds and Marty. First of all, I'd like to say thanks for starting this thread. I am awaiting the weatherstrip kit for my 51 burb side sliders (this week sometime?. Orderd from Classic Parts. Also three glass replacements cut by a local glass shop, this week I hope. Weeds what was the outcome of your project? Tim and Thomas is there any more info you could add to the above. More step by step pictures.Marty how are you. Long time. Have you replaced the weathersrtips on your burb? Any advise? Maybe you could come down and help.  jk. One thing I did not know about was the drain holes/tubes. Thanks for the heads up Tim. At this point I have removed all 8 windows and have cleaned, primed and painted the interior window opening. Thomas, On your reply dated 4/23 #2, Is there supposed to be felt or some type of adhesive to hold in place the stainless slider tab? The one I have is in place with some type of grey tape/adhesive? When I removed the the old weather strips none of them where screwed in place. Are they supposed to be? I am missing one stainless slider tab. (the one that attaches to the sliding window)Also missing a small metal trim piece that retains the two wood panels along the bottom of the slider windows. Its held in place with two screws. Any extras out there? Thanks in advanced for your help. Hope to hear from you soon. Javier [email protected]I would love to see pictures of your suburbans.  | | | | | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,132 | | | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 65 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 65 | getting a perfect bend on them channels is near impossible ,,,,,, so I gave up on that idea and just formed it to the window opening and went back with some pliers to straight them out. Does anyone remember who sells the stop tabs ? the ones that get screwed into the body. found it http://www.oldchevytrucks.biz/47_55/full.asp?page=184
Last edited by J-KAT; 09/19/2010 3:01 PM.
New but in an Old Way !!!
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 256 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 256 | Good the thread I need.. I would like to understand the slider window assembly also. So here goes: 1.) The first layer of pieces installed, is the fixed glass with U rubber around the glass (W1807) to seal outside. <I was thinking it should have silicone RTV along the outside and clamped till dry? I hope that the solid piece (W1142) takes up the other half of the opening on the sliding side and seals to the outside <should it get silicone RTV along the outside? 2.) Then second layer installed against the first. The slider felt U-shape. with the push/pull glass piece <I'm still trying to understand how the felt U-shape(W1207) is held in place "screws" / "adhesive"?. I have the metal stop-clips in the middle of the opening they're stiking up into the opening. The pull clips used to push/pull the sliding windows is part of the stainless steel vertical bar glued to the moving piece of glass. mine has the Whiskers piece on the outside of that moving glass. 3.) The third layer window retainer strips/bars (shown behind the metal stop clip) that screw into the window frame. they're about 3/8" x 3/8" L shaped piece the length of the opening, these hold the interior garnish molding frame on, at the bottom. Is that it, does the interior molding garnish hold the two layers, as it sandwiches? Comments please, I'm trying to figure this out too... Thomas edit1 = Thanks Tim Is it just me or are these pics not working? also what are the steps in removing rear side windows or is it self explaining when i start to look at the windows?? | | | | | Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 800 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 800 | American Classic has shown this: Side Rear Window Seals and Channels WI142 1947-55 Glass wedge rubbers, side rear windows, Suburban, set of 4 wedge rubbers that hold the sliding glass channel tight against the body, use with WI207 $48.00 Set Add to cart WI207 1947-55 Window channel, side rear windows, Suburban, set of 4 pieces, enough for one truck, use with WI142 Discontinued WI800 1947-55 Glass rubbers and window channels (WI207 and WI142), sliding side rear windows, Suburban, set of 8 pieces Discontinued Brothers truck parts lists "a complete kit for $159.00 "This completes set replaces all rubber seals, glass channels and felt weather strip on your Suburban side windows. For 1947-54 Suburban. This is a complete set." Jim Carter still seems to list most of the items separately http://secure.oldchevytrucks.com/Suburban-Side-Qaurter-Window--Rear-Doors/products/718/.
Last edited by k10; 02/12/2011 5:59 PM.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 99 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 99 | The 1st Layer: The rubber seal U piece (WI807)is adhered to and seals around the fixed glass in half the opening, "that piece looks discontinued also". The WI142 is adhered to and seals the other half of the opening. The 2nd layer: WI207 U felt slider glass track. is the tough part to form around the entire opening. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Can anyone tell from Jim Carter's new on-line catalog if they still sell these parts for the 47-55 Suburban rear side-windows? The 2nd layer: WI207 U felt slider glass track. is the tough part to form around the entire opening. Weeds, I think, came up with an excellent technique for shaping/forming WI207. I think he made a pattern out of plywood and pre-formed the channel/track around the plywood. Maybe Weeds will see this and let us know? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Tim,looking at there online catalog,yes .
Tim 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Tim,
What is the part number?
Thanks,
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Classic Parts Of America has the kit for $149.99 burb rear windows kit Tim 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Can anyone tell from Jim Carter's new on-line catalog if they still sell these parts for the 47-55 Suburban rear side-windows? Sorry, Tim, I was referring to Jim Carter. Thanks, | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Tim,they have most of the parts,the only one not showing is WI800,I'm not sure about it.If you type the part numbers in the search bar at jim carters,the parts come up.
Tim 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Thanks, Tim,
I forgot that American Classic uses the same part numbers as Jim Carter (there is an interesting story behind that "coincidence").
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | pm me,I would like to hear it. 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | I got my kit from Classic Parts today. They say it is missing a part but dang if I can figure out what it is and it's too late to call them.
Anyway, I'm trying to understand how all this goes together without pictures. It may become obvious after I pull it apart but I can't figure what holds the whisker strip. Does it bond to the stainless strip?
Does the outer molding need to come off? If so how does it come off?
I don't know what assembly manual Leo uses but I can find no pictures of suburban windows in mine. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Charlie, who is Leo (I cannot find the name in the above posts)?
Is your "stainless strip" attached to the sliding window or to the stationary window. On my stationary window (1954 Chevrolet Suburban) the whisker slides into a groove in the stainless steel strip attached tho the stationary window (tight fit) - I do not recall gluing it but that might be a good idea for sealing it.
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | It's in section 1-20. It appears to have only one bar, presumably on the slider only. Leo is 1953 panel. Mine is apparently like yours. One stainless strip on the stationary window and just the handle on the sliding one. Now that you told me what to look for I can see it through the window. Thanks. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Cletis,did the cat whiskers come in the kit ? I have all the new parts but the cat whiskers(Jim Carters).I have the opposite of you and Tim.I have the one piece stainless that has the handle built in,whiskers attach on opposite side.I was told that you have to spread the track out some for the whiskers to fit.
Tim 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Yes, I have whiskers in the kit. The invoice says I'm missing part# c-01505B. I can't figure what that could be. I have rubber channels for the stationary windows, channels for the sliders and solid rubber for the gap between the slider channel and the outside. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Sorry, Cletis, when I got my seal-kit from JC, he was not including the whisker for the stationary stainless-steel strip/channel. I bought a length of whisker from Restoration Specialties, Inc (RSI) and had to modify it a little to fit the stationary SS strip/channel.
The only problem I had with the SS stationary strip/channels was in removing the old whisker. The back of the old whisker was rust-bonded to the SS strip/channel. After cracking the side of one of the SS strip/channel (I had only one spare channel), I carefully spent 4-hours per channel removing all vestiges of the old whisker. The modified RSI whiskers fit real tight in the SS strips/channels and completely stop wind noise and water/rain leakage.
Is there a chance that the two types of SS strips/channels take a different types of whisker? Maybe call Classic Parts and ask if the whisker was tested on both types of channels? Maybe they can tell what the 5 different kinds of parts.
Does anyone have a photos of a cleaned-out stainless steel strip/channel that goes on the sliding window (with a ruler placed next to the whisker-groove)? Cletis, you must have a stationary SS strip/channel - maybe you could take/post photos of that one)?
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | I just talked to Classic. Their story is the missing part came in the same day the order was packed and is included in my box. They just forgot to change the note on my invoice.
I will take pictures and post them but it won't happen until later in the winter. I still have about 1500 miles to put on the truck to make a 10,000 mile year. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Tim,I don't know if your trims are the same as my 1951 trims.I took a few pictures of one of my vertical trims. vertical trim vertical trim pic2 vertical trim pic #3 measurement of bead channel new beaded window seals Hope this has helped out,I now have all of the parts for the rear windows. Which side of the glass setting tape rests against the glass ? One side is kinda rubber sticky texture,other side is more of a cloth type of texture. Thanks,Tim 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Tim,
The stainless-steel strips/channels on my Suburban are attached to the rearward piece of glass (which does not move). Your stainless steel channel appears to be the ones attached to the sliding window (the forward piece of glass).
My sliding glass has a small stainless-steel "clip" for sliding the glass (not a clip as part of a full-length stainless steel strip/channel, such as yours).
My question for the vendor was/is "does the same whisker work in both types of stainless steel channel"?
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Tim L,I'm reading that your aft glass is stationary and your forward glass slides. Mine are the opposite.
Bowtietim, are the whiskers on the same piece as the handle? I have the small handle piece also. My whiskers are on the other piece.
Last edited by cletis; 10/10/2011 2:01 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | You are right, Cletis. Sorry.
The important point is that one style of stainless channel attaches to the stationary glass (mine) and the other style attaches to the sliding class (Tim's). The question is still "does the same whisker work in both types of stainless steel channel".
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,557 | Cletis,yes my whiskers are on the same piece as the handle.Mine slide with the glass.
Tim 1951 3100 Chevrolet1951 Chevrolet Suburban CarryallImage"A house is built with boards and beams. A home is built with love and dreams." "Look deep before you leap !!!" / "Everything is Everything" "If I say a mouse can pull a house, hitch him up"
| | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | Just a thought. I wonder if there is a modern rubber wiper material that could replace the whiskers. | | |
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