Rear Quarter Window Seal Replacement on a '53 C

[ralt12]

No question this is hard to do given the one-piece frame, but are there any pearls of wisdom about doing this?

[Tom Bredehoft]

Drill out the rivets in the 'hinge', use plenty of dishwasher soap (dawn or such)

[rockne10]

Yes, it can't be done without unhinging the window. Then, getting the hinges back in the frame with the new rubber will require some appropriate clamping devices. It's hard to explain if you have done it. Best just to do it.

[Deaf Mute]

Using steel pop rivits is the only way to go. I wouldn't trust aluminum.

[ralt12]

I'm less concerned about the rivets and more concerned with any technique that is best for replacing the seal around the glass (small end first? large end first?). It's a difficult job, and I wonder how others have approached that part of the job.

[N8N]

stainless steel pop rivets are the ticket. I don't remember the gasket being particularly hard, it was the rivets that were the issue. I'd thought of using small stainless machine screws and Nylocs but there isn't enough room, rivets are the only way.

nate

[ralt12]

Well, replacing the seal was a %^&*. , but it came out OK in the end. I do need to replace broken latches. I have new latches (thanks to the magic of eBay), but can anyone tell me where I can source the funky rivet that attaches the hinge to the window (square at one end)?


And, in a separate matter, I got inside windshield trim from Steve Allen before they stopped doing biz, but the very top of the right hand side appears to have been trimmed. Does anyone know if there was a rational reason for this? In the alternative, anyone have one that hasn't been cut that they'd like to part with?

[rockne10]

I replaced one of the latches on my '53 with a complete latch assembly so can't help you there.

The "trimmed" piece looks identical to the garnish moldings on my '53 C. Perhaps the untrimmed piece is for a later model.