1965 Door Glass

[Dave Marshall]

I have to re-install one of my door glasses into it's channel. I purchased some new window tape for this. Question: What is the correct procedure for doing this job to make it right? Are there any tricks I should be aware of? Again, thanks for all the help.

Dave Marshall

[frank clark]

Re: 1965 Door Glass

Dave,

I just replaced the rear door channel run and fixed a window that was out of the track on my 66 coupe. I bought from a auto glass supply shop a material that was close to original. It is a mohair on one side, and the other side has a very agressive adhesive. If yours is similar it should work fine. The key is to make sure that the window is very secure in the track and does not move as the window is cranked up and down.
Before your window came out of the track were you having problems with binding as you cranked the window up and down?
What happened on my car was the original material that holds the window in the track went bad. This caused the window track to move from side to side and ruined the rear channel run. (window fuzzies) Eventually my window would not roll down all of the way.
If you have more issues or questions let me know.
Good luck,
Frank

[Dave Marshall]

Re: 1965 Door Glass

Hi Frank,

Thanks for the info. My window is in a convertible. The window was loose in the track when I got the car about 10 years ago. I pretty much took the car down as soon as I got it and all the window and door hardware were removed quickly. I really didn't realize the window glass was loose in the track until it was removed from the door. My rear runs are bad also and I have new ones on the way. What I am most interested in is how to re-install the glass in the channel with the window tape. I am assuming (dangerous some times) that the tape goes on the bottom of the glass first and then put into the channel, but I am not sure about this. If this is the case, with the tape going on first I am wondering just how the glass will install in the channel without damaging it. Thanks again.

Dave Marshall

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: 1965 Door Glass

Dave,

-------The material mentioned by the other poster does not sound right. The correct tape can be bought from any of the good Corvette parts houses. I prefer Long Island. Once you have it you need to force (carefully) the glass into the channel with the correct tape inbetween. My own method is to hold the top side of the glass to my chest, position the tape and the channel, then pull both toward me down on the glass. Another way is to use a leather mallet. Position the glass with the top on the bottom on a wood (or similar) surface and tap the channel downward with the tape inbetween. Once the glass is all the way in, and bottomed out at both ends, you can trim off the extra tape (it is too wide on purpose). The channel does not have to be positioned exactly. It can vary a bit. Its easy, good luck!!!.........Bill S

[frank clark]

Re: 1965 Door Glass

Dave,
The tape I had and am assuming you have has adhesive on one side that is covered with a backing that is peeled off.
If you just stick the new tape onto the bottom of the window and then press the window tape assembly into the track, the window will still potentially slide in the track causing the window to bind as it is raised and lowered.

Here is what I did.

1. Clean the glass and window track with alcohol. Make sure the track is clear of all remenants of the old seal. The window track has a thin channel on the back side that one end/edge of the tape will slide into. This channel is on the interior side of the window track.

2. Next, take a piece of the 1 1/2 inch tape tape 1" longer than the lenghth of the window track. Do not remove the adhesive back on the tape and slide it into the channel. The adhesive side should be at the bottom of the track. The tape will now form a "U". While the tape is still in the track using the excess, mark the tape on the adhesive back side. Mark the backing at the bottom of the "U" on the back side where it slides into the channel of the window track. Next, mark the backing where it reaches the top of the "U" on the outside edge of the window track.

3. Slide the tape from the window track. Take a staight edge and now scribe a line the lenghth of the tape using the marks you made at the bottom of the "U", and the top of the "U". The adhesive backing will now have two parallel lines about 1/2 inch apart running the lenghth of the tape.

4. The tape is now divided into rough 1/3's.
a. 1/3 slides into the channel on the back side of the window track
b. 1/3 goes from the bottom of the "U" to the top of the window track
c. 1/3, is about 3/8 inch above the window track.

5. Take a razor blade and carefully cut the the adhesive backing along the lines you have scribed. The goal is to cut the backing only not the tape.

6. Cut a 1/2 inch wide strip of the tape the lenghth of the glass. Hold the lenghth of the tape along the lenghth of the glass. Cut the tape about 3/4 inch shorter than the lenghth of the glass. (this allows for the part of the glass that fits into the front and rear channel runs) Note: if you are using older or original glass, the glass will have marks from sliding up and down that you can use these marks to determine the lenghth of this piece of tape.

Once you have taken these steps you can assemble the window glass to the window track.

1. Apply the 1/2 inch piece of tape to the interior side of the glass. The tape will be shorter than the lenghth of the glass allowing for that part of the glass that sits in the front and rear channel runs.

2. Take the 1 1/2 inch tape with the backing cut in the marked places. Remove the middle portion of the backing exposing the adhesive. Slide the portion that you previously marked into the channel of the window track. Because we did not remove the backing from this portion, it should slide easily. Take care to guide the tape through the channel without touching the exposed adhesive to the bottom of the window track. Once the tape runs the lenghth of the window track, use a flat tip screw driver tocarefully press the tape along the backside of the window track. Continue pressing the the tape into the bottom of the window track and the outside edge of the window track. You will now have approximately 1/2 inch of tape above the window track with the backing still applied.

3. This is where the rubber meets the road. If you have followed me through this long process you should:
a. Have your glass with a piece of tape applied to the interior side of the glass. The tape should not be applied to the full lenghth of the glass, allowing for the part of the glass that fits into the front and rear channel runs.
b. You should have your window track with the tape applied to the inside "U" of the window track. There should be 3/8 inch or so of excess with the backing of the adhesive strip showing.

4. Peel the adhesive backing off of the tape applied to the window track.
a. Orient the window track to the bottom of the glass.
NOTE: Position the window track as far forward as possible in relation to the glass. The nut and stud that attach to the window regulator at the rear part of your glass are what cause the rear channel run to become worn out. (If you position window track too far to the rear of the glass, this nut snags the rear channel run as the window is cranked up and down.)

The top of the excess tape in the window track needs to be applied to the BOTTOM of the window glass. The tape doubles into itself.
b. You then work the glass into the window track. As the glass is inserted into the track, the excess tape with the adhesive is applying itself to the glass.

The completed process will result in the glass being inserted into the track with adhesive tape applied to the glass and the window track. This securly attached the window to the track preventing movement and damage to the channel runs.

[Dave Marshall]

Re: 1965 Door Glass

Bill/Frank,

Thanks for the help. I think I should be able to follow your instructions here and come up with a successful job. I feel more comfortable tackling the job now. Thanks a lot.

Dave Marshall

[Terry F.]

Re: 1965 Door Glass

I would not like to steer anyone the wrong way but you may be able to use very mild soapy water to assist in this process. I have used it on something similar. It mades it slide together real tight and sometimes you can reposition it a bit. Then as it evaporates it grabs the chanel and the glass very aggressively. Helps keeps from over stretching the black tape. Just a thought, Terry

[Bill Stephenson]

Re: 1965 Door Glass

Frank,

------Man, that is a very comprehensive set of directions. I can tell all who look at this thread that the original tape that the "factory" used had no adhesive on either side. When the original tape is used there should be no movement of the glass in the track. Long Island Corvette has the original tape as do other vendors.........Bill S