1963 vent window, need help!

[Leonard S.]

I'm in the final process of restoring my 1963 corvette roadster. I have decided to recrome my vent windows on my late production '63 vette. Following the shop manual, I removed all (3) regulator support screws and drive pin retaining screw (bolt). The shop manual shows the regulator being removed with no trouble, and by pushing down on the vent window the upper pivot pin should come out of the vent frame.
With all of this in mind, the regulator will not release from the window shaft. I tried tapping on the regulator with a hammer, but no luck. All screws are removed as mentioned above. I also tried pushing down on the window to remove the pivot pin from the vent frame, but it won't come all the way out. I didn't want to start beating on anything, because I don't want to damage either the regulator or the pivot pin. Has anyone run into this problem, or is it just me expecting it to run to smoothly. Please help me thru this!

[Bob R.]

Re: 1963 vent window, need help!

You have the proper procedure. I think the parts are just stuck together. Use some lubricant on the rubber gasket under the vent and wd40 on the post and be gentle. The post should work out. Be carefull you do not want to break the post.
There is a metal covering on the regulator post and it gets crushed when the retaining screw is tightened. That is probably holding the regulator to the post. Again a little wd40 and some gentle twisting should break it free.
I also have a late 63 and was able to remove them last year. I had the vent regulators rebuilt.I also bought replacement rubber weatherstripping from Corvette rubber. The final results were pretty good.

[Alan Drake]

Re: 1963 vent window, need help!

Hi,
Surprise you're getting no help!
The Spring 05 Restorer had an artilce on vent windows by Pete, member #4961. He was concerned with putting the vent glass back in, but mentioned he had done everything to restore the windows on his 63. This should also be on the Discussion Board someplace - do a search on his # or his email is gordonp@thecia.net, hope you haven't broken anything yet.

[Gordon Peterson #4961]

Re: 1963 vent window, need help!

Hello!

The article you mentioned was strictly for replacing the glass in the frame itself. But naturally, I had to get the frame out. The gotcha here is that I have a coupe, and the vent window assembly is completely different from the vert.

However, with regards to that stubborn regulator, Bob is right on the mooney. There is a metal clip between the post and the regulator that crushes upon assembly. You'll have to really work that clip to allow the regulator to slide off. And it will probably fight you the entire way. Patience and pressure. It will go.

Pete