Swinger Tight Window Issue

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70SwingerGuy

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In my 70 Swinger I just replaced my drivers vent frame, vent glass weatherstrip along with the glass channel weatherstrip as well, and wow, is that glass tight in there now. I mean holy crap tight, so tight it was hard to push up into the frame before installing the vent frame, and so holy s**** tight I think I may snap the regulator if I should try to roll it up or down by the window crank.
Has anyone else ran into this?? Im pretty sure I did everything correctly, would some white grease in the window channel help any?
Im seriously afraid ill break the regulator if I try to roll it up or down, Ive had to push up or down on the glass while turning the handle, and it will only go so far.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I assume you used a new kit on the glass to slide.

The plastic inserts should be on the outside of the plastic strip and you need to make holes in the plastic strip to accommodate them.
 
I assume you used a new kit on the glass to slide.

The plastic inserts should be on the outside of the plastic strip and you need to make holes in the plastic strip to accommodate them.
Yup, new inserts were used, holes made in them to match up to the holes in the glass, then the strips were used to hold the new channel to the glass.
 
then the strips were used to hold the new channel to the glass.

Strips?

New channel?


The black is the seal.

The white inside the seal is the slides




Screenshot_20240318-222841.png
 
When I did mine after the frame was reinstalled it was VERY stiff.

Over time it has loosened up
 
When I did mine after the frame was reinstalled it was VERY stiff.

Over time it has loosened up
Maybe there isnt anything wrong with it then, just VERY stiff as yours was. I just dont know about getting the window up and down to loosen it up. Ive read other posts about using a lube in the channel that the glass/strips run in, have you tried that?
 
Ive read other posts about using a lube in the channel that the glass/strips run in, have you tried that
I did but when you look at how the slides work it should not be necessary.

In my case Im not sure I had the channels all lined up correctly. I'm not sure if all the pins are still in place :lol:
 
I did but when you look at how the slides work it should not be necessary.

In my case Im not sure I had the channels all lined up correctly. I'm not sure if all the pins are still in place :lol:
I agree, it looks like it shouldnt be necessary and there is no grease in there right now.
Thanks again for your insight, Ill get back on it tomorrow and see what else I can find, im still thinking something is amiss because the regulator really doesnt want to move :(
 
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The black plastic moves up and down with the glass.and the black plastic is what is in contact with the metal of the vent window frame.

The kits available are different than the originals. Which might be part of the issue.

If the vent window and side glass is installed I would loosen up all the fasteners and see how it feels.

Then start adjusting things.

I have read where others have put adhesive backed felt on the glass with cutouts for the plastic slides and had good success with that.
 
Maybe there isnt anything wrong with it then, just VERY stiff as yours was. I just dont know about getting the window up and down to loosen it up. Ive read other posts about using a lube in the channel that the glass/strips run in, have you tried that?

I have had good luck with silicone spray.
 
WHICH vintage of reproduction guides?? Most of the H pin sliders are totally wrong dimensionally. Many the mylar itself was formed wrong and need trimming at minimum to make them work.. etc.. etc.
 
WHICH vintage of reproduction guides?? Most of the H pin sliders are totally wrong dimensionally. Many the mylar itself was formed wrong and need trimming at minimum to make them work.. etc.. etc.
I bought mine from YearOne. I had been wondering that as well and was going to check that tonight as I still have the originals to compare them to.
 
After I installed all my glass and new weather strips in my 68 mine were very stiff also, I wiped down all of the channels with lemon pledge. I know it sounds weird but I sprayed the lemon pledge on a clean rag and inserted the rag into the glass channels and I wiped them down a few times. No more stiffness they roll up and down just fine now. I have always used this method for my home window tracks and my door wall tracks when I clean them, lemon pledge does not collect the dirt that usually clogs up the tracks, oils do. Give it a try you just might like it. Smells good to.
Bob
 
Thats alot of very good information! I definitely have a starting point now after everyones good advice, thanks to everyone :)
 
I recall that when I put my glass in the frame it sild up and down easily. it was when the frame was in the door that it got stuff
 
I recall that when I put my glass in the frame it sild up and down easily. it was when the frame was in the door that it got stuff
Mine is tight right from the get go, thats why I think something else may be afoot. Looks like Ill be pulling that frame out again tonight and having a closer look. @dadsbee put it good in one of his 'bird posts, to paraphrase... if you can hardly move it up and down in the frame by hand, dont expect to be able to crank it up with the regulator.
 
In my 70 Swinger I just replaced my drivers vent frame, vent glass weatherstrip along with the glass channel weatherstrip as well, and wow, is that glass tight in there now. I mean holy crap tight, so tight it was hard to push up into the frame before installing the vent frame, and so holy s**** tight I think I may snap the regulator if I should try to roll it up or down by the window crank.
Has anyone else ran into this?? Im pretty sure I did everything correctly, would some white grease in the window channel help any?
Im seriously afraid ill break the regulator if I try to roll it up or down, Ive had to push up or down on the glass while turning the handle, and it will only go so far.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This is normal.

I used a silicone spray in the glass channels. Helped a lot.

Got much looser over time.

This is the one I used.


1710887637342.png
 
Is there anything in the vent window channel?

Is the channel pinched?

Did the glass and the vent frame come out of the same car and worked properly before?


PXL_20240319_232802855.jpg


PXL_20240319_232755509.jpg


Stock plastic guide and felt covered plastic strip, well what's left of the felt covering.

PXL_20240319_233123051.jpg


PXL_20240319_233133729.jpg


PXL_20240319_233201400.jpg
 
Is there anything in the vent window channel?
Nope, but did a double check tonight
Is the channel pinched?
Nope, nice and straight
Did the glass and the vent frame come out of the same car and worked properly before?
I replaced the vent frame but the glass was from my car, and I was told when I bought it that it was in good working order
So heres an update tonight. I thought something must be wrong, so I removed the entire assembly and laid it out. After pulling the glass out of the channel (was VERY difficult) and examining it, I noticed that the bottom plastic strip on the glass had come loose. So after making sure the strip was good and secure in the hole, I sprayed some WD40 Specialist white lithium grease into the vent channel and reinserted the glass. It was an immediate improvement, and after a few times of moving the glass up and down, it was moving as everyone has been saying, tight, but not so tight that it cant be moved by hand. So I reinstalled the assembly and regulator, and the regulator moves the glass as it should. Now I just need to adjust the alignment, thats another nights project. Then I will tackle the other door, and Im sure it will go MUCH easier than this one, the second one always does right?
Thanks to everyone for all their advice, it was very helpful. And if I can add my own advice to someone doing this, run a cleaning tap through any threaded holes, and a die over any bolts/studs, it sucks when your fasteners are dirty or rusty and dont go back in properly.
 
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