I am going to try this again, it is in fact the rear plastic window thats shattered and my question is......
Has anyone ever replaced a rear plastic window without removing the top or taking it to an upholstery shop. Has anyone ever replaced the rear window plastic, at home while the top is still in place?
can it be cut out and a new one glued in? I know there are a dozen maybes, could do, have you tried....but has anyone actually done it?
rear window replace?
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joelittel
- Patron 2018
- Posts: 1013
- Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:53 pm
- Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
- Location: Evanston, IL
Re: rear window replace?
When I got my car the rear window was hanging on by just a couple stitches. I matched up the existing holes in the top and the window and ran a needle with thick thread through every one of them to secure the window in place.
It took a while, but wasn't a tough job.
With a new window I don't know that I would have had the same success. The holes may not line up exactly, or worse yet may not even be there to use. Punching through that window plastic could get to be painful after a short time.
I wouldn't glue the window in place. The top has to flex quite a bit during it's normal operation and I can't see how any glue could hold up to that over time. Plus, you run the risk of turning the window white near the glued areas.
If it were me I'd get a thimble, a thick needle and some appropriate thread. I've seen replacement windows on ebay already too.
It took a while, but wasn't a tough job.
With a new window I don't know that I would have had the same success. The holes may not line up exactly, or worse yet may not even be there to use. Punching through that window plastic could get to be painful after a short time.
I wouldn't glue the window in place. The top has to flex quite a bit during it's normal operation and I can't see how any glue could hold up to that over time. Plus, you run the risk of turning the window white near the glued areas.
If it were me I'd get a thimble, a thick needle and some appropriate thread. I've seen replacement windows on ebay already too.
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DieselSpider
- Posts: 2130
- Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2014 10:21 pm
- Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider with Isuzu Turbo Diesel
Re: rear window replace?
I have reattached portions of mine using black RTV Adhesive and it has held up pretty well despite being a daily driver with the top going up and down daily and being out in the Florida Sun. Its just a stop gap until I get to the welding project of repairing the front bow and then putting one of the two tops I have sitting in the closet on the car.Hugh1545 wrote:I am going to try this again, it is in fact the rear plastic window thats shattered and my question is......
Has anyone ever replaced a rear plastic window without removing the top or taking it to an upholstery shop. Has anyone ever replaced the rear window plastic, at home while the top is still in place?
can it be cut out and a new one glued in? I know there are a dozen maybes, could do, have you tried....but has anyone actually done it?
http://www.amazon.com/Permatex-81158-Si ... p+adhesive
The 3M adhesive gets good reviews too but is more likely to run/drip.
http://www.amazon.com/3M-08008-Black-We ... p+adhesive
Strips of sheet metal and welding or rubber roll magnet helps as does covering whatever your using for clamping with heavy duty waxed paper. A few judiciously placed dots of Super/Crazy Glue to help hold things in place while the RTV Adhesive sets can also do wonders.