TheSamba.com :: View topic - 70 convertible rear window .....WHAT GIVES????

Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:08 am

:( Put a new canvas top on last year. Used the original rear window that came with the old top. Put in a new seal, the one with the chrome ring, but didn't put the ring in. Window kept coming out of the sea. at the bottom. Went to the top guy, he says the old frame was bent and wouldnt hold the seal. Bought a new frame, wood tack strips, and seal, (CAL look, no metal insert). Checking the new frame (Wolfberg), it is the SAME SHAPE as the old one still in the car. The arch of the original window is much greater than the arch of either one of the frames. There is a good 3/4" gap at the top and bottom....on both frames. Which explains why the window would pop out. Does anyone know what is going on here? I had assumed that the glass was from the original top, which when replaced looked like it had been on there from the beginning..The only thing I can think is that the window is from a different year bug. But I thought the glass didnt change until 1973 or so. Anyone help? Have any suggestions.....thanks.

Tue Jul 12, 2005 12:17 pm

I had a problem with my '70 that sounds similar. In the right lower corner I could not attach the seal on both the inside and outside, just one or the other.
The wooden frame had come loose from the metal it attaches to. I bought a new seal, removed the window and old seal and went to work repairing the separated area. I used a good two part structural adhesive, applied the adhesive, clamped it good for 24 hours. Then, from the inside I drilled 4 tiny hole through the metal ring and into the wood. I put in 4 #6 stainless sheetmetal screws to give it strength in that area about 3/4" apart. It has been holding now for several months. The hardest part was to reinstall the window with the new seal. Getting the new seal in was a matter of life or death for me and my wife. You have to have a helper on the outside to press against the window while you work at the seal.

I talked to Chuck at Chuck's Convertible tops about this problem and he said I probably needed a new top. Not at all. I bought the Cal. look seal from him since he said it was wider than the american style. It was'nt as wide as the one I removed. I wanted the widest available to help with the problem. If I ever have to go in there again, I won't use the Cal. look seal.

I do not know if the above pertains to your specific problem or not and I am not an expert at all. It is just the way I fixed mine before the window fell out. It worked for me.

Good Luck,
Jim in NC