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Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:22 pm

Greetings all, I am in the process of trying to repair some leaky windows on my ’73 Type Two. It turns out that leaky vent windows in the back are failing due to rust on the metal structure supporting the seal around the vent window. Might anyone know where I can get my hands on a couple of those pieces? I’ve contacted a few restoration places and they don’t carry them. I’m kind stuck right now and trying to keep dry in Seattle. Any help is much appreciated!!

Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:41 pm

If you post pics of the bus these are going on, you may get more responses! :P

seriously though, i dont believe those are reproduced, and alot of bus' suffer from this (mine included) so finding a good used set is tough.

I'm going to replace my side windows with the later 50/50 sliders to fix the problem.

Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:48 pm

I will keep that in mind. Actually, I will find pictures and hopefully not offend with the condition of the bus.

I am hoping to not change the bus too much so maybe tape will have to work for now until can run into these parts.

Know of any VW junkyards in the north west or anywhere I might buy something?

Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:55 pm

switch the windows out with solid windows with no vents.

Fri Feb 26, 2010 7:58 pm

Ken Madison at The Bus Co. in Duvall is a good guy. No BS.

http://www.thebusco.com/

Fri Feb 26, 2010 8:36 pm

Thanks. I've actually run across his site before but never committed it to memory. No doubt thinking I wouldn’t need his services. DOH!!

Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:16 pm

I am not trying to steer someone to one vendor over the other but we too have bought from Ken at Busco quite a few times and had excellent results. We give him an A+. Chris at Busted Bus has quite a few things too and he is easy to deal with. So do the Classifieds here. We got several of our replacements from people here such as Raul (VW76Westy) and Karl, God rest his humble soul.

Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:31 pm

There have been other Samba threads regarding replacing, locating used ones and repairing and restoring them.

Fri Feb 26, 2010 9:43 pm

To be honest I could some steering but I will go where I can. All is appreciated though.

As for the threads regarding the vent window stuctures I did not see them but probably did not look far enough back.

Gracias

Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:29 pm

I presume you're looking for frames? Many threads that you would find searching would point you to Busted Bus, Busco or the classifieds. I ended up repairing my own...I thought about switching out for solids but am glad I didn't in the long run.

Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:34 pm

rustbus wrote:
I'm going to replace my side windows with the later 50/50 sliders to fix the problem.

Are you talking about the Mexican ones? That wouldn't be a bad idea, though one might have to worry about stuff flying out if the back area was loaded for camping! It would be nice to have those, and come up with some kind of screen to keep bugs and stuff out when camping, too.

Sat Feb 27, 2010 1:14 am

mdkeranen wrote: I presume you're looking for frames? Many threads that you would find searching would point you to Busted Bus, Busco or the classifieds. I ended up repairing my own...I thought about switching out for solids but am glad I didn't in the long run.

How did you repair your frames? Mine were so rusted they were/are beyond that I think. Anyway, I would probably regret a major change like 50/50 sliders.

Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:03 am

rodrigpr1 wrote: mdkeranen wrote: I presume you're looking for frames? Many threads that you would find searching would point you to Busted Bus, Busco or the classifieds. I ended up repairing my own...I thought about switching out for solids but am glad I didn't in the long run.

How did you repair your frames? Mine were so rusted they were/are beyond that I think. Anyway, I would probably regret a major change like 50/50 sliders.

I could be wrong, but I don't imagine the sliders would be a "major change." Aren't they just held in by the rubbers like most other windows?

I drive a '78 Westy and noticed that the rear vent (driver side only) is now rusted and risks falling off/out if opened while driving. And I've always heard (including owner's manual) that opening the jalousies while driving can cause them to loosen up and not work as well.

So putting sliders in those rear windows would certainly be a nice way to get more airflow through the bus on hot days.

Can someone verify that installation of these windows is similar to any other window--Just push the old one out and use the rubber to hold the new one in?

Sat Feb 27, 2010 11:53 am

Well I admit ignorance with regards to the installation of sliders but are there tracks of some sort involved? I’ve never seen sliders up close and in person. Aren’t they visually detracting as well? I mean based on the known appearance of the VW bus.

Sat Feb 27, 2010 4:14 pm

slider install is the same, you need a different seal, one without the vent window allowance. $30 each or so. you can always swap back to vents, if you dont trash your seals removing them.

i'm using original VW sliders, but the mexican ones are available.

OEVW mentioned he might start carrying the brazilian/mexican ones. since i have the 2 side ones, i might see if he carries the rear drivers side slider too.

then all my rear vent windows will be gone.

Sat Feb 27, 2010 6:05 pm

Only new rear vent windows available are for the right side, the left is truly NLA.

Sat Feb 27, 2010 10:36 pm

Have you been talking about the mid windows or rear ones? All you are goint to find for the rear ones are solid glass or shorter glass for use vith the vent wing. No jalouse's or others for the rear side windows. Those are for the mid windows.

Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:38 am

Desertbusman wrote: Have you been talking about the mid windows or rear ones? All you are goint to find for the rear ones are solid glass or shorter glass for use vith the vent wing. No jalouse's or others for the rear side windows. Those are for the mid windows.

Good question, I was talking about rear windows.

Are there any sliders available for them?

Sun Feb 28, 2010 11:59 am

rodrigpr1 wrote: Greetings all, I am in the process of trying to repair some leaky windows on my ’73 Type Two. It turns out that leaky vent windows in the back are failing due to rust on the metal structure supporting the seal around the vent window. Might anyone know where I can get my hands on a couple of those pieces? I’ve contacted a few restoration places and they don’t carry them. I’m kind stuck right now and trying to keep dry in Seattle. Any help is much appreciated!!

I had same problem with all my vent wings, I got lots of help here.
There is a VW wrecking yard in Hesperia California that should be able to ship you the vent wings, they got a couple hundred buses or so there, it is call Small Car Connections, I bought 3 vent wings for my 1971 bus from them, follow the link below for their phone number etc.

http://www.smallcarconnection.com/

Their prices are very reasonable considering we are dealing with obsolete or out of production parts, speak with either Chris (the owner) or Ken, they both very helpful, hope this helps.

Jose