TheSamba.com :: View topic - Anyone ever fabricate rear side windows that open?

Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:42 pm

vntgbus wrote: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/332884.jpg
here is a pic. of rear slider...

That's the biz right there.. I'd love to buy a set of those.. hot damn.

Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:59 pm

dubbified wrote: vntgbus wrote:
here is a pic. of rear slider...

That's the biz right there.. I'd love to buy a set of those.. hot damn.

they would do it for me, with bug screens :shock: yes please

Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:14 pm

they're easy and nearly free for DIY
and there's a kit offered by one sambanista in this thread with the filler and instructions for not too much $$..

just need a Passanger van donor slider and decide which way you want it open..

I use (for now) the gutter screens I'd posted a while back...

what's really nice is the small 12v dash(schoolbus) fan near the window to circulate a nice breeze on my face while sleeping...

Mon Feb 11, 2013 3:46 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1404747

how bad you want one!!
let's see how long this last in the classifieds.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:26 am

theyve been there since december so apparantly they last quite a while.

Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:00 am

that units no good for a US market westy
unless you want outside access to your clothes closet.

still the DIY method I used can be for either side and either direction opening. and it was very nearly free in cost..
just need a donor pass van slider a Barclamp to spread & compress the frame
a small piece of 1/8" masonite (hardboard) and some aluminum roof flasing to skin it for weather.
your original rear window is your sizing template.. and from my experiance you're best if you undersize the new window by 1/16" ~1/8" overall to help in getting the rubber back in.

Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:41 am

i've been looking for this thread for years!!

Fri Apr 04, 2014 11:09 am

I would like to use 2 window frames to make a sliding window that would accommodate the rear plastic vent. Has anyone ever done, or considered doing, this?

Fri Apr 04, 2014 1:55 pm

David Marquis wrote: I would like to use 2 window frames to make a sliding window that would accommodate the rear plastic vent. Has anyone ever done, or considered doing, this?

Wow! You have resurrected a 7 year old thread.

Yes, thought about but have not done yet. I'm thinking slice a Westy window and use straight aluminum piece to close the rear end. Then have new glass cut to fit. Slide plastic vent back on and hold together with stock window rubber.

In the meantime, I bought a set of factory sliders which does have the vents. I don't have a Westy so could use rear sliders on both sides. Just trying to figure out how up keep hands and arms safe which might find themselves interfering with operation of the sliding door.😉

Fri Apr 04, 2014 2:20 pm

You can incorporate the rear plastic vent into a rear side jalousie conversion if you wanted to. Just substitute the plastic vent instead of the black aluminum piece per this thread.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=283728&highlight=jalousie

Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:55 pm

Thats funny BenT Syncro, I suppose I did resurrect this thread. I would think that eventually many Westfalia owners will begin to, at one point or another, ponder just how to go about having as much airflow as possible... I found this thread years ago but just now got to the point of seriously considering such a modification as I now have all of my windows out and am preparing to put them all back in.

I have 2 slider frames and a Go Westy drivers side slider for reference and so I am definitely going to attempt it.

I actually like the idea of a Jalousie Window for the sliding door window and for the drivers side over the stove.

I was, however, wondering how the screens work. If I were to find some without screens are they easy to come across or make?

Fri Apr 04, 2014 9:38 pm

The screens snap in and are specific to the Westy windows. Country Homes Campers made screens which used simple sheetmetal screws to attach them to the window rubber.

I saw the GW windows on sale. Didn't get them because a fellow who's opinion I trust when it comes to auto glass said they do not seal well. He's on this forum under the name '16CV' or something like that.

Most forums will hash out old topics as new people join in or the subject is new to a member. I'm on the Vanagon List which has been around since circa 1994. The difference is it is an email based forum so old threads are not automatically resurrected as in here.😏

Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:00 pm

I hope to find out a bit more about what you mean when you say that the Go Westy sliders "dont seal well" As in when they are closed, or as in the way which they seal to the frame within the rubber seals?....

Back to my other question though, actually, I don't think that I worded my earlier question about the screens correctly. I was actually wondering about the screens for the jalousie windows, If I were to find a set of jalousie windows that were without the screens how difficult would the screens be to come by, have made, or make? Are they standard screen framework?

Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:02 pm

You may want to check the classifieds under the Baywindow section. That's what the jalosies came on. Haven't had one for over 30 years and can't recall at the moment.😕

Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:05 pm

David Marquis wrote:
I was, however, wondering how the screens work. If I were to find some without screens are they easy to come across or make?[/b]
I'm about to change my windows(2) to jalousies.
but on the sliders
...just FYI if you use/have the rubber seals with the groove . you can install a screens with a "weed wacker" string in the groove.works perfect.take 10min, costs nada$
Mines been in for a year of free way speed, no issues
pics tomorrow if you need em...its basic

Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:05 pm

Ok, Thanks BenT

Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:07 pm

So the screen fits into the rubber seal that holds the jalousie windows into the frame, as opposed to being similar to a screen from a house, where it has a separate framework that the screen fits into....

Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:07 pm

David Marquis wrote: If I were to find a set of jalousie windows that were without the screens how difficult would the screens be to come by, have made, or make? Are they standard screen framework?
I'll be making my own..right now I'm doing paint
when they're done i'll post a pic

Fri Apr 04, 2014 10:40 pm

David Marquis wrote: So the screen fits into the rubber seal that holds the jalousie windows into the frame, as opposed to being similar to a screen from a house, where it has a separate framework that the screen fits into....

It can. Only on the sliders
..AFAIK I'm the only one who's done it this way :roll:
My jalousies will be internal(inside the van) screens

Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:20 am

Hello Geoffoz,

I'm sorry but I am thoroughly confused... :-)