TheSamba.com :: View topic - Rear Side Slider windows

Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:10 am

I know this thread has been around a while under various subject lines. But there still seems to be a LOT of interest in installing this type of window, although they are not commercially available.

I've started work on what I think will be quite a simple mod to create a passenger side slider for the rear window.

It's at www.griffco.ca/interest/ and look for the VW link.

I'd appreciate any comments on the plan so far. Yes, I know I'll have to cut the fixed glass (it has been done before).

Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:08 pm

Hit e bay Germany. type in " VW schiebenfenster " Be careful German E bayers are diificult to deal with. But there are usually a couple a month on there. In both front and rear sliders windows.
I have had 3 sets of them and sold them on E bay America. I have had some interest in people wanting me to make them.
Seeing as how I do not own a camper or van ,I have have a hard time justifying the RD time to make them.

Stacy

Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:25 pm

or "VW T3 Schiebefenster"

Sun Oct 19, 2008 8:01 pm

What about putting a schiebefenster from a doka back there and filling the rest in, or are they not long enough?

Tue Oct 21, 2008 5:58 am

Otiswesty, would you "happen" to have a picture of one installed?

Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:59 am

He he - made by Mr Wellington, way to go dude!

Wed Apr 22, 2009 9:30 am

Did you loose the forward black plastic slider?
I have spares.
Sorry inquiring folks, limited production, please don't inquire on me making more, way too many hours involved.
And I love the SYNCRO embossed panel

Wed Apr 22, 2009 10:12 am

Wellington wrote: Did you loose the forward black plastic slider?
I have spares.
Sorry inquiring folks, limited production, please don't inquire on me making more, way too many hours involved.
And I love the SYNCRO embossed panel

I have a spare slider latch also, on the list of things to do...

The embossed panel was an ebay find, made by a guy in Santa Barbara. I know Seth Hatfield can get them or even sells them.

Wed Apr 22, 2009 5:16 pm

I just "KNEW" there was a good reason I did not toss that sliding window from that old early 90's sliding door I used on my Westy. I put the camper sliders in, even though the regular windows open bigger. (DUH!)

The shorter sliding part of the stock (easy to find in the US) right sliding door seems like a decent fit. Since I used the later rear vents in my 85, I may just pull this off with scant little effort.

Do you reuse the stock right rear seal?

Thanks Sambanistas!

Wed Apr 22, 2009 7:26 pm

Hi r390 - I'm a little confused as to what you replaced with what. :?

I just finished my slider install, with fly screen this week. It's at www.griffco.ca/interest/ and look for the VW link.

I'm planning on marketing the filler piece with full mod instructions to convert a Vanagon slider to fit, along with new fuzzy seals as a kit. Just not sure of the price yet.

Yes, the original right rear window seal still fits for the slider mod.

Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:01 pm

Did they make this for the 84? I'd buy a set in a heart beat.

Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:03 pm

spitsnrovers wrote: I just finished my slider install, with fly screen this week. It's at www.griffco.ca/interest/ and look for the VW link.

Yes, the original right rear window seal still fits for the slider mod.

This pic off your website is a RHD camper window in a LHD vehicle.

My understanding is that the windows that were front to back sliders were used in the Westfalias. The others had a mobile rearward glass that slid forward. I saw the second type on Craig Forney's van at SDM last year. I think it is one of the ones that Stacy Schneider brought over. The lack of a sliding window option behind the side sliding door was a safety concern and one of the reasons that I opted for a Westy screen version so the kids wouldn't put their hands out in front of the door as it opened.

I am hoping to get an original slider for the other side in Germany this summer. [-o<

Wed Apr 22, 2009 8:21 pm

Thanks for the clarification otiswesty. I did suspect it was a camper by the curtains, but noticed where the lock knob is, hence no fly screen. Was that a European thing? No mosquitoes in Europe?

Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:48 pm

I put the later rear windows in my 85. Those fixed windows have an air vent at the back. So my van has the flow through venting like the last vans did.

I took lots of parts out of a late parts van I bought for $100. I used the sliding door from it. In the sliding door I used black framed late Westy sliding windows. I have the late black sliding window from the late sliding door still.

I want to integrate the late sliding window into the late style rear windows. I suspect all I have to do is cut the frame and the fixed glass (at the glass shop.) Viola! No bending of the frame. Just cut and add the vent piece like the later style rear window does.

Make sense?

Sun Aug 16, 2009 12:11 pm

r39o wrote: I want to integrate the late sliding window into the late style rear windows. I suspect all I have to do is cut the frame and the fixed glass (at the glass shop.) Viola! No bending of the frame. Just cut and add the vent piece like the later style rear window does.

Make sense?

This is Stacey's idea also. I think you would have to have a new stationary glass piece made and tempered which is not hard if you have a plexiglass template or something like that.

Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:48 pm

Unless I am wrong, I think someone is missing something here.

Even late model vans with the black plastic vent behind the fixed glass do not have right angle corners at the rear. The black plastic tapers at the rear where it meets the body metal, AND tapers at the front where it meets the fixed glass.

So how would one fit a cut down slider window into the fixed glass area without either A; bending the aluminum frame, or B; replacing the vent piece with a specially made piece?

That is what I did, and now sell - if you have the slider to cut down.

Sun Aug 16, 2009 9:21 pm

My idea is to cut the slider fame short and leave the glass about 3/8 --

1/2 " longer than the frame, just as the stationary panel goes into the plastic filler.
My design is to fab two new pieces of glass that are equal to the amount that the original units overlap as a percentage. The window frame would meet the stock plastic air vent and the extended portion of the glass would fit just like factory.
I need someone who wants one ,so I have a need to build it. I do not have a Vanagon ,but have built a few sets of cut down units to fit in the rear rear windows of late model Crew cabs.
It you need any further clarification let me know.

Stacy

Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:24 am

otiswesty wrote:
I am hoping to get an original slider for the other side in Germany this summer. [-o<

Are you coming to Europe this summer or you will try to find on ebay.de?
I think i have 2 or 3 rear sliding windows for the 3rd row ( left side only ).

Wed Apr 28, 2010 5:29 pm

Now for sale in the US

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=958793

Wed Apr 28, 2010 7:14 pm

450 dings.....ouch :( If I had it though, I'd have it :wink: