Anyone ever fabricate rear side windows that open?

tjet · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:40 am Post subject:

Looks really nice.

So how difficult is it without the black plastic vents?

Is that new glass you had cut for it?

noganav · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:58 am Post subject:

Thanks!

Without the vents is a different ball game because you'd have to bend the frame. Wellington did it that way, further up this thread, so it is do-able but I think it's much more involved. This method just requires a hacksaw and a little patience. The vents aren't rare, they came on all passenger vans from 1988 up so they should be find-able.

Yup, new glass cut and tempered. The only thing I wish I had done different is to have a pro tint them. I bought good film from a local shop, but they were backed up. I decided to give it a go myself so I could get everything done this weekend and I've got a few bubbles. Embarassed

danfromsyr · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 9:42 am Post subject:

looks very nice but looks like a bunch more work and $ than necessary.
(but necessary to keep the plastic rear vents I guess)

in lieu of the plastic vents, you can make the filler of anything of similiar thickness to the glass. ABS/aluminum
I used 1/8" MDF covered with a layer of aluminum sheet (flashing)
also didn't require 2 frames (only 1 passenger van frame)
and didn't require custom made and cut glass.
you can use westy screens you just need to make a new notch in the alum track for the stop/lock but it'll work w/o the notch too.
link here http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5480877#5480877
1 passenger frame cut and fit with a filler strip was free..
use whichever side donor window to whichever end you want it to open
this can be made for both sides of a westy,
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noganav · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:22 am Post subject:

Yours look good too, it's a practical solution. It wasn't too expensive actually. About the same amount of work as your method (certainly not a 'bunch more' since it's almost exactly the same process Wink

).

There is enough material to make this with a single frame if need be. You would just use two pieces at the back instead of one. I happened to have an extra frame so I did it this way.

For me the stock look, biggest possible window opening, and ability to use a screen were worth it.

danfromsyr · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:44 am Post subject:

cool, I'm not trying to dismiss yours, it's awesome. and anytime someone makes this mod to their van regardless of possibilities of human/canine decapitation Laughing

is great.. I use mine to put things behind the back seat all the time w/o opening the hatch. especially when the dog is along..

I'd just wanted to point out that if one didn't have the plastic vent that they could make a rear slider w/ a passenger van middle donor. and if I used black alum flashing it'd have been a closer to oem look. but I had the bright alum in house already.. you can use flashing on the interior side as well for a more oem style/look.

I'll measure my opening tonight but I suspect it's very, very similar.. as the rear top corner is the limit to the sliding window depth. and your plastic vent takes up a few inches
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tjet · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 1:38 pm Post subject:

noganav · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:31 pm Post subject:

tjet · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 8:39 pm Post subject:

Ok thx - will send him a PM

Only thing is mine slides open forward ISO aft

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1303868.jpg

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1303867.jpg

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1303869.jpg

noganav · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:00 pm Post subject:

Dimensions of the frame and for different glass options.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

noganav · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:08 pm Post subject:

You could take your existing window apart and make glass templates from that. I'm sure folks here would be very interested in having that info. For that window design the sliding part is at the back, so you'll end up using a passenger side window on the driver's side and vice versa. You'll need to re-bend the existing corners to fit the back of the window and make two new 90 degree bends at the front. It could be a bit of work.

fatboypaul · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:13 pm Post subject:

Noganav......Thank you very much for posting those dimensions.

noganav · Posted: Tue Jan 20, 2015 10:15 pm Post subject:

My pleasure! Wink

OddN · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 6:13 am Post subject:

tjet · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 7:26 am Post subject:

OddN · Posted: Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:02 am Post subject:

Im sure Your window is oem. Never seen one myself with the rear opening, but the parts catalog contains part numbers for the glasses for both Yours and mine. Rear glass fixed or sliding, and front glass fixed or sliding. All for the rearmost window. So they were both available from VW when the vans were New.

Here is a pic of my van With the window, however this is when I tried the green sliding glass from a middle window hence the larger overlap on the two glasses. I then discovered that the corner radiuses were slightly different so the glass didnt Close properly.

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1991 VW Multivan syncro 1,9 TD

OddN · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:35 am Post subject:

Since I alread have sliding windows in three of the four possible openings, Im considering making one for the rearmost right window as well. However Im a little concerned regarding the safety if someone sticks their head out the window at the same time as someone is opening the door.

My vans both have jail bars in the rear hatch, but has anyone tried to mount jail bars in the side windows, almost like on an old samba?

We also had a seat bracket for our special Norwegian Kombi rear seat, but they are rather ugly and big. Would do the job though:

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1991 VW Multivan syncro 1,9 TD

tjet · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 8:05 am Post subject:

Gnarlodious · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:54 am Post subject:

noganav · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 12:14 pm Post subject:

I solved the decapitation problem by putting screens on mine. Easy. Laughing

OddN · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:53 pm Post subject:


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Anyone ever fabricate rear side windows that open?
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