Blackend Window Frames

DubNuts · Samba Member Joined: January 06, 2009 Posts: 194

On one of my Westy's I'm going to be replacing all of my window Seals, and remove all of the plastic chrome trim rings "that are srunken, brittle and discolored anyway". I will be replacing the window seals with the newer style seals without the plastic chrome trim groves.
While I have both the slider window and also the opposit kitchen windows removed I would like to take the frames apart and "Blacken" the raw aluminun Frames. Simular to those found on the later Carrats, Wolfsburgs, GL's etc.
Anyone have a idea how to best do this for a lasting result? Question

syncroserge · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 6:58 am Post subject:

I did this recently. Took the slider frames to an anodizing place where they chemicaly stripped the old anodizing and re anodized them black.

Not perfect (mostly the de-anodizing the old stuff part) but still much better than paint or powder coat imho.

Pictures later when the sun comes up...

dubbified · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:41 am Post subject:

I removed slider glass and seals, prepped with cleaning, scrubbing, and masked the installed window.

I used WURTH trim paint, and a heat gun, sanding down, priming, then using the trim paint.

So far, no lifting/peeling.. looks nice.

climberjohn · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:14 am Post subject:

Guys,

This a helpful thread, thanks for the topic and posts.

I did mine in a half-a** way a year or so ago, and wished I did better prep. I will try the Wurth paint.

-CJ
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

syncroserge · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:20 am Post subject:

Price was ~ $125

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

DubNuts · Samba Member Joined: January 06, 2009 Posts: 194

Wellington · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2011 5:29 pm Post subject:

Look for metal finishers in your area. Aircraft suppliers etc.
Stripping ALL the old silicone off is key.

westylife · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 8:37 am Post subject:

I want to do this. The link to the pics are dead. Anyone have problems with doing this?
_________________
1983.5 Westfalia Bostig RG1

furrylittleotter · Posted: Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:34 pm Post subject:

I will be "Ghetto-Dizing mine with sandpaper and spray paint. Meets all my requirements…fast, cheap and practically free. Can touch up as needed anytime.

I pulled the fake chrome strips out of my weather stripping years ago and my windows haven't fallen out yet.

Will also be painting the strip between the windows black. That looks so badazz when done. Some folks go all the way to the body line but I won't be doing that.

The chrome looks cool on classic stock vans but mine is neither.

Neil2

austinindian · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2014 11:44 pm Post subject:

Aerosport · Posted: Sat Jul 18, 2015 6:05 pm Post subject: Black window frames

Are the stock black frames on the 89 and newer models black anodized or is it some other treatment, such as paint, powder coat etc.?
_________________
Stan L

'87 Westy GL - "Stanagon", 2wd WBX 4 speed
15" Rhein alloys, GW 1.5" lift springs & Fox shocks

Forthwithtx · Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2015 9:40 pm Post subject:

Can't say for sure, but mine look like powdercoat. Definitely not anodized.

austinindian · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:28 am Post subject:

Is anyone aware of the side window width differences in the westy and non-westy models? I have an 84 westy and after a few pick-n-pull instances, I believe my side window opening are the longer width. The only issue now is that the side windows I have ready to install are not black. I'm swapping out with the non-westy side windows which open up fuller than the 1/3 screened in westy windows I have now. Wonder I could find it in black, factory models.

syncrodoka · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 10:16 am Post subject:

Westy and nonwesty openings are the same size. The early models have a different sliding door window opening than later models. The last few years of the late models got the black window frames so the won't fit into a early model.

70coupyel · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 10:24 am Post subject:

crazyvwvanman · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 10:36 am Post subject:

Yes, the sliding door latch mechanism and window size changes both began when the 10th digit of the chassis vin# changed to F to designate the 1985 model year.

Mark

austinindian · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:41 pm Post subject:

I'll check my chassis vin this evening. Just to be clear. Can you confirm this?

There are only two sizes of windows which only vary in width.

If you have "F" in the 10 digit of your chassis vin you should have the wider window.

If you have the wider window size you should be able to source a black (wider opening, non westy) one in the junkyards?

crazyvwvanman · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:47 pm Post subject:

There are only 2 sizes of window opening in the sliding door.

85 and newer have the SMALLER opening.

The 10th digit is the model year, F is for 85.
D - 83
E - 84
F - 85
G - 86 etc

Black frames came in the smaller later year size only AFAIK.

Mark

austinindian · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:53 pm Post subject:

Appreciate you for clarifying. I must have the larger ones on my '84 then. Okay, back to the drawing board to figure out how to paint them flat black first. I'll do it if it it can be done right. The alum trim is anodized it seems.

kamzcab86 · Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:59 pm Post subject:


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