Scratching my head here how rare are chrome/stainless vent window frames my truck had one on the driver side and regular black on pass side but while doing the paint & body work it looks as the pass side was replaced some time long ago as it came appart much easer and all the hardware looks new both doors appear orriginal as I got the truck from the orriginal owners grandson and the paint was same color undrerneath two color change repaints the truck is a factory big window custom cab I would like to get a shinney one for the pass side.Whats up guys

 

Hey Slick


have you tried all the usual suspects like Dennis Carpenter and Macs to name a couple?

 

They have the rubber seals and stuff but no frame its self Ford item only and obsolete part long ago.

 

I have a '57 custom cab and I can't find references for the stainless steel vent window frames. I will say when I disassembled mine, and removed the paint, I found a good deal of rust in the channel near the pivot pin and that was also badly rusted.

I tried sourcing new stainless frames without success. Then I tried to make them just look better. First I tried to paint them black... but it looked bad. Then, I started sanding them down up to 400 grit, then polished them up to a mirror like shine. They look great!

I'm trying to see if they truly are stainless by seeing if they get some surface rust. I tried using the magnet trick, but then found out some types of stainless fail the magnet trick. It's really hard to tell what they're made of.

It's been almost 3 weeks of a wet NJ spring... haven't found rust yet. Time will tell. Are you sure it's a replacement and not just given a quickie spray job?

 

They are low grade stainless as the magnet sticks lightly reason I found out is mine was covered in over spray sanded it off left outside in seattle rain no rust in 2 years so I polished it up now can see my mug reflection in it.I need a pasenger one to match now.

 

Good to know! I'll keep my eyes open.

 

Stainless (rustless) steel vent frames were only available for 1957/58 Custom Cabs, all other 1957/60's were only available with painted vent frames.

Notice in the pic that Ford only sold the vent frame (21406) with the glass, only the glass (21412) was available by itself.

 

Thanks and yes you are right all the 59 & 60 I have looked at are black paint found a driver side in stainless at a swap meet but got that one already I guess mine will go on the shelf and go with black but as we all know as soon as I get mine all together one will show up.Thanks again