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How do I attach the pivot post to the frame of the vent window. I tried some real small bolts but the nut gets in the way of the rubber when closing. I hate to weld it on. The two holes on the frame are probably 1/4 -3/8. I don't have rivets that big.
Can you post a picture of what you mean. I've had the vents out and refurbished on my 54 19 years ago and on my 55 just last year but I need a pic to refresh my brain.....
I'm at work right now. I will get a picture tonight. The pivot post is kinda L shaped (but at an angle) the post is connected to a bar with two holes. This goes into the metal frame and then riveted onto hold both pieces together. I am thinking about using an aluminum roofing nail, cut it a little longer than needed then peening it over with a hammer. Not sure if aluminum is strong enough. While working on it yesterday, the post broke off the bar. I tried to weld it but no luck. I have ordered a new one.
By the way if you need the bushings for the vent window that allow it to tightly swivel, and stay put, I 3D printed a few in PLA plastic. I can send you some if you can't find them elsewhere.
I'm not 100% certain I follow your question, but I think you're asking about the bracket on the pivot post that tightens around the bushing. If so, go to roughly 2:00 into the video here of the above series: 09-Division Bar and Vent Window Removal (Scott's 1956 Ford ProjectF100)
A fellow FTE'r, Dan, made a series of You tube videos about window and vent installation on his 54. Go to you tube and search for 1953, 1954, 1955 Ford F100 How to part one and it should pop up. Or just Google it and click on videos.
How do I attach the pivot post to the frame of the vent window. I tried some real small bolts but the nut gets in the way of the rubber when closing. I hate to weld it on. The two holes on the frame are probably 1/4 -3/8. I don't have rivets that big.
The upper pivot post attaches to the fixed frame with two screws. The pivot cup is attached to the actual vent window frame with rivets. Here are a couple pic i have available now. Can get better tonight if needed. Cup in top pic and you can see the screws for pivot in the bottom pic. I wouldn't use aluminum nail to attach it....you should be able to find some rivets on line easily enough
This is what I have. I measured the holes in the black window channel frame. They are 1/4” so I need rivets with at least 3/8” head. Holes in the flat part of the pivot post is 5/32”. You can see where it broke, I tried to weld back together but that didn’t work either. I need big rivets.
Those look like they were drilled out. They seem awful large. Tonight I'll go check my '53 doors and see if there is any hardware there I can check against yours.
OK I see on my rivet gun it will accept 1/8”, 5/32, and 3/16 diameter rivets. So I just need to purchase bigger rivers with a bigger head. Yes, I drilled the old rivets out that were in there when I removed the broken pivot post. Must likely this was the reason the glass was broken. I had it all together once yesterday then realized the teardrop shaped toothed washer was on in the wrong position, went to take it off and that’s when the pivot post broke the second time. Thanks for the help (again) guys!
Not sure what the two washer with teeth actually do (other than preventing the window from opening too far). They fit pretty tight onto the pivot post. I had to tap them on and I think the jarring is what broke the post. The guys at MidFifty have been great. They have sent out a new part and even upgraded to 2nd day delivery! Should get it tomorrow. Thanks guys!
I know I can tighten or loosen the nut on the pivot post to put more or less tension on the vent window to make it move easier or harder and stay in place when going 120 mph down the road.(HA)
I did find some rivets last night. Big box stores don't care anything other than 1/8" diameter. I am starting to realize the big stores don't always have what you need and if they do, it is not always the cheapest. My local hometown feed store has 1/8, 5/32, and 3/16 in stock. I got a pack of steel rivets, 3/16 diameter, 1/4" long, with 3/8 head.
One door is done, just waiting on the gasket for the access panel and the setting tape for the vent window. I was going to glue the window in but I decided to use the setting tape instead.
Where's the "like" button?! lol Looks great! Did you paint your door handles? I painted mine which were badly pitted. I cleaned them up, sealed the pitting holes and painted them Eastwood's Tunnel Ram Gray Metallic SSU. Not too dissimilar to yours actually.
Yes, I painted the outside door handles, inside door handles, and window handles. They were badly pitted. I walnut shell blasted them (like sand blasting but sharper then sand). That took the chrome off and smoothed most of the pits. Then painted with Rustoleum Hammered Aluminum. I really like that paint. I know I can buy replacements but I am trying to keep as much of the original truck as I can. The mirrors on the truck were in bad shape, no salvaging them. Replacements (arm and mirror) were about $89 each, I found the one you see attached to the door on Amazon for $14.
Took the two angle brackets off the new one and used the bracket that I had from the original one, and it works great. Although the mirror is only 5". I would like to have something a little bigger. Next size I found was 8" which was was too big. Think the original was 6.1/2"
Those vent pivot posts, washers, etc can be confusing. When I did my 55 last year I took lots of pictures before I took them apart. And it was still confusing to get the washers on the right way.....
The washers are hard to put on but I wouldn't use a hammer unless you got the L part on the frame resting on something.
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