Today I've been working on the installation of a window channel kit, and have a couple questions. The horizontal wiper strips are secured by clips that snap into the door and then are crimped down over the strip's metal bead. Does anyone have a trick to getting them crimped? Or are they crimped
over the bead first and then clips with strip installed in door?

The channel that goes into the top of the door is secured by three small screws, through the center of the channel and into the door. The new channel doesnt have prepunched/drilled holes. How have you gone about lining things up for new screws into existing holes, or have you just drilled new holes through the channel and door?

A minor FYI. The doors and cab I have are from a big truck. The original horizontal window wipers had the metal bead on the top of the strip, so the clips were installed open side down. The replacement strips have the bead on the bottom, so the clips have to be installed open side up. I took the truck with new strips into Bob Drake. One door still had the original channel installed so the salesman could see first hand what I was talking about. He checked, and their orientation is the correct one for a 1/2. So, this could be marked as one of the incidental differences between light and heavy truck cabs.

 

Mike:

I usually put the new clips on the new wipers using the old one(s) as a pattern, then use wooden paint stir sticks to force them into the holes.

Use a grease pencil to mark on the painted surfaces where the holes are then you should be able to use an awl to puncture the weatherstrip close enough to get the tip into the tiny screw hole.

Mike

 

That's a neat observation there, 46yblock. Who knew Ford would change something like that between the light duty and heavy duty trucks. I'm going to look more into this, I love finding more of the minor differences in these trucks.

 

Mike Thanks for responding.

I went back at it today. 6 hours later!, I think one door is done. Unbelievable. Didnt have the old parts to use for comparison. Did a template of the wiper holes with painters tape. First outer wiper went on in about 1/2 an hour. Next wiper was a lot longer, because I reversed the pattern and didnt notice until crimping the keepers in place. Finally got it on, and the upper channel was the real treat. Made my day by only taking 3 or 4 hours out of it. And just think, sometime in the distant future I'll have the opportunity to do the other door.

Gary,
Maybe the bead location was just a function of the plant where the truck was built?


Mike

 

Mike, thanks for your help.
I got one door worth of channel installed today. Made a post about it earlier but used a reference to personnal anatomy, and apparently that triggered an audit of the post. Anyway it took a total of 6 hours, a long and frustrating time. I'll know if it is finished when I try to roll up the window.

The window pane has a U channel of rubber around it and in the window frame. Does anyone know who supplies that, or if an auto glass establishment has something that will work?

Gary, maybe the bead orientation is dependent upon the manufacturing plant?

 

I was thinking that about the plant thing as well. I also work on classic Mustangs, and there are always variations from plant to plant, even in the same year. I'm gonna check my truck out here and see what it looks like.

 

Mike, checked one of my '46's today, and the metal bead on my 1/2 ton is along the top, so the clip is open side down. My first '46 also had the bead at the top if I recall correctly. Perhaps this is a plant issue? Or perhaps even just a supplier issue? A change in supplier or change in manufacturing could have also made for the differences seen.

 

My question regarding the rubber channel running between the window glass and its frame was answered today. Took the window assembly into the glass shop. The guy showed me what the U channel started out looking like. A flat piece of rubber. After 60 years it becomes permanently formed. Best part of it all, he is makeing a tinted pane, mounting it in the frame, for $53.00! Finally something that seems reasonable!