Sliding window mod?

[Farrar]

Here's a hypothetical question for the experts:

If I wanted to "devolve" my car from the electric toll-booth windows to manual sliding windows (the the "pre-production" cars had), would it be possible to do with off-the-shelf parts?

[DMCMW Dave]

Here's a hypothetical question for the experts:

If I wanted to "devolve" my car from the electric toll-booth windows to manual sliding windows (the the "pre-production" cars had), would it be possible to do with off-the-shelf parts?

Depends on the shelf. If you mean "is there a piece of glass and a sliding track from some other car that will bolt/glue into a DeLorean Door", no. If you mean "can I cut and bend a couple of pieces of plexiglass, and make some tracks from extruded aluminum and somehow fashion that into something that fits the DeLorean door", sure.

Take a look at the rear side glass of a Ford Aerostar van from 1990 or so. Not that it will fit, but the design is what you are trying to mimic. It's a manual sliding glass.

[Farrar]

Yeah, I used to own a pickup truck with a sliding rear window. I was thinking I could study that design and work out something similar.

Is Plexiglas allowed in car windows? Do such requirements vary state-to-state?

[Timebender]

Also take a look at the driver and passenger windows on any 67 and earlier VW bus. Sliding glass in stainless steel channels with felt in them, and the sliding part of the windows have a spring-loaded lock, while the track has notches in it.
If I were you, I'd even see if you couldn't find a set of them over on thesamba.com (http://thesamba.com)

And this is what you'd be looking for 38195
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1555086

Do a search on "window latch" under 1949-67 Type 2 Bus parts. You'll need one for the driver and passenger windows, as they are reversed.

And here are new channels: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=875459


And I'd consider either going with Lexan, or custom cut glass.

[Lou and "Boo"]

Bob Brandys has his full size power window available now, but it's $5000 for the two door Windows to be completed. Plus shipping the car to Las Vegas and back is an added cost.


An expensive option, but an option nonetheless.

[88KPH]

just fix the aircon.

[DMCMW Dave]

Is Plexiglas allowed in car windows? Do such requirements vary state-to-state?

It's a FMVSS (Federal) safety standard. Plexiglass is probably safer than real glass, but would tend to scratch or turn yellow over time. You can pretty much do anything you want to your own car, this doesn't impact emissions. Might be a liability issue for a shop to do it. But hey - what isn't?

[Patrick C]

Speak to Chris Nicholson. He fabricated sliding windows from scratch for Pilot 20.