CR Laurence style rear window removal and INSTALL?
- Thread starter Justgosurfin
- Start date
86scotty
Cynic
You need a phillips screwdriver and if it is a gasket type instead of sealant holding it in that's probably all. However, you remove the cinch-ring/trim-ring type thing from then inside on the ones I've done so you might have to remove some cabinets or interior or whatever is in the van to get to it.
To build on what 86scotty said, one additional thing I've run into a few times was having to remove passenger seat belts (if there's captain's chairs in the back) from their stock rear locations in passenger vans in order to get the interior panel off so that I could get to something behind it. In your case you'll need to get behind whatever interior panel is in there so that you can get to the window clamp ring. The seat belts are mounted through factory trim and most conversion trim as well on the vans I've seen. The mounting bolt for the seat belt is a big Torx, but I can't remember if it's the same T55 plus that the front seats use. It's somewhere in there though, T50, T55, or T55 plus. It's big enough that if you don't have the right size, you'll have a tough time getting the trim panel off without it.
Also grab a box cutter or something with a longer blade so that in the event the window was sealed with a sealant instead of the compression gasket you'll be able to pry and cut, pry and cut. I always take a little 6" pry bar on junkyard runs and it always comes in handy for something. Good luck!
Also grab a box cutter or something with a longer blade so that in the event the window was sealed with a sealant instead of the compression gasket you'll be able to pry and cut, pry and cut. I always take a little 6" pry bar on junkyard runs and it always comes in handy for something. Good luck!
Justgosurfin
Active member
Damn. On the way and left my torx sockets. Oh well we’ll see what we come up with.
Thanks for the info!
Thanks for the info!
Justgosurfin
Active member
Got em out no sweat thanks to a helping hand from another_mike!
There were Phillips heads holding the plastic molding to the window frame and then lots of self drilling 1/4” hex head screws holding the window frame to the window. Then just a little pushing and pulling and the window pulled right out. It was sealed with a gasket.
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Justgosurfin
Active member
Yup! Going to try doing a little cutting this evening.
Justgosurfin
Active member
Well that was fun for the neighbors I’m sure! Need to do a little more grinding to get it perfect but I got one window sitting more or less in place! Had to stop with the saws all once 8:45 rolled around. Hadn’t used poster board since my last yard sale, but it did the trick. Laid it on the upside down window and ran around the edge with a screwdriver to get a mark to cut out.
Will work on installing the inner frame this weekend and figure out a way to incorporate the conversion van window trim into the existing wood panel made by the PO. I’m pretty happy already to see the ol girl looking a little less creepy. Wait, no it still looks creepy. Must. Paint. Soon.
Will work on installing the inner frame this weekend and figure out a way to incorporate the conversion van window trim into the existing wood panel made by the PO. I’m pretty happy already to see the ol girl looking a little less creepy. Wait, no it still looks creepy. Must. Paint. Soon.
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Justgosurfin
Active member
Dude, I was so pumped. Paid $30.18 each. They’re $250+ new. I kinda prefer the look of all retangular windows like the forward driver side but for $30 I’m doing the rear drop rear ones. I grabbed the plastic inside molding as well. They were like 20 for each window. Not sure yet if we’ll paint and use them but they offer 30 day return at this yard. It was my first time in a salvage yard surprisingly. Another_mike was my junk yoda. Had a blast.
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Justgosurfin
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Does anyone have pics of how they finished the interior around windows like this?
Justgosurfin
Active member
Rain in south Florida has brought window progress to a screeching halt. Still need to cut out some more of the interior body structure so the inner mounting ring can fit in and secure window to the body.
Does anyone have pics of how much they cut away on the inside? Outside I just measure and duplicated the cuts froM the donor van based off the door frame and “waist line”.
Thanks
Does anyone have pics of how much they cut away on the inside? Outside I just measure and duplicated the cuts froM the donor van based off the door frame and “waist line”.
Thanks
Justgosurfin
Active member
Whew. Just had to cut some of the interior body panel and things started workin!
Dry fit for now. Weatherstripping and painting the trim pieces hopefully this weekend. I think new blinds are in order.
Dry fit for now. Weatherstripping and painting the trim pieces hopefully this weekend. I think new blinds are in order.
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Corneilius
Adventurer
Good idea to save that trim piece. People underestimate how hard it is to cleanly trim out windows. You'll love being able to open them too, I make fun of my buddies with fixed factory windows...
Justgosurfin
Active member
Yea. I’m thinking I might take the screen on the forward one so my dog can stick her head out like in the car. I’ll figure a way to temp screen it later for camping.
Yea the trim actually fits really nicely. My only qualm with it is how much is protrudes into the cabin. We’re probably gonna do wooden slat walls with a bunch of scrap from after Hurricane last year, it seems like we could save a few inches on each side that way ...but then we lose the nice setup already made for blinds in those trim pieces. Ugh