Author Topic: How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal  (Read 1550 times)

Offline ChrisD

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How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal
« on: December 30, 2021, 04:51:11 AM »
Hi,
I try to replace the vent window seals of my 1978 c10.
I bought the seals and the vent window repair kit.





But I have no idea how to expand the rivets. I've watched quite a few videos, but either they have the newer windows where the gasket has pins to hold it in place, or they don't show how to rivet the gasket.
The metal rod that comes with the repair kit is way too big to fit into the small pre-punched hole in the gasket, not to mention that I don't know how to put the window on top of it and hit it with a hammer without totally destroying the frame.
Is there a special pliers I can buy for this or what can I do?

Does anyone know a video where I can see exactly the step of riveting?

Thanks and greetings
Chris
« Last Edit: December 30, 2021, 04:54:48 AM by ChrisD »
1978 Chevy C10 short bed with 250i6 and manual 3speed Saginaw
German us-car/truck newbie

Offline JohnnyPopper

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Re: How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal
« Reply #1 on: December 30, 2021, 08:14:32 PM »
Yeah no, put the hammer down Chris!  ;)

First, did the kit come with instructions?

Second, if not, they make pop rivet guns that use rivets of various sized.

I took my vent window down to the core, saved the rivets so I could match (as closely as I can) and re-install.

They probably assume you have a press of some type.
1957 Apache 3100 235 Inline 6, 3 on the tree
1973 C-20, 3+3 454 4BBL TH400  Water Injection
1978 K-10, 350 4BBL TH350 NP203 M.M. Part time Kit/Hubs
1980 C-10 under construction

Online Rapid Roy

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Re: How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2021, 09:15:58 PM »
I used a pop rivet gun with 1/8" rivets to secure the seal.
1974 Cheyenne 10 LWB STOCK 350 W HEI /TH350/AC/4 BBL Quadrajet
Mopar by Birth
Chevy by Choice

Offline ChrisD

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Re: How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal
« Reply #3 on: December 31, 2021, 01:37:27 AM »
Hi, thank you for your replies  :)
First, the kit came from l*c truck (replace the * with „m“ ;)), they don't have it so with descriptions.
The pop rivet gun will be my second option, at the moment I'm thinking of converting a C shape grip pliers to crimp the rivets. We will see.

Thanks and greetings
Chris
« Last Edit: December 31, 2021, 01:39:55 AM by ChrisD »
1978 Chevy C10 short bed with 250i6 and manual 3speed Saginaw
German us-car/truck newbie

Offline 1980K20

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Re: How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal
« Reply #4 on: December 31, 2021, 01:33:56 PM »
What was your experience with getting the channel seal into the triangle section?  I've been wrestling with that corner for an hour, not much success. I watched some YouTube videos, very helpful, but when they say the corner can be frustrating... They mean it.  I liked milkcrate82.  I got one seal in. Using a paint stir stick in the channel with some external pressure seemed like the key for me to keep the sides from popping out in the corner.

I got some tools and rivets, will see how they work today if I can get to it. Youtube shows roughly how to do it,if course their tool fits, I haven't tried mine yet. If they don't work, time for a pop rivet gun.
« Last Edit: December 31, 2021, 01:54:31 PM by 1980K20 »
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1952 International L112 - waiting for EV conversion
1967 Camaro - 250 six cyl, 200-4R
1980 K20 4x4 Fleetside - 350 SBC roller Cam, TH350

Offline ChrisD

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Re: How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal
« Reply #5 on: December 31, 2021, 03:49:44 PM »
Hi,
by bending the rounding, the gap in which the seal comes, was narrower at my frame. I bent it left and right with a pipe wrench until the distance was the same everywhere on the rail. Then the slight burrs that occur when bending up, smoothed with sandpaper and everything properly sprayed with silicone spray.
Then I inserted the seal first completely top and bottom and ignored the rounding as far as possible and at the very end used the pipe wrench to press the seal into the rounding.

I hope it is understandable, because I use a translation tool  ::)

1978 Chevy C10 short bed with 250i6 and manual 3speed Saginaw
German us-car/truck newbie

Offline ChrisD

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Re: How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2022, 03:26:51 PM »
Hi,
Some minutes ago i‘ve found a video which shows how to rivet the seal.
At minute ~35
https://youtu.be/WiZOiHmcb_w
I haven't gotten any further, outside in the garage is just too cold for me at the moment.
1978 Chevy C10 short bed with 250i6 and manual 3speed Saginaw
German us-car/truck newbie

Offline 1980K20

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Re: How to fix the 1978 rear vent window seal
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2022, 01:59:10 PM »
I got the windows put together, problems with install. More mirror problems, will get back to this.
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1952 International L112 - waiting for EV conversion
1967 Camaro - 250 six cyl, 200-4R
1980 K20 4x4 Fleetside - 350 SBC roller Cam, TH350