One Piece side window thoughts

[78 Chevyrado]

I know there's 100 threads on this, but here's another one.

Yall know I redid my truck not long ago.   Along with needing a new regulator on the drivers side, The precision weatherstrips I used for my windows are total crap.   In the window opening, they don't fit well, the windows don't go all the way up anymore, and in the vent window where the window slides it's way too tight on the the big glass.  I noticed yesterday that where the weatherstrip meets at the the top-back of the vent window, on both doors, its coming apart and cracked and real ugly.   Is precision the only manufacturer of weatherstrips for the big side glass?   I need to do something, and if this stuff is the best I can get, I may want to do the one piece glass conversion. 

About the one piece glass conversion, I know they've been through several versions, correcting this and that about them.   How's the quality now?   How are the weatherstrips and their fitment?    I have dumbo mirrors so will cutting that tab between the inner and outer skin weaken the door or make my mirrors floppy?  I know I'll have to lose the mirror supports from the outer to inner skin.  It worries me though about cutting that tab though.  How do the scrapers fit for everybody whos seen a kit in person?   Do you guys think it would be a worthwhile upgrage for the reasons I want it?  I think it would look good with or without the vent windows.  plus it would be harder to break into with no vent windows.

[VileZambonie]

It's pretty easy to smash out any window so I wouldn't invest in them for security reasons. I am getting a set for my 74 if I ever get to that point! So I can't say how great they are for a daily driver myself but vent window leaks are annoying and reason enough if you are having issues with them and seals to upgrade. I have had several trucks with those mirrors without the inner brace. As long as it's not a cheap door it should be fine.

[78 Chevyrado]

Yeah, nothing can stop a determined thief, but it wouldn't be as simple or quiet as with vent windows.

Actually the vent windows themselves are good as far as sealing.  its just the track the big glass slides in pinches the glass. 

I don't wanna even mess with the AC until I get the engine done up, and the windows are a pain in the butt right now.  So I'd like them to roll up and down easily and without assistance since its hot now.


Here's the tab I was talking about having to cut.  It's not much, but it concerns me, because I have those big mirrors.

[three8six]

I dont have mirrors in my truck, but I will say the one peice windows I installed on my truck were easy to put in, the seals fit great.

[Captkaos]

There is A LOT of incorrect information on the One Piece windows.  There is only 2 versions of the 73-87's.  What was made prior to 07 and now.  The change was to rollers on the vertical guide.
The 67-72 window kits have had 3 versions. 

Since the beginning, the 73-87's have been a simple bolt in.  I have sold over 100 of them since 06 and have had one person call about them.
Most of the time you will need to add a metal bracket to the inside of the scraper channel (see the online instructions) you should be ok with the windows.

With that said, are you wanting to swap because your current one seals bad?  Can you post a pic of the area in question?

[78 Chevyrado]

There is A LOT of incorrect information on the One Piece windows.  There is only 2 versions of the 73-87's.  What was made prior to 07 and now.  The change was to rollers on the vertical guide.
The 67-72 window kits have had 3 versions. 

Since the beginning, the 73-87's have been a simple bolt in.  I have sold over 100 of them since 06 and have had one person call about them.
Most of the time you will need to add a metal bracket to the inside of the scraper channel (see the online instructions) you should be ok with the windows.

With that said, are you wanting to swap because your current one seals bad?  Can you post a pic of the area in question?

Pretty much yeah.  I have those precision brand seals, as far as I can tell the only brand out there....   I don't want more of their brand, but if you know of a higher-than-those quality set of seals to recommend, I'll sure give them a try.  Of coarse the seals were tight when I put them in, but after about 1.5 years they still haven't loosened up very much.  the left window is especially tight.  The left window glass is aftermarket.  The right window and regulator are Original.  The seals on the vent windows worked out really good and the vents seal up very nicely, it's just the main seal around the big side glass is coming apart.  and it looks a lot different fit wise than it did when I put them in.  It's kinda like they're squished up, I wonder if the tight glass shifted the seals upward in the track?

I'd rather not mess with any of it at all, since thats a great chance to screw up some paint, but I have to do something, so I was wondering how much more work the one piece setup would be compared to redoing the OE-type seals again.  As far as the looks, I like the one piece, because its a little more updated.  I mainly want whichever setup has the best fit & quality seals. 

I'm also going to need a window regulator, I'd love to have a GM one if you can get them Capt.  Its left side, manual, 78 C20. 

[Captkaos]

Precision is from my experience the best fit out there.  I have tried a few.  Have you tried GM for the seals.  I can call if you like, but it won't be cheap, what side? 

Is the lip of the weatherstripping puckering into the top glass?  Did the button clips get put back in there?  Are you rolling them up to far?

It is a long shot on the regulator but I can check.

[78 Chevyrado]

Precision is from my experience the best fit out there.  I have tried a few.  Have you tried GM for the seals.  I can call if you like, but it won't be cheap, what side?  

Is the lip of the weatherstripping puckering into the top glass?  Did the button clips get put back in there?  Are you rolling them up to far?

It is a long shot on the regulator but I can check.

I havent tried GM for the seals in a couple years.  Call and see what you can find for both sides, if you would please.  When i put the weatherstripping in the back/top of the door, the clips were wrong so i reused the ones off the OE weatherstrip.  They worked pretty well to begin with, and then after 6 months or so they started going south.   The left side is worse than the right side, but the right side looks like its about to do the same thing the left did.  All the weatherstrips looked straight and good to begin with.  The left window though is pretty tight still in the track.

Left Side




Right Side

[Captkaos]

Sorry about not checking on this yet.  I was busy trying to get my boat sold, got rid of it last night.

Looks like one side just got rolled up to far, can you pull it down?
Drivers side appears to too long are slid up some.

[78 Chevyrado]

Sorry about not checking on this yet.  I was busy trying to get my boat sold, got rid of it last night.

Looks like one side just got rolled up to far, can you pull it down?
Drivers side appears to too long are slid up some.

That's ok, just when you get time.   I cant do it for a bit yet, cuz im going to new orleans for a week in a couple a weeks. 


My dad had a thought about this....   I got the seals for 81-up because they were one piece.  I read they thinned the glass a bit for weight savings in '81.  could it possibly be that the seals are for thinner glass and it's my thicker pre-'81 glass binding it up?   

Yeah they are probably pushed up too far, but it wasnt like that when i put it in, either the tight glass has slid the rubber up or stretched it out.   its still too tight.

[Captkaos]

yes that is possible.  the pre 80 glass is much thicker.  I have a pic somewhere at home.

[78 Chevyrado]

The more I think about it, I may try a pre-80 set of seals...  I wanna put off big expenses if I can for a while.  Im going on vacation...

[78 Chevyrado]

I figured out the problem...    It was the 81-up seals being used with pre-81 glass.   The 81-87 seals are much thicker then the 73-80 seals...   I did the passenger side and it rolls up and down like butter now.  I'll drive it tomorrow and see if it whistles.

Here's a comparison pic:


TOP PIC - 73-80 Seals
BOTTOM PIC - 81-87 Seals

Both are precision brand and this is the piece that goes across the top and down the back of the window opening.




So, as far as I can tell, The glass and seals must be from the same era, 73-80 or 81-87.