Are the wings straight?

DavidC

Hey folks I need some reassurance that I am installing the front vent wings on a 53 HH Sedan correctly.  It seems like I have to use a lot of force to get it into the recess in the front window frame.  Here is the left one installed.  If I got it right, the hinge faces outward, and the flat stainless vertical riser, rather than the curved vertical riser, faces outward.  Is this correct?  Last but not least, which is installed first:  the vent wing or the main glass?  I appreciate the help and any tips you have to making this install easier.  Sorry if they're upside-down.  Don't know how.

Dave

keithfullmeryahoocom

Man, I just took mine out about a week ago.  (a '50 Commodore) They were a bear-cat, too.  The body manual indicates that you should take the main window glass out first, I did that. But they did require "a lot of force".   Good luck.   Let us know how it worked out for you, I'm not too far behind you....k

DavidC

Thanks,Ken, will install vents first.  The checker cloth is from SMS.  I used up their stock so they are making more.  Several colors to choose from.

DavidC

Thanks, Keith.  One side installed with moderate torqueing of the frame toward the outside of the car, but the other side was so tight I thought I was about to break something.  Some water soluble lube run around the edge of the frame helped.

Dave

hornet53

SMS is making the 53 upholstery? I assume in green as well as the blue. That's awesome. Now I feel like I wasted my tax return on race parts for my C10!

DavidC

Yes, several checkered colors available at SMS, and they have a source to continue production.  Not cheap; approx. $100/yd.

DavidC

OK, so here is how I installed my front door hardware on a
53 HH sedan with crank vent wing window. 
This is for those doing resto,  replacing channel, weatherstrip, glass, etc.  I am sure there are other ways, so feel free
to comment, but this worked best for me, with least damage to channel, glass,
fingers, etc:

Strip door of all window-related hardware.  Can leave all door lock/opening mechs in
place.

Install gutter on top of door, bedding it in proper bedding
compound.

Install wood sticks now or later, your choice if installing
my way.

Install main window regulator- don’t forget to engage
inner-facing pin into the U channel welded to inside rear end of door.

Pass glass through the top slot on an angle in its correct orientation.  This eases the tendency for the rubber seal
of the glass channel to catch on the slot in the top of the door.  Lower the glass carefully to sit in bottom inside
of door.

Install stainless reveal molding into window frame with
single felt channel already attached.

Install vent wing assembly, with glass and hinge already
installed, by inserting in large rectangular hole in top of door from inside
car.  Watch position of lower end of
vertical channel post- can hang up several places in door.  Tilt assembly rearward with post as deep as
possible in order to get vent frame to engage in recess in door frame.  It can require some unnerving force to push
the vent wing frame outward and into this recess.   Once engaged in recess push forward into
place.  I pre-lubed vent frame with
water-sol lubricant prior to this to ease installation.  Install top bolt thru door into top of vertical
vent wing post.  Install bottom bolt
through small metal L bracket (window lowering stop), through L bracket  welded to inside of door, and thread into
lower end of vertical post.

Lift glass from floor of door and, with regulator in lowest
position, engage two regulator pins into slots in glass channel brackets by reaching
through large holes in bottom half of door. 
Glass can be moved from side to side in order to engage these two pins.  Nice and easy.

Push front glass edge into vertical vent wing channel and
raise glass with regulator, then lower again.

Install metal U channel against inside rear edge of door-
supports felt double-channel.  It is
secured with small sheetmetal screw at top rear inner door panel surface and ¼-24
bolt through rear edge of door.

Pre-measure and pre-bend double channel to follow curve of
door (or even wiser,get pre-bent from WRP- I was not smart enough), leaving extra
material at both ends.  Slip into place, mark
the piece then remove to trim both ends with mototool.  The upper is cut flush with rear edge of
vertical post, the lower engages on tab on vertical metal U channel.  After one last test fit squeeze
weatherstripping adhesive or silicone adhesive onto rear window frame recess
and onto top surface of double channel, let get tacky, and install.  Of course it is best to get some adhesive on
both surfaces, but you decide how much drip risk you wish to take.  Raise main window glass to hold channel in
place while adhesive sets up.  Ensure only
felt contacts glass, not sharp stainless rod ends, etc.

Confirm vent wing regulator is clocked correctly, if not
remove shaft and turn to any of 4 positions to correct this.  Must have access through door to small bolt
hole in top of regulator post.  Install
vent wing regulator in place from below, engaging wing frame post from above,
and attach to door with two bolts. 
Attached to vent wing post with small machine screw.  Adjust tension on vent wing regulator shaft
by loosening or tightening flathead machine screw on shaft clamp until vent
wing can be opened with reasonably little force and no tendency to self-close
in the wind.  Your window mechs should
all be installed.

I hope this helps someone out there.  Was a real learning experience for me.

Dave

 

DavidC

The wings are in, one closes perfectly, the other not so much- The bottom rear end of the wing glass touches the weatherstrip 1/4 in earlier than the top, so I'm gonna get some wind noise and maybe water if I cannot adjust.  Any tips?

Dave