C-3 Convertible Windows

[Terry B.]

I have observed on my '68 convertible that both the right and left window glass can be cranked up slightly where both will over extend past the weather strip on the convertible top. It not a huge amount, less than .5 inch approximately. I do not have a hard top for the car and have been thinking that this might be normal for all C-3 convertibles so they would be able to adjust to the hardtop when it's in place. My question is are my windows adjusted correctly when they can extend slightly over the weather strip or are they both out of adjustment. Thanks for checking your convertibles and your replies.

[Michael D.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

The assembly instruction manual has the best instructions for adjusting door glasses and how they are supposed to seal against the top weatherstripping. Yours may be just a tad too high. AIM shows where the upper stops are.

Since the interior door panels have to be removed for door glass adjustment, this might be one of those little things to learn to live with until additional window work is needed.

[Terry B.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

Michael,

Are you saying that the windows line up the same on a hardtop and convertible top?

Thanks,

[Jack H.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

There was only one adjustment for the side window glass. The factory used 'jigs' to build the soft top and hard top to. The glass was supposed to work the same on 1-top as well as 2-top cars...

Typically, the place where the factory original adjustment was 'lost' was when 'Bubba' replaced the original soft top and began 'tweaking' the side door glass to make it fit/seal to the new fabric and weather striping he'd just installed...

[Joe L.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

The glass was supposed to work the same on 1-top as well as 2-top cars...

Jack------


The operative words here are "supposed to". I never saw a 68-72 convertible even when NEW that had properly adjusted side windows. I can tell you for certain that my 1969 did not from day-one.

So, I would say that if one has a 1969-72 convertible that has perfectly fitting side windows, that's "not typical of factory production".

[Lawrence M.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

Terry, if the car has 2 tops the procedure is to adjust the side glass to the hardtop and then adjust the soft top weather strips to the glass. Much easier said than done. I do not think your glass should go up past the weather strip, mine does not. However if the glass is not going up high enough to be in danger of breaking when closing the door and you are getting a good seal you are prorbably ok. Just lowering the glass with the stops may give you trouble with the seal at the windshield post. There are many adjustments on the glass. Study the glass adjustment procedure in the AIM before you begin. It can be a frustrating job.

[Stephen B.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

Joe
Just for the sake of discussion would you say that if the windows now fit there could be a deduct in judging ? Remember the term (As delivered ) I've owned and driven these cars since new and to my recollection many of these cars from day one had window alignment problems and were notorious for water leaks.
Stephen Barrett (21558) 59,66,71,73

[Michael D.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

...if the car has 2 tops the procedure is to adjust the side glass to the hardtop and then adjust the soft top weather strips to the glass...

Correct. The hardtop weatherstripping is not adjustable. Set the door glasses to seal against the weatherstripping. Weatherstripping on the folding top can be adjusted. Set the folding top weatherstripping to seal against the glasses.

...Much easier said than done...It can be a frustrating job...

Yep. Door glass adjustment is fiddly business.

[Joe L.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

Joe
Just for the sake of discussion would you say that if the windows now fit there could be a deduct in judging ?

Stephen-------


Definitely, in my opinion.

[Terry B.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

I have a new convertible top to be installed (I do not have a hard top) and also the driver side door glass to replace. I have been thinking that I should have the top replaced first, then the new glass could be adjusted to the new top. Is there a problem with this thinking or should I do the door glass first and then have the top installed? Which makes more sense?

Thanks,

[Rich P.]

Re: C-3 Convertible Windows

Terry, any good top installer knows that you have to adjust the windows to the top frame with weatherstripping installed and no canvas. What some top installers do is "Pull" the canvas to tight to incorrectly take out the wrinkles. In doing this the windshield frame is stressed and pulls twards the rear of the car and the top of the vertical channel on thje top angles in so the top rear of the side glass hits the before the bottom and this cannot be fixed with the canvs already installed.

SO you should fit the glass to the frame with no canvas.

Rich