fitting the drop windows

[Hans Efde]

Today I installed a new weatherseal on my Convertible door. After that the idea was to slide the drop window in. Unfortunately it is impossible from the top. It seems the only way is to remove the frame again, slide the window in from the bottom and install the whole assembly (it is what the manual says as well). I hate the idea to take it all out again, does anyone have experience and did something smart (modify something, round off the lower window edges f.e.) to get the window in with the frame in place?

[max midas]

Hi Hans,
it's probably far too late a reply to your original enquiry, but just for future reference I've found a neat way round the problem you describe.
The door glass I was supplied with was a little lacking in width for the aperture, so for years it waggled in the frame as it went up and down.
I solved the problem by making new runners (out of old plastic drainpipes) and packing them out so there was only just enough clearance for the glass to slide up and down.
To make sure the glass couldn't fall out, I made sure the sides of the rear runner were quite wide.
If I want to remove the door glass, I slide the rear runner up past the rubber window seal and pull it out. This then gives enough clearance to pull the glass to the back of the frame and the front of the glass can clear the front of the frame and be removed (complicated to explain, just imagine the glass doing a three point turn within the frame).
Hopefully the pictures will explain more than words.

[max midas]

right click the pictures and click on 'open image in new tab' to see it better.

[Hans Efde]

Hi Max,
My glass is a tight fit,so that won't work. I have just the inner liner in the frames. There is just not enough clearance to have the glass rotated for installation. I tried loosening the frame to use its flexibility but also didn't work. The only way is to remove it all as is written in the manual. It's not pretty, because now I know why the weather seal on the left door was damaged! Because you have to put the frame in, then fit the weather seal, then take the frame out, install the glass and reinstall the total while trying not to damage the weather seal. I'll put this in my end write up.

[max midas]

I see your point, you have no option except to buy new drop glass that is slightly narrower, probably not a sensible option.
I had to buy new glass when I got my hard top, otherwise I'd be in the same situation.