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Topic: Help...Window is detaching from frame (Read 5982 times) previous topic - next topic

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Did anyone ever have this problem. My passenger side window keeps coming off the frame when lowering it. I used epoxy twice to secure it to the plastic "c" in the window frame. The second time it held for about a week then let go again. I'm about to get a bit for glass and drill a hole through it at this point. Does anyone have any suggestions?
home ported E7's, HO intake, 93 Tbird cam, 65mm tb, Shorties, dynomax lers, TC 3.73 rear, Mach 1 springs, Bauman shiftkit, epoxy mod, SD, 3G alt, black magic fan

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #1
try that  they sell for the rearview mirror tabs.. i've used it before and it holds up pretty good.. just make sure you clean the epoxy off first
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3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver


Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #3
I was having this problem with my Windows as well. What I did was remove the glass removed the clips that are glued on. Sanded the  out of the glass to clean it and scuff it up really good then JB welded the clips back in place let the JB weld sit over night and pit it back in. Has held up for about a year so far.
87 TC
HO Swap, T5 Swap, Mach Springs, CHE Upper and Lower control arms, Mach Chin spoiler, soon to be Procharged.

:evilgrin: Nitrous is like a hot chick with an STD you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences. :evilgrin:

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #4
I had the same problem. I was told by a friend who works at an auto glass company to use window-weld. It did the trick. It comes it a caulk tube and is available at auto part stores for around $13.

turbo charged 94 Cobra engine/440cc injectors/megasquirt /5 speed swapped (T5)/maxbox upper intake/70mm PP throttle body/AJE coilovers/2003 Mustang control arms/S.T. sway bars/ES rear control arm bushings/11" brake conversion/manual rack conversion/8.8 TC rear with rear discs and a welded diff/3.73 gears/PLX wideband/199mph speedometer/Aeromotive FPR/CNC hydraulic hand brake/cobra R wheels/....ect.

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #5
Thanks guys. I wish I asked here first. The plastic clips split when I was removing the epoxy. It stuck real good to the plastic, just not the glass. Must be because I didn't scuff up the glass side too.
home ported E7's, HO intake, 93 Tbird cam, 65mm tb, Shorties, dynomax lers, TC 3.73 rear, Mach 1 springs, Bauman shiftkit, epoxy mod, SD, 3G alt, black magic fan

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #6
You can buy new clips in the dorman/help section. Dril small holes through them, and they are wider. Sand window andclipps with rough sandpaper. Then buy the black tube windsheild adhesive. Give it a couple days to dry, and only do it if its in a warm place. It will not cure below freezing. Really nasty stuff, but holds well, and remains slightly flexible. Wear rubber gloves.

Lube the tracks uup well with white lithium grease and make sure everything is aligned properly. My 86's windows had holes in them. That is how we fixed the windows on them when they came off the tracks. Not sure if the 87-88 glass is the same, but the doors will swap if your desperate, or want to try to use the guts out of them or something.
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #7
Here we go again. Just the other morning it was real cold and the window came of the regulator again. I saw a post by vinnie saying he used marine adhesive from walmart. I had zero luck locating that stuff. The guys at the parts stores suggested two other alternatives: body structure adhesive and also 3m window regulator tape. Does anyone have any experience with these products?

Just for the record, I used the 3M Wind-Weld Super Fast Urethane, sanded the glass and clips, and cleaned them off with rubbing alcohol prior to installing the window. It was warmer than 70deg out and I left it sit for more than a couple of days to cure. I guess this was maybe close to a year ago. What am I doing wrong?
home ported E7's, HO intake, 93 Tbird cam, 65mm tb, Shorties, dynomax lers, TC 3.73 rear, Mach 1 springs, Bauman shiftkit, epoxy mod, SD, 3G alt, black magic fan

 

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #8
This stuff is a white stick. You break off a piece and knead it til it has a uniform color, then use it.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #9
This is the same kind of stuff. Works great. I used it once and never had to do it again. It's been years now.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NAPA-Consumer-Brands-NCB-8277-Epoxy-Adhesive-Water-Weld-2-oz-/261311605831?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cd762ac47&vxp=mtr
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #10
I really do stand by the windshield adhesive. it is designed fir automotive grade glass and plastic as well as metal.

how well did you lube the windows up, and did you use the stock tabs, or the parts store ones? the parts store ones are more then twice the size and work fine
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #11
Thanks guys. I'm going out there right now to see what exactly happened and to take some pics.

Vinnie, I did see that water weld in the store but I didn't know it was equivalent to what you used. I did use jb weld once but that was without roughing up the glass.

Haystack, yes I'm using the stock tabs. I'm definitely using the parts store ones this time as the stock ones are BEAT. I saw online that it's possible I had the tabs in the wrong position (too close/far apart from the rear of the window).

As for the adhesive,I used it last time but I think maybe it failed because I didn't apply it right. I'll try to get more in the tab "channel" next time. Also, when you say lube the window are you referring to the run channel or lift channel? Everything seemed to move smoothly enough.
home ported E7's, HO intake, 93 Tbird cam, 65mm tb, Shorties, dynomax lers, TC 3.73 rear, Mach 1 springs, Bauman shiftkit, epoxy mod, SD, 3G alt, black magic fan

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #12
lube everything that moves.

I did this to my old 87. twice it failed before I lube everything, then it worked good as new. it lasted for about 2 1/2 years when I junked the car  I am a heavy smoker, so I use the windows much more frequently then most people would.

clean the window up really well, then do a dry fit. run the window up and down a couple of times and see where the channels want to stay. the parts store ones are in the dorman area and almost twice the size of stock. I drilled some small holes in them just incase. then when you have it sitting just right, hold the window up, or run it down holding the glass in place, then dump a bunch of that  in there and roll the window track back into the window until its all the way up. leave it up for a couple of days.

wish ya the best man. good luck. its a pain in the butt
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #13
Thanks a bunch. Too much happening and I won't be able to get to it til this weekend. I'll keep you guys posted.
home ported E7's, HO intake, 93 Tbird cam, 65mm tb, Shorties, dynomax lers, TC 3.73 rear, Mach 1 springs, Bauman shiftkit, epoxy mod, SD, 3G alt, black magic fan

Help...Window is detaching from frame

Reply #14
Has anyone noticed those scissor arm supports don't naturally rest at the bottom of the glass whether all the way up, down or in between?  Mine seem to want to pull the bottom edge of the window inward.  I couldn't find an adjustment to ease the conflict between the lateral position of the glass and those two clips.

I used Permatex® PermaPoxy™ 30 Minute High Strength General Purpose Epoxy before reading this and it's curing now.  I suspect I will be doing this again.

Does anyone know the part number of those Dorman clips?  I searched Dorman's site and Advance Auto and I couldn't find them.
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