Vent Window

[GTX.JCW]

Ok.. I bought a pair of vent windows for the GTX and they are not too bad, but still have pits in the chrome. So I have decided to take them to a plater and have them re-chromed.

My question is.... How do you remove the chrome portions from the base metal frame? I have looked and there is one screw at the top of the frame, but the rest of the attaching bits are rivets, and they appear to come from the back of the frame, as though they were part of the chrome piece.

I know I can drill out the rivets to remove the chrome, but how do you reattach it?!?!

I'll be waiting for a reply before I break out the drill on this project.


Thanks in advance~!


Jeff

 

[Propwash]

Jeff,

There is pot metal plugs from the outer chrome frame that go through the metal inner frame and are sandwiched down to secure the two together. On my roadrunner there was 3 pairs of them pushed through the metal frame. Only one of each pair was smashed down. I took a dremel tool and ground flush the smashed one to seperate the inner frame from the outer. After chrome, I reassembled and used a punch to tenderly smash down the second plug of the pair that was left in tact from the get go.

Hope it helps. If you got a pic I could tell ya if you have the same senario as mine.

 

[GTX.JCW]

Thanks...

I will take a picture and post it tomorrow as I am just about ready to run out for the evening....


This will help a bunch....


Jeff

 

[dave5237]

Prop is right. I had two sets. As for the rivets. I drilled mine out and re-attached them with screws and some home made angle brackets.

 

[GTX.JCW]

Photos...

Here are a couple of pics of the vent window and the rivets..

I think I understand how the removal & re-attachment work..

If I am correct, the rivet with the cross mark is the current attaching point and the nice round one is ready for the next evolution.



The right frame appears to have both rivets punched on the upper attachment point. Will this be an issue?

 

[MoparMitch]

Just like Prop says , extra sets to re-attach with . I set mine up in my vise to reassemble, used good soft towel backup and a small bolt as the drive pin. Modified some attachments to my ball joint press, and used it to press rivets down. I think youll be ok with 2 out of 3 rivets on the one side.

 

[GTX.JCW]

OK..

Now off to the garage and find that drill!....

Then to the platers ...


Thanks a bunch!



Jeff

 

[Propwash]

Just like Prop says , extra sets to re-attach with . I set mine up in my vise to reassemble, used good soft towel backup and a small bolt as the drive pin. Modified some attachments to my ball joint press, and used it to press rivets down. I think youll be ok with 2 out of 3 rivets on the one side.

I agree, should work fine.......and honestly what choice do you have if one set is already pressed? It's pot metal, well all know how great of a material that is to work with. Forget welding or soldering anything to it.

 

[GTX.JCW]

Off to the chrome shop...

Well, they came off very easy. I purchased a Dremel set and ground down the fasteners and off they came....

After looking at the rest of the parts that came along, I discovered that the lower frame for the right vent window, has the latching lever post broken off!.
It looks like they didn't (or couldn't ) remove the pin that holds the latching lever to the post, and just twisted it off. Oh well....

I will use the original lower frame when it is time to replace everything. I just have to remove it and send it to the chrome shop before putting it all back together.

There does appear to be some corrosion on the metal frames, so I will wire brush and paint these while the pieces are at the chrome shop.

Any recommendations on paint? Primer, etc..


Thanks,


Jeff

 

[dave5237]

Well, they came off very easy. I purchased a Dremel set and ground down the fasteners and off they came....

After looking at the rest of the parts that came along, I discovered that the lower frame for the right vent window, has the latching lever post broken off!.
It looks like they didn't (or couldn't ) remove the pin that holds the latching lever to the post, and just twisted it off. Oh well....

I will use the original lower frame when it is time to replace everything. I just have to remove it and send it to the chrome shop before putting it all back together.

There does appear to be some corrosion on the metal frames, so I will wire brush and paint these while the pieces are at the chrome shop.

Any recommendations on paint? Primer, etc..


Thanks,


Jeff

You might want to finish the frame the color of the car because you can see some of the frame on the inside in some areas where your vent gasket may not cover ( found that out the hard way ). Good luck.

 

[GTX.JCW]

Many thanks..

I am quite sure that had you not made that comment about some portions not being covered by gasket , I would have just primered and painted it silver!

Now I need to find some QQ1 in a rattle can!


Thanks again,


Jeff