I've got the vent windows out of my '69 Charger and I'm in the process of taking them apart so I can re-chrome the front piece and polish the stainless steel piece.

My concern is when it comes time to putting them back together.

What have you done?

I read a member here used the glue to glue body panels on. Once on it was forever..

I went through this. Glues/epoxies don't cut it.



There is a single screw at the top already. Add a healthy screw at the lower area where the weatherstrip channel turns. The channel is way deep at that point, won't affect the weatherstrip, and there is a large area of cast frame behind it for drilling and securing a screw into. This will join the two pieces together better that they were originally. Once everything is back in the door... ppffftt

Thanks for the replies fellas.

On the inside of the frame are 6 posts, two at the top, only one is used, two in the middle, only one is used and two towards the bottom, where they used both when making these.

I'll be able to use the two unused ones towards the top and the middle and towards the bottom I'll most likely use metal epoxy as well as the screw.

Thanks again for the feedback.

And BTW Sandy - you've got one cool and well put together web site, not to mention that great looking car! Well done.

ive used windshield urethane to hold it together before and it worked quite well.

Before using glues and screws, try to re-use (hur hur - I've outdone myself here).
Seriously, I re-assembled my vents with the original pins and it holds together just fine. I used a flat punch (kin of like a chisel) and was abble to flaten the upper part of the pin over the attaching frame. With all three pins flattened, the thing is good as new (and, I didn't have to uses the spare pins).

More questions for everyone:

Where did you buy your vent window gaskets?
Good - Bad

How about the rubber that the vent window sits in?


Finally, what about the little round black plastic gaskets/bushings that mount on either side of the upper pivot? Where would one find those?

Thanks in advance.

I've yet to see a wasted vent window gasket. They clean up. I used a bicycle innertube to replace the seal of the glass to it's lower frame.



... trimmed up...



I also used the same innertube rubber and cut out the flat part of the seal at one of the pivot thru the glass. I had 1 NOS pivot package that had new seals (2 parts if IRC). Had to use part of the old seal on one side as there is a spacer that fits in the large hole in the glass. I'm sure by looking around the shop I could have come up with a substitue for that also.

Thanks for the tips!

I have two vent frame assemblies and the one set that I took off of my car, it seems as though the vent window rubber has shrunk as I could see clear through a gap at top point of the vent window.

I'll take a closer look at the spare set I have taken apart and try to fit those in once I get my chrome pieces back.

I like the idea of the bicycle inner tube as a seal for the bottom channel. Did you use any glue or just stick it in there?

Thanks again.

No glue as it was a fairly tight fit. If more than one thickness of rubber is available to you, you might experiment to find the snuggest fit.

The glass channel should use a product called glass setting strip, it has some stickness to it.
Any Glass shop should stock it.

Well, finally I've gotten back to this aspect of my project. Still not complete, but I at least can start putting the rubbers in and install the glass in the coming weeks. We've had a busy summer and although we spent many weekends at the farm, not a lot of time was allocated to working on the car.

Anyways, I thought I'd update all of you and share some progress photos.

I'll also say thanks to all of you that pointed me in the right direction.

I used this thread from the 1970 Charger Registry as a starting point:

1970 Charger Registry - Vent Frame Adventures Thread

Bill out of TN has a fantastic looking Charger and has paid attention to every detail on his car. He also took the time to answer more questions via e-mail and shared extensive photos. Thanks again Bill.

As mentioned in his thread and this one, to get the frame back together I peened over the two unused studs to hold the galvanized frame to the chrome piece.

I liked Sandy's (426Runner) suggestion of using a screw to hold the frame together at the bottom as the two studs or posts were peened during the original assembly.

What we did was clamp the chrome frame onto the work bench and carefully ground the peened studs to ensure the galvanized frame sat flat on the chrome frame. If you don't do this, the burs from the re-chroming process will not allow the unused studs/posts to go through the holes.

We then clamped the galvanized frame in place and drilled a hole through the frame and into the chrome to accept a # 8 screw. We tapped it and used a nut between the galvanized frame and the chrome frame to keep everything snug.

The screw at the top held it in place at the other end and then we peened over the two unused studs.

It's solid as a rock and fit like a glove. I'll install the rubbers next time I'm out there and then the vent window.

Thanks again everyone. Here are some photos to help explain the process.

For Paul