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By guido - 13 Years Ago
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Hi, Can anyone tell me if the 1957 Tbird side window upper frame is chromed or stainless steel. I need to get them back to original but don't know if they should be polished, stainless, or rechromed. thanks mike
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By bird55 - 13 Years Ago
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Stainless.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 13 Years Ago
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Mike,
Checked the CTCI resto manual. The widow frame is stainless, and (apparently) routinely gets polished. I was alway under the impression though, that the factory originally "flash chromed" the T-Bird's polished stainless windshield frames. If so, then it's likely the side window frames got the same treatment (?).
P.S. Since that part often gets bent out of shape when changing the glass, if I was doing a concours resto, I'd look for NOS frames and thus simplify the problem.
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By bird55 - 13 Years Ago
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Are you doing it yourself? I did.
You have to go very slow removing so you don't distort it. It is possible to leave it on the glass and do it that way too.
I put in new glass on mine and hand finished the stainless and made a plywood template.
If you are going to remove the trim FIRST make a template of each window side with the trim so you can reinstall it exactly the same. You would be amazed at how wrong they can go back together and then not fit the door/top line. Notice too the original gap at the leading edge of the window to match it.
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By MarkMontereyBay - 13 Years Ago
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Alan,
When you replaced your glass, did you use the butyl tape or urethane glue? If you used the tape do you have any tips on the installation? How did you manage to get the frame off without distorting it? Thanks.
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By bird55 - 13 Years Ago
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Mark, my car is a 55 and that model used a rubber U channel seal between the glass and steel. the 6's and 7's use the other stuff. Originally I think it was sort of some fabric liner. wish I could help you with a better answer but I will say this: It is not an easy job to do all this no matter which you use. you can't get in a hurry.
IMHO the urethane tape would be LESS forgiving than the other stuff. You have to put the frames on the glass then be willing to nudge them around to fit well.
We haven't even got to the part about reinstalling the glass into the track and adjusting it in the door!  
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By bird55 - 13 Years Ago
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Mark, I just reread your ?
You are asking about the channel the glass SITS in OR the track as I call it.
I did use the urethane tape on that part. Still hard to work with, I thought.
To get the glass out I sat it upright on the bench and used solvents and tranny fluid soaking overnite.
Then used wooden drivers and a rubber mallet to get mine off.
I held my breath alot! razor blades and thin putty knives and whatever else you can find might work too.
Good luck
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By MarkMontereyBay - 13 Years Ago
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Thanks Alan,
Here is a link to a Falcon site that has some good info. Seems many glass shops use urethane glue now and that means the glass and the frames are permanently bonded. Using the double backed tape allows for glass removal and installation again if needed. I have some experience installing/adjusting window regulators, channels, etc. as a former Ford Dealer tech so I think I can get through that part. Getting the frame off the glass is the challenge.
http://www.joesfalcon.com/page23.html
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By DANIEL TINDER - 13 Years Ago
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[quote][b]MarkMontereyBay (8/17/2012) Getting the frame off the glass is the challenge.
FYI: Best way is to break the glass and then remove it in pieces.
I had to reuse the original rubber part the held the frame to the glass, as the new repro one I bought was virtually impossible to install without damaging the frame.
Everyone I talked to said to forget the rubber tape that holds the glass in the door channel, and just use the big 3M silicon tube sold in auto part stores. Worked like a charm.
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By MarkMontereyBay - 13 Years Ago
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Dan,
The idea of breaking up the window to get the frame loose feels extreme to me. Of course I have my limits of frustration and glass is more replaceable than a frame. I have two cars that need new glass. The Bird has one passenger door window in need of attention but I can live with it because the window is down all the time. The power window motor is intermittent due to lack of use so I am/was thinking of cleaning and lubing the regulator/tracks and rebuilding or replacing the motor then replacing the glass too. My 65 Galaxie 2DrHdtp is another situation. The glass is good but the factory tint has sun-bleached leaving a patchwork pattern on all the side windows. Looks funky. That means 6 windows to replace. Hate to end up breaking up the windows to find the new repop glass has fitment issues and have no pattern to work from.
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By DANIEL TINDER - 13 Years Ago
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Depends on the window frame & rubber channel. Sometimes the rubber is so hard/dry it slides right off. If the glass was damaged and needed replacing anyway and the frame was in exc. orig. condition, if the glass was balky I wouldn't risk ruining the frame. You could always fit the pieces back together to check size. A hammer blow tends to just crack old glass, and then you pull it apart in large sections.
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