Vent windows

[alfacybersite <acs@domain.elided>]

Sorry I didn't reply to this one sooner. You'll have to take the
interior door panels off. After that, it's a piece of cake. With a
ratchet, longish extension ,and a 13 mm socket, poke it up under the
middle of the windwing. You should be able to see a fairly heavy duty
spring (at least you can on some Spider models) - it's directly below
the spring.

Obviously tightening it will put more of a strain on the glued latches.
Best to tighten and then test drive with door panel / panels off. If
they stay where you want and aren't too stiff, you're all set - until
the latches fall off.

This has been gone over a number of time. Clean everything carefully.
Use a one sided razor blade on the glass and lacquer thinner. Put the
glue part of the latch on a piece of sand paper (say 220 grit) and the
sand paper on a flat surface, then move back and forth. Check it out. If
it's not cupped in the center as some are, you've removed the glue. If
cupped, keep sanding until perfectly flat. Mark carefully on outside
glass where you want to position it and glue it to the glass and tape to
hold in place overnight. I generally cheat a little and move the latch
slightly ahead of where the factory placed it so there is slightly less
tension on it when closed. True, one might get a bit of water trickling
in though.

Regarding the glue, I use PepBoys interior mirror glue. Others on the
Digest have recommended other types / brands of glue which they feel is
superior to the brand PB (and other's) sell.

While it should be necessary, you would make the latch stay on longer by
rolling the window down and pressing on the windwing from the outside
when latching.

Have never done it, but an alternative to someone who uses their
windwings frequently...but first must interrupt. Until recently I always
assumed there were two types of glass on automobiles - laminated and
tempered. However, recently when having a side window custom made for a
Spider, the glass guy asked it the glass was well supported. I said that
it wasn't since the only support was at the rear of the windwing
support. He said it would have to be sent out to be tempered since just
shutting the car door might shatter it. Making a long story
longer...since I was having them make the glass 1/8" narrower than the
original I commented I'd bring it back if it needed to be ground down
even more. Glass guy said they'd have to make a new one since you can't
grind down tempered glass.

Wasn't that exciting? Point is, IF windwing glass Isn't tempered, one
could have a hole drilled behind the windwing latch, tap the windwing
mounting point, and essentially bolt the latch on. Assume either a VW
dealer or aftermarket person has them but the rear opening glass on
Kharmann-Ghias had / have a latch attached to the glass in the same
manner I just described. They used a really neat chromed large oval
headed screw with two small holes for tightening. Looks quite nice and
would be about as permanent a fix as I can think of.

Oh yeah, if the windwings are tempered, have new ones made up and have
holes drilled before tempering.

Funny how little details can become terribly annoying on a car.

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA
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