Replacing window glazing channels

[RotoFlexible]

Forgive me if this has been covered, it's a bit hard to search for...

On the S2 and perhaps later, the side windows run in guides (long in the front, shorter in the rear). I have the front guide out. Inside the guide is a "glazing channel,", a U-shaped metal channel lined with fuzzy stuff. I am guessing that the replacement "glazing channels" offered consist of the U-shaped metal piece with its fuzzy stuff - not just the fuzzy stuff.

I tried to pull the channel out of the guide longitudinally but of course it is frozen solid. The guide retains the channel from being lifted out unless the sides of the channel are pinched inward, probably destroying the channel. The shape of the channel (narrower at the bottom of the "U" than at the top) suggests that it is installed by snapping it into place rather than by sliding it in lengthwise.

Any insight gratefully accepted!

[65 Lotus]

If you look at the back of the channel you will see rivets I believe.

Scrape back the fuzzy stuff on the inside of the channel and you should see the other side of the rivet.

The rivets have to be drilled out and new ones installed with the new fuzzy channels.

You have to take care that there isn't much protruding material on either side of the rivet; i.e., you have to squash the daylights out of the rivet to get it to all go back together and work well. It's a challenge.

[RotoFlexible]

If you look at the back of the channel you will see rivets I believe. Scrape back the fuzzy stuff on the inside of the channel and you should see the other side of the rivet.

The guide (the long bit that extends up out of the door) is riveted to a sheet metal piece that bolts to the door. However the rivets don't extend through the metal shell of the glazing channel (i.e., don't appear when the felt is pulled away). It should be possible to remove that glazing channel without drilling rivets - just a question of how. In my photo, you can see the sheet metal, the guide, and the glazing channel in cross section, reading outside to inside, and the side-view of a rivet between the guide and sheet metal.

[gordont]

Andrew

I have just been through this (arduous) process.

The U channel should be riveted direct to the chromed framework with aluminium rivets (so you can belt flat on the indide so they do not scratch the glass.

You need to:
drill out the rivets
cut the new channel to length.
Drill channel to suit, check alighnment as it is offset.
use alloy rivets to re-attach, I used a punch and sheel bench for this

I will try and send you an image BUT have just finished this job myself but will see what I can find and email

cheers

Gordon

[RotoFlexible]

Maybe this is something that changed early in production. I tore out about 3" of the felt from the bottom of the glazing channel - no sign of rivets. The chromed guide channel has lips at the top that retain the "glazing channel" (the light sheet metal U with the felt glued inside). These don't show too well on my photo. It looks like you can (somehow) remove the old glazing channel, then snap or slide in the new one. I'm reluctant to attempt it until I have new glazing channels in hand.

There are four rivets that attach the chromed guide channel to a sheet metal part, but these clearly don't go through the glazing channel as well. There should be no reason to remove them.

[Famous Frank]

Andrew,

There is no need to remove rivets from the front (long) channel. The long flexible fuzzy U-Shaped channel is only glued in place. Start to pry it out at the bottom and the rest should pull out.

The short rear channels are rivited in place. Should you have to replace those, you do drill out the rivets. Then replace the rivets with new channel with Aluminum rivets. These you can tap down almost flat with a small hammer and dowel.

I sell both the front long flexiable channel and the short rigid rear channel.
When the felt is worn out the windows fall part way or sometimes all the way down. When the felt is new, the windows stay in place but they are hard to move up and down.

Famous Frank
66 S2 SE, 26R, and others.

[RotoFlexible]

I removed the rear glazing channel holder and the glazing channels are indeed attached directly to the sheet metal - however, by small flat-head screws with nuts on the other side, not by rivets. So either they were made that way on my car, or the glazing channels were replaced by the original owner - unlikely since he only owned the car for a year or so. I remain fairly confident that the front glazing channels are held in place by lips in the guide channel.

As always, this project is turning into an adventure.

[Emma-Knight]

In 26 5126 it was
: rear - riveted u-profile / felt channels with countersunk rivets / flat head
front - u-channels riveted to brass/chrome channels with slightly raised head rivets,
flat on the underside. packed with spacers to fill gap between U-channel and brass channel
(packing can be seen on the photo)
Front felt channels glued in - no rivets

Anna (is fighting with the rear channels as PO has drilled two more holes for rivets. Then I had these two welded up - and welding shop took stainless welding material... - no galvanising possible - so I have to drill out and welding has to be done again...)

[RotoFlexible]

An update on this: I removed the glazing channels from the guide channel by prying them out (destroying them in the process, but they are to be replaced in any case). All the chrome bits are at the platers' now. I'll have to rivet (or screw) the guide channel back onto its sheet metal framework after the plating is completed. The new glazing channels (and various seals) have been ordered from MacGregor in Canada.

I also won a pair of stainless steel door card top edge strips on ebay - simple "U" shaped channels that carry the inner fuzzy weatherstrip. I had heard that someone would be making these up; not sure whether these are new or from a previously fabricated batch.

The doors are back on the car, but with the latch carrier at the platers', I'll have to hold the doors shut with bungees if I want to drive it.