Vent window repair

[Andy4639]

I want to say up front. I will never do this again after I get the other one done. I have spent over 15 hrs on one vent window rebuild and it's done but it sure don't look pretty.

The rivets and tool I got was useless by myself. That was $15.00 wasted money. No instructions on how to use it and even if there where some, it's not for a one man show. With that being said I used my rivet gun and I hope it will all work out.
The rubber seals are a pain to insert into the V-channel and keep them in place while you fit everything together. I have the drivers side done and I'm not looking forward to the passenger side at all. Even though I know it needs being done.
I will be more than happy to pay for new vent windows next time around!
It's not perfect but it does seem to work ok. So far anyway's.

[toolboxchev]

15 hours, I can see why your frustated. To be honest, to me, It does not look that bad. Understood that we have expectations when attempting something for the first time maybe.

Hot water is your friend with rubber. The only thing I am noticing other than that is maybe you started with a very rusty part to begin with.

[LockDoc]

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All vent window seals are not created equal.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=660294

Start at post #29 if you don't want to read the whole thread.

LockDoc

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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All vent window seals are not created equal.

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=660294

Start at post #29 if you don't want to read the whole thread.

LockDoc

I got mine from GMCPual. Percision seals. I just can't seem to do the rivets right. Trying to use a vise and by myself also didn't help. I'm going to have my son help me on the other one. I read all the threads and used soapy water to boot.

[GMCPaul]

Using a hammer with tool can be a real pitta and this definitely should have 2 people involved when using a hammer. If you have a welder cut the tip off the blind rivet setting tool and weld it to fixed end c-clamp and then use c-clamp to compress rivets. You may need to grind some on the opposite c-clamp end

so it fits best against vent window frame or you can use a small steel wedge between the c-clamp end and the vent window frame.
So much easier than trying to use hammer method with tool by yourself or with someone.
Paul Jr @ GMCPauls

[Grumpy old man]

Ecklers and others sell the Corvette MMI-rivet-ll tool for the vent window rivets .

https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corv...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Grumpy old man]

I think with a little welding and grinding you could use one of the setting tools and a set of c clamp vise grips to build your own rivet setting tool on the cheap .



https://www.amazon.com/General-Tools.../dp/B00004T7VT

[71meangreenc10]

Andy,

I use a Arbor Press with the rivet tool. Works good for the most part.

Smitty

[Andy4639]

Another problem I had was my rivet gun wouldn't fit inside the channel at some spots. I had to use washers to build it up but they didn't seem as tight as the other ones. I will look at building a tool for doing the passenger side. I may cut the tool in half and weld them to each side of a old c clamp that way it's narrow enough to fit inside the channels and other tight places.
If it works I may pull the drivers side back a part and redo it.

[tdangle]

I agree on just buying new ones. I rebuilt mine, was a real PITA! I also just tried to use pop rivets and it sorta worked. Only thing is now I have more noise than before. I'm considering 1 piece window conversion as I think there would be a lot less wind noise.

[Astro-Balls]

Try these links..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiZO...e_gdata_player

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/repl...window-rubber/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6l12NxeMVDM

[Andy4639]

I cut the rivet tool in half and welded each end to a old c clamp. I also welded a small washer on the flat side to give the rivet a centering piece. I will post pictures of it when I start on the other vent window.

[69Tom]

They more I read about these, the more I think I'm just going to have one of the board members doing them restore mine. Seems like a lot of work, requiring tools I'm only going to use once.

[CUSTOM/10]

This is the tool I used to rebuild my vent windows after attempting the hammer & punch ( peace of crap ). This worked very good on most all the rivets, one or two were a bit difficult to get at, but I did get them. It is a teadious job, but if you take your time it can be done and come out nice.

Gary

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Ecklers and others sell the Corvette MMI-rivet-ll tool for the vent window rivets .

https://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corv...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

This is the tool I used to rebuild my vent windows after attempting the hammer & punch ( peace of crap ). This worked very good on most all the rivets, one or two were a bit difficult to get at, but I did get them. It is a teadious job, but if you take your time it can be done and come out nice.

Gary

Yes I'm thinking hard about buying one.
I found a used one on E bay and may buy it.

[CUSTOM/10]

Here's how mine came out.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by CUSTOM/10

Here's how mine came out.

Those look good man! Good job.

[Toro]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

I cut the rivet tool in half and welded each end to a old c clamp. I also welded a small washer on the flat side to give the rivet a centering piece. I will post pictures of it when I start on the other vent window.

I'm interested in what that looks like too. Sounds like that may be the way to go, especially when most of the seal kits include the hammer tool. Cut it, weld it, and go.

[Andy4639]

I drilled the rivets out of the passenger side today and cleaned everything up. I painted it all back like it's suppose to be. Tomorrow I will see how my make shift tool works. I didn't take the top rivets out as posted in here and hope I can get the rubber installed OK.

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by Toro

I'm interested in what that looks like too. Sounds like that may be the way to go, especially when most of the seal kits include the hammer tool. Cut it, weld it, and go.

It's not as pretty as most tools but hopefully it will work OK.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

The dude replacing my windows has been in the business since vintage. He says if I supply parts he'll install the door windows for $100, seals & handles included. I was planning to do everything less rebuild the vents, but it's $100.

[dmjlambert]

I bought the Precision seals and rivet kit with the special little punch from GMC Pauls. It did not go very well on the first one, and I had removed the rivets that hold the bottom of the triangle part.


It was impossible for me to get the rivets back in there. So I used some small screws.

Using the punch for the other rivets did require my wife's help to give me some more hands for about 10 minutes of the job.

For the second window I watched a video online where a guy showing how it's done took loose other rivets, but not those particular ones I had trouble with. So the second one was much easier.

https://youtu.be/WiZOiHmcb_w

I also did not remove the large rivet that pivots for the window. Instead, I removed the smaller rivets that hold the pivot to the frame.

I found that the new rivets from GMC Paul were not drilled deep enough. So when they were completely squashed with the punch, the rivet did not hold the thin metal pieces tight in some places in the assembly. So, I had some drilling and re-doing and experimenting around and thinking about it to waste some of my time.

I finally just took a little drill bit and drilled the rivets slightly deeper and it made a big difference in how easy it all was. I did some looking online to find rivets made with a deeper hole depth, and it was just too overwhelming to look into it and figure out which ones to buy, so I decided next time I do this I will simply buy the rivet kit from GMC Pauls again and drill them out a little before I begin.


After this experience I feel it would be no big deal to do another set of these using the rivet punch.

[70LonghornCST]

I agree with leaving in those two bottom rivets in if you can help it. I found out the hard way the first time I ever messed with a set of these. The second time, leaving those two rivets in, the only issue I had was the having the right rivet gun to fit in the channel as mentioned above. I had a cheap one from Harbor Freight that had different sized tips, which were either larger or smaller based on the size of the rivet. It is a pain at times to build these windows, but by the second attempt, and even the third and fourth, you'll start feeling much more adept at it.

Good luck and have fun learning. That's part of the fun!

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I bought the Precision seals and rivet kit with the special little punch from GMC Pauls. It did not go very well on the first one, and I had removed the rivets that hold the bottom of the triangle part.
Attachment 1965566

It was impossible for me to get the rivets back in there. So I used some small screws.

Using the punch for the other rivets did require my wife's help to give me some more hands for about 10 minutes of the job.

For the second window I watched a video online where a guy showing how it's done took loose other rivets, but not those particular ones I had trouble with. So the second one was much easier.

https://youtu.be/WiZOiHmcb_w

I also did not remove the large rivet that pivots for the window. Instead, I removed the smaller rivets that hold the pivot to the frame.

I found that the new rivets from GMC Paul were not drilled deep enough. So when they were completely squashed with the punch, the rivet did not hold the thin metal pieces tight in some places in the assembly. So, I had some drilling and re-doing and experimenting around and thinking about it to waste some of my time.

I finally just took a little drill bit and drilled the rivets slightly deeper and it made a big difference in how easy it all was. I did some looking online to find rivets made with a deeper hole depth, and it was just too overwhelming to look into it and figure out which ones to buy, so I decided next time I do this I will simply buy the rivet kit from GMC Pauls again and drill them out a little before I begin.
Attachment 1965569

After this experience I feel it would be no big deal to do another set of these using the rivet punch.

[LockDoc]

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Any reason you couldn't grind the sides of the rivet gun tip down? At least on the ones with the interchangeable tips.

LockDoc

[Andy4639]

Well the tool I made didn't work as I thought. It was to big to go into the channel also on the vent. But that's OK, because I used my rivet gun today and used some small washers and it worked just fine. I finished up in less than a hr. It was a smooth go this time. I also used some White Lithium Grease Spray Lubricant for the rubber and it went right into place with only hand pressure. I'm very happy with it.
Now I can finish up the cab and start on wiring the truck back up.