Custom glass needed

[lil hoodlum]

As strange as it may seem, but many of the auto wrecking yards in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area are not open on Saturdays & Sundays. If I were you, I would call the salvage yard in Garland again but on Monday. You may even get to speak to an actual human.

[72gmguy]

It’s worth a try.

[72c20customcamper]

Saw a nice one today . Talked to the owner he has another that needs glass for both doors. He said if he finds an extra he’ll get in touch we exchange cell numbers

[72gmguy]

That is a nice one! Thanks for looking out! I appreciate it.

[Thealien]

They probably added the vent window to stiffen the window frame up since it no longer goes all the way around the door. Kind of like a blazer? I doubt it’s any different than an original glass cut to allow for the vent window? Wouldn’t hurt to try to see if a local glass company would cut an original glass down to fit?

Just a thought.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by Thealien

They probably added the vent window to stiffen the window frame up since it no longer goes all the way around the door. Kind of like a blazer? I doubt it’s any different than an original glass cut to allow for the vent window? Wouldn’t hurt to try to see if a local glass company would cut an original glass down to fit?

Just a thought.

That's not possible. The door glass is tempered. Once glass is tempered, it can't be cut - not with a glass cutter, not with a diamond, not with a laser - without shattering. The only way to do that would be to find someone with the ability to anneal the glass, which requires heating it over 900 degrees Farenheit and then slowly cooling it. The glass could then be cut and would have to be re-tempered before it could be sold as automotive glass.

[72gmguy]

That explains why no one wants to cut the glass down. I guess asc had custom glass made for these back when they were converted. Thanks for everyone’s help and input. I’m hoping with all the help here I will get a good lead. I will keep searching and following up on your suggestions.

[72gmguy]

Just to update: I never found any glass and ended up buying another truck for parts that was just a few hours away. I paid $850 for a complete truck with a bad body but it has good glass. I am going to strip all the convertible specific parts and scrap the rest. Thanks for your help and comments.

[Ziegelsteinfaust]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

I feel your pain. Try finding parts for a 1950 Packard coupe.

I went to the website that Grumpy posted to order some new side windows because mine are crispy critters.

They told me that they don't service my area. Oh well. Back to square one.

If you watch Full Custom Garage. There is a episode where he chopped the cab of a 51 Chevy truck slightly. They used a glass company out of Victorville who are known for cutting, and modifying glass for chops.

It's a father, and son team. So they likely will go to you or it's only a 3 hour drive for you to take it there.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 72gmguy

Just to update: I never found any glass and ended up buying another truck for parts that was just a few hours away. I paid $850 for a complete truck with a bad body but it has good glass. I am going to strip all the convertible specific parts and scrap the rest. Thanks for your help and comments.

You would have most likely paid close to that just for the glass .

[72gmguy]

Originally Posted by 72c20customcamper

You would have most likely paid close to that just for the glass .

I agree and now I have a bunch of convertible specific parts to have as spares or sell to another desperate Dakota owner.

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 72gmguy

I agree and now I have a bunch of convertible specific parts to have as spares or sell to another desperate Dakota owner.

I found you another parts truck I’m assuming the area code is 845

[72gmguy]

Did you happen to see the asking price?

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by 72gmguy

Did you happen to see the asking price?

No price .looks like a project truck gone south

[LONGHAIR]

Frankly, I'm amazed that they still do this, with the way society is today?
I worked in a 4x4 accessory shop all through the 80s and into the early 90s. We had an oddly close relationship with a Dodge dealer in the few years that I was there. We did a lot of "conversions" and modifications to brand new trucks, that were then sold by that dealer. Lift kits and lowering kits as well as custom wheel/tire packages were very common. Apparently, it made them money, because as soon as the latest one was sold, we would have a new one. I was told that they were a good advertising draw, since people would stop in because they saw it. Maybe some of them ultimately buying something else cheaper, with the plan of modifying it later.
The point of all of that was that this dealer also sold the D-50 mini-trucks. We modded a bunch of those too. One of the things we did to them was a removable roof kit. You would saw off the roof at very specific places and them fit these plastic caps back over the cut edges. This gave a finished look when the top was off and they were molded with pins/sockets to fit back together. The top then clipped back in place when desired.
There was another kit that we did where you cut the center out of the top, like a sunroof, but it went all the way back to the rear glass. The glass was permanently removed and a new acrylic cap replaced it. This was clip-on removable by the customer too. It was "sort of" a convertable, without the full commitment to it.
I don't remember the names of either of the companies that made those products, but I would bet they are both long gone.
I would have thought that the lawsuit happy society that we live in would have killed this type of thing, at least for big companies like car dealers. Thinking that the liability would outweigh any benefit? Companies who make and sell such products will (and should) always be around, but they can limit their liability with disclaimers, especially with owner installed products. But buying such things through a new car dealer?

[72c20customcamper]

These were actually done by Chrysler . They sent out the truck to an outside vendor like Ford did at first with the Shelby's.