68 Nova quarter glass question

[DRCBOWTIE]

On my 68 SS Nova I have a not so uncommon issue, they don't work.

Removed everything and find the glass is missing the metal channel guide that attaches to the glass edge. I have a pair of new repro channel guides, ones with the plastic tip that will ride in the pillar metal / felt strip.

I have the original pillar metal / felt stripes, ones with the correct metal double channel, so I can now attach the repro channel guides to the glass.

But a few questions: First, is there an adhesive to secure the metal channel guides to the window glass edge?

And, I also assume there should be a glass stop, to stop the glass from rolling down too far. I don't find any stop. I do see about 7" below the regulator a small screw hole and about 10" back from that another screw hole, so are these for attaching a glass stop bracket?

And, as these windows never worked very well from the factory are there any suggestions while I am in there to improve on their operation?

Thanks.

[Schonyenko2]

There is no real way to make them work well. If you roll them down to where the glass doesn't show, they get at a bind angle and don't come back up. It is a bad design. Many Nova guys who replace the rear seat panels don't cut the holes for the window cranks so there's no handles for people to roll down the windows.
My 2 cents, don't fight it. Leave them up.

[DRCBOWTIE]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There is no real way to make them work well. If you roll them down to where the glass doesn't show, they get at a bind angle and don't come back up. It is a bad design. Many Nova guys who replace the rear seat panels don't cut the holes for the window cranks so there's no handles for people to roll down the windows.
My 2 cents, don't fight it. Leave them up. </div></div>

Good point. But as I have everything apart and do have the original pillar strip with the metal double channel &amp; channel guide with the plastic tip I'll see how it works. I'm thinking if it does to also put an L bracket to make a stop so it does not roll down too far.

Or, just leave them up like everybody else.

Thanks.

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My 2 cents, don't fight it. Leave them up. </div></div>

That's my 2 cents as well, they can be challenging no matter how many of the small parts you replace, align, and lubricate - they just get stuck. I put a window sticker on each side, keeps people from rolling them down when I'm not looking (read; kiddies!).

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h68/aacorp/70YenkoGobiwithNMWdecal.jpg (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/aacorp/media/70YenkoGobiwithNMWdecal.jpg.html)

[Bill Rose]

I guess I don't really understand what the problem is, with the Nova rear windows. There's no reason why they shouldn't work.

The driver side window in my 69 Nova was out of the track when I got it home. The &quot;slider&quot; that rides up the B pillar was just out of the track. It was a simple fix. I just rolled the window down, slid the thing back into the channel, and rolled the window up. Both of my rear windows go up and down with no issues.

The Nova window guides are very simple, with few moving parts. You can use windshield Urethane to glue window channel to the glass, but from the factory, they used a rubber piece that was pressed into the channel to secure it to the glass.

[Tommy]

I've had several Novas over the years and have had issues with most every one of the 1/4 windows. My Nephew rolled down the back window of my 19,000 original mile original paint 68 Nova and I had to pull the back seat and rear panel out to get the window back up and it had probably never been lowered before my Nephew tried it. Sometimes you can manage them without issues but I have had 2 that were a major pain. My black 68 is void of rear window cranks (I sawz-alled the splined shaft off the regulator)and are locked in the up position.


Tommy <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif

[DRCBOWTIE]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bill Rose</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I guess I don't really understand what the problem is, with the Nova rear windows. There's no reason why they shouldn't work.

The driver side window in my 69 Nova was out of the track when I got it home. The &quot;slider&quot; that rides up the B pillar was just out of the track. It was a simple fix. I just rolled the window down, slid the thing back into the channel, and rolled the window up. Both of my rear windows go up and down with no issues.

The Nova window guides are very simple, with few moving parts. You can use windshield Urethane to glue window channel to the glass, but from the factory, they used a rubber piece that was pressed into the channel to secure it to the glass. </div></div>

Yes Bill, they should work if all is in proper order I think. I do know so many just don't work.

I am determined to get mine to work. I have the original B pillar track with the double metal channel, and the repro window guides with the plastic tip.

I have mine apart and can see what can go wrong. The window tilts as it lowers, the glass can wind up with the front top of the glass at a tough angle against the B pillar, and if lowered too far can bind up, then it sticks and won't crank up.

I intend to lube everything, make sure the window glass stops right at the tip of the horizontal felt / interior panel. I think if the glass top falls below the horizontal felt the glass shifts sideways a little, then the angle mentioned above is more exaggerated, and it binds up.

The regulator is supposed to have a built in stop, but I intend to just add a simple L bracket that will stop the arm the glass rides on, keeping the glass from lowering too far. I hope!

[Bill Rose]

Everything you wrote sounds good. When I roll the window down, it stops before the point where the slider would come out of the track. So maybe yours has an issue with the built in stop in the regulator, and mine still stops. Your solution is good. What ever it takes to stop the window, should work. Most of these Chevys have adjustable stops/not sure why Nova's don't, but adding one sounds like a good solution.

[Schonyenko2]

Well, I hope that all works. I know the ones in my bought new yellow deuce would work ok if you wiggled the glass a little as you turned the crank. I quit rolling them down 1, because they worked poorly, and 2 because if you had drunks in the back seat, they tended to forget that it wasn't a hard top, wrapped their hand aroung the B pillar like it was a wing window, and promptly got their hand slammed with the door. Not pretty. Even I lost the skin on 4 fingers that way.
So if ya get em to work, put a caution sign in the back seat, and don't haul drunks. (big smile)

[Bill Rose]

Ok, I'll make a note of that, so I don't forget....&quot;No drunks in the back seat&quot;......or if I do haul drunks back there, remove the window cranks!!

[jasonL78]

Both 68 Novas I restored I got the back windows to roll up and down. My 68 L78 I had working perfect. The 68 L79 I think 1 side is good the other you have to wiggle the window at a point to get it to come back up. I spent alot of time with the rear channel, the window rest in. If this isn't straight but twisted it will bind the window up. You have to get the angle just right. Alot of factors you are dealing with. I used window urethan to put my metal guide back onto the glass. A little white lithum grease also helped the front guide in the channel. The key is finding rear window guides that aren't all bent up. I heard the reproduction rear channel originals are not good, so you only option are originals that aren't damaged. But they are getting very hard to find.

[DRCBOWTIE]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Both 68 Novas I restored I got the back windows to roll up and down. My 68 L78 I had working perfect. The 68 L79 I think 1 side is good the other you have to wiggle the window at a point to get it to come back up. I spent alot of time with the rear channel, the window rest in. If this isn't straight but twisted it will bind the window up. You have to get the angle just right. Alot of factors you are dealing with. I used window urethan to put my metal guide back onto the glass. A little white lithum grease also helped the front guide in the channel. The key is finding rear window guides that aren't all bent up. I heard the reproduction rear channel originals are not good, so you only option are originals that aren't damaged. But they are getting very hard to find. </div></div>

Thanks, good points. I have repro rear channels and they seem to be o/k. My originals are grungy. I'll see soon if my plan works out, making sure a get an accurate stop in the down position.

[DRCBOWTIE]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Schonyenko2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, I hope that all works. I know the ones in my bought new yellow deuce would work ok if you wiggled the glass a little as you turned the crank. I quit rolling them down 1, because they worked poorly, and 2 because if you had drunks in the back seat, they tended to forget that it wasn't a hard top, wrapped their hand aroung the B pillar like it was a wing window, and promptly got their hand slammed with the door. Not pretty. Even I lost the skin on 4 fingers that way.
So if ya get em to work, put a caution sign in the back seat, and don't haul drunks. (big smile) </div></div>

Good point. I used to work for a Chevy dealer (body shop) back in the day, and Nova's were always the &quot;bad step-child&quot; of the muscle cars. Nova owners a little freaky.

I don't recall if drunks in the back seat was standard or ordered optional, but most Nova's I know did have them. Not sure if the drunk in the back seat knew if the window was open or not. <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/3gears.gif <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[DRCBOWTIE]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jasonL78</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Both 68 Novas I restored I got the back windows to roll up and down. My 68 L78 I had working perfect. The 68 L79 I think 1 side is good the other you have to wiggle the window at a point to get it to come back up. I spent alot of time with the rear channel, the window rest in. If this isn't straight but twisted it will bind the window up. You have to get the angle just right. Alot of factors you are dealing with. I used window urethan to put my metal guide back onto the glass. A little white lithum grease also helped the front guide in the channel. The key is finding rear window guides that aren't all bent up. I heard the reproduction rear channel originals are not good, so you only option are originals that aren't damaged. But they are getting very hard to find. </div></div>

O/k, I found the original window channels, with the metal groove that the glass metal guide runs in. I have repro glass metal guides with the plastic tip. These repro pieces look o/k and do run smoothly in the channel.

So, secured the window guides on the glass with window urethane.

Now the issue is I need very short self tapping screws to screw the window channel to the B pillar. I can see it has to be a flat head and no shoulder on the underside. Does anyone know a good place to buy a unique screw like that, is it possible someone has old screws like that laying around? I need six.

I think I am close to having Nova rear windows that go up &amp; down.

Thanks. Doug