Sliding glass replacement, the easy way

[Don Jaksa]

The Previous Owner had replaced two sliding glass panes with plexiglass

A Passenger side small #4 and a Driver large side #2


They worked good enough until I got replacement glass from Sirum

Alex Sirum Vintage GMC Alex Sirum Vintage GMC Motorhomes

Your source for 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome sales, service, and parts.

sirumvintagegmc.com

I also purchased the replacement rubber

The original early coaches used a wire wrapped matrix that wore out leaving only the metal


I punch a hole one inch from the end of the rubber seal and use string to work the new seal into place

Plenty of soapy water too



Glass grippers also help


I use a piece of trim tile to push the rubber into place
I have the original screens for all the windows


I cut a new rubber gasket to fit between the metal catch and the glass
press the metal wiper into place


All finished with this window


Slides open and close nice and easy and fits snug into the seal
I do not have a working latch to lock the window. It was broken

I had 1/16th" shaved off of the top and bottom of the glass
This allows the new glass to fit into the frame without dismantling the coach and the whole window frame
The new rubber seal is snugger than the original and makes up for the difference (at least some of it)

 

[Don Jaksa]

After getting the second window shaved down 1/16th on each end, I started on the replacement procedure

Wood block, soapy water and a hammer gets the edge piece off

Getting the plexi-glass window out was easy as it flexed easily
The PO used a metal bar to simulate the curve of the GMC glass


Clean everything you can while you have the chance with the glass out

Clean the channel out real good


The new window was still long by about 1/64th on one end
I used a sanding block and spent 45 minutes working the section until it would JUST BARELY squeeze into the window frame.
I had to FLEX the glass in order to get it into the frame
Using the glass grabber really helped


Copious amounts of soapy water



That was a challenge but was easier than dismantling the inside and taking the window frame out

Now to put the rubber in place
Easier since the glass is shaved

 

[Don Jaksa]

Window screen retainer replacement
Better than nothing department

The original GMC screen had these "flying ears" to keep tension on the screen


They tend to break off


Using a zip tie it gives some tension back to the screen
You have to place them like so

The plastic head rides in the channel
Like I said, better than nothing and seems to work

 

[dsmithy]

Don,
You are fecking brilliant!
The after market vendors focus on the later coaches as you well know. Those of us with early coaches end up inventing solutions when our needs don't span the length of the build years. This post will encourage if not actually solve the problem for many of us with '73 and '74 coaches. Well done!

 

[Don Jaksa]

I mark and cut the drain channels
I should make a steel punch that cuts the opening in place

Pulled the rubber and did the usual split on the slide part
You can see my pull string still attached
The pull string and the glass handlers make this a pretty easy job

Once everything is in place, I shut the window, making sure I get a proper seal and then just leave it alone for 3 days to let it cure in place





Now the Canyon Lands is all glass once more
And it slides nice and smooth

 

[Don Jaksa]

Since I was on a roll, I decided to work on the last big window task, the passenger side big dinette sliding glass rubber seal



This window seal must had been redone in the past and they used silicon to glue it in place

Looks like something dredged up from the seabed


100 and one ways to remove old silicon from a metal frame







After effort, the channel is clean and ready for the new rubber

 

[Don Jaksa]

I finished the big window and now have moved on to the toll windows in the front compartment

It took three days to carefully approach removing the metal frame from the sliding glass

The key was to use this tool to get under the metal edge ON BOTH SIDES and that gave enough "give" to easily mallet/drift off the metal piece

And lots of soapy water

Still it is a hairy procedure

I whacked on it with every edge piece of wood I had

Then, using the power of mental thinking I tried finesse and got it off. Next one will be easy


moving along

 

[RF_Burns]

I checked that the brush seals were in good shape, so I didn't need to take that metal bar off to replace the felts. The brush seal on that bar only seals when the window is closed.

 

[Don Jaksa]

Early window: The new rubber requires cutting 1/8" of the metal piece so it does not catch in the new felt

I wish the original brushes were usable as I find them superior to the replacement greys

 

[Biggamehunter]

Not to highjack but is there a source for the fixed glass window seal? I found this this one ,https://www.dkhardware.com/rubber-g...ial-11-32-base-width-av539-product-16415.html What do you think?
Thanks

 

[Don Jaksa]

I can't speak to the fixed window seals

I just did the sliding windows

The early coaches used aluminum window frames and felt windows seals

I sourced mine from Applied

WINDOW FELT KIT - GMC MOTORHOME

We are a major supplier of GMC Motor Home, RV Parts. Serving GMC MOTORHOME owners everywhere.

www.gmcrvparts.com

The later coaches used this

FIXED EXTERIOR WINDOW RUBBER SEALS FOR 76 TO 78

We are a major supplier of GMC Motor Home, RV Parts. Serving GMC MOTORHOME owners everywhere.

www.gmcrvparts.com

 

[Biggamehunter]

The early coaches used type I windows seals

I sourced mine from Applied

WINDOW FELT KIT - GMC MOTORHOME

We are a major supplier of GMC Motor Home, RV Parts. Serving GMC MOTORHOME owners everywhere.

www.gmcrvparts.com

The later coaches used this

FIXED EXTERIOR WINDOW RUBBER SEALS FOR 76 TO 78

We are a major supplier of GMC Motor Home, RV Parts. Serving GMC MOTORHOME owners everywhere.

www.gmcrvparts.com

That is the sliding glass channel. I need the fixed window glass channel. for a 1973. I have the sliding glass channels. My fixed glass has moved forward and I can just about stick a pencell through the opening. Part of the rubber is hard and the rest is soft and moveable. I have been told that I may need to install the glass with sealant.

 

[Don Jaksa]

I understand your dilemma.

Perhaps others can provide guidance

 

[Don Jaksa]

Cockpit windows:

Before...

I cleaned the frame and used steel wool to prep the surface


After carefully masking off the windows, I spray painted the aluminum frames with SEM Self-Etching Primer in black



Worked great but the tape took a strip of paint off the body


Passenger side



Now to re-assemble the rubber seals and glue the center post back in place

 

[Biggamehunter]

Not to highjack but is there a source for the fixed glass window seal? I found this this one ,https://www.dkhardware.com/rubber-g...ial-11-32-base-width-av539-product-16415.html What do you think?
Thanks

Tried it and it will not work.

 

[Luke]

Not to highjack but is there a source for the fixed glass window seal? I found this this one ,https://www.dkhardware.com/rubber-g...ial-11-32-base-width-av539-product-16415.html What do you think?
Thanks

This looks like what is in my '73, I'm not sure if other types will work.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/metro,WC1696,door+window+glass+channel,12412, Metro part# wc1696

Also on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PGZX73Q/ref=sw_img_1?smid=A3EAN8AK2X1NJM&psc=1, Steele Rubber Products 70-3572-256

 

[Biggamehunter]

This looks like what is in my '73, I'm not sure if other types will work.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/metro,WC1696,door+window+glass+channel,12412, Metro part# wc1696

Also on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PGZX73Q/ref=sw_img_1?smid=A3EAN8AK2X1NJM&psc=1, Steele Rubber Products 70-3572-256

That rubber would not work, had to use setting rubber and seal to the glass with RTV. You can find the setting rubber on CRL Websight. Just Rember to use some sealant when you put the frame back together. Ask me how I know. that window frame will hold water.