How to replace your door glass window yourself

[TraceZ]

I went to the dealer and picked up the plastic washers, backs and rivets today to reinstall my window in the new door. I got to looking at the rivets and didnt see any reason to use them. I went to the hardware store and spent $3 on some quality stainless steel fasteners. The nuts have nylon lock rings built into them. I cant see any reason not to use them instead of the rivets.

If you ever have the need to replace the door glass on your car don't hesitate to DIY. It is a PITA to grind and drill out the original rivets but after that it is smooth sailing. I recommend the nuts and bolts over the rivets, too. Most guys like me dont have a rivet gun capable of installing rivets that size anyway. Here are some pictures of all the fastening components and how they go together.

[Z Ya Later]

Sweet, glad to hear everything is coming back together easily. I'm with you on skipping the rivets. Take care man.

[ONLNTM5]

There you go Tracy-thats the way to do it
Now we've all learned something
Great pictures BTW

[Joe 1320]

Great info..... this will be of great value in the archives if people would just use the search feature.

[TraceZ]

I'm seriously considering removing the rivets from my passenger window and replacing them with bolts. That way both doors will match inside. I ordered 2 power window motors last night also. They were both a bit slow and I figured that I'd replace them both as long as I was there. I'll pick up the motors and install the passenger one today.

I also followed the advice of a fellow board member and made 2 new vapor barriers out of heavy visqueen. I used the original passenger side barrier as a pattern and worked from there. The drivers door had no barrier at all, it was missing. My wife suggested using clear 3m double sided tape to attach it. Home Depot sells the stuff with their plastic window insulating kits.

The new drivers door is in primer. The painter says he will be able to shoot it early next week. I cant wait to get my baby back in 1 piece.

[fastTa]

Great info..... this will be of great value in the archives if people would just use the search feature.

Maybe if we made the search button like this.............








Glad to hear everythiing went back together OK Tracy. Good pics!

[ONLNTM5]

I'm seriously considering removing the rivets from my passenger window and replacing them with bolts. That way both doors will match inside.

Hey, I understand that. I am the same way. I couldn’t have one door one way and the other door another way-they HAVE to match. Call me crazy I guess. Also, I have tried that double sided tape thing. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but to me, it ended up looking terrible, plus it didn‘t really stick well.
I have also tried the black sealant thing and it also looked terrible. In addition, with the black sealant, if you have to redo something in the door later on down the road, you end up with the same problem of having to throw away the plastic and cleaning all of that crap off of the door again. I finally tried something simple, which was clear box tape to hold the plastic, and to me, that worked and looked the best, believe it or not, and is easily removed later.
That’s a good idea on replacing the window motors while you are in the door already. Have you ever done it though? Its fun let me tell you.

[Joe 1320]

Maybe if we made the search button like this.............

Now that's funny.

[TraceZ]

I finally tried something simple, which was clear box tape to hold the plastic, and to me, that worked and looked the best, believe it or not, and is easily removed later.

I'll use the box tape then. Thanks for the pointer. That black goop is a disaster.

Update:::

The passenger door R&R project is complete. I replaced the window rivets with bolts, replaced the wondow motor, fixed a couple rattles, re-adjusted the window and lubricated the tracks really well. I also made a new vapor barrier for it. It looks great and the window goes up and down really fast now.

All I need now is for the drivers door to get back from the body shop and the car will once again be in 1 piece. I hope that the paint matches.