1/4 glass stainless

[Burdar]

I wanted to run something by everyone.  I've started to sand and polish all the stainless trim on my 68 Dart.  There is a lot of it.  The question I have is about the vertical 1/4 window stainless that separates the 1/4 glass from the side window glass.  The stainless is riveted to an aluminum/pot metal frame in two places.  I'd like to remove the trim to do the sanding and polishing.  The correct way to reinstall it is to obviously rivet it back in place.  However, I don't have access to the correct rivets or tools to do the job.  I had an idea though.  What if I tapped the aluminum/pot metal frame for a small allen head screw?  I could use 4 per 1/4 glass.  I'm sure I could get them in stainless so I could polish those as well. 

I originally thought about just using a through bolt and nylon lock nut, however one of the rivets is visible in the door jamb with the window up.  A nylon lock nut would probably stick out too far and tear the rubber end seal that mounts to the front of the 1/4 panel.  The only problem that I can see with my idea is that the aluminum/pot metal frame isn't very thick.  I wouldn't be able to get lots of thread engagement on the screws if I used one on each side.
They would probably be small enough that I could get a few threads on each side.  It's not a highly stressed area I wouldn't think.  Thoughts

[anlauto]

Would a regular pop-rivet work ?

[Mr Lee]

I made my own rivet out of a screw.  I took a stainless machine screw (i think it was a #8-32) and cut it to length so that it would just stick out the other side about 1/16 - 1/8".  I didnt thread it though the hole but rather just slid it through, so the screw has to be a little skinnier than the hole.  Then took my little trim hammer and just kept tapping the edges of the end of the cut side of the screw til I had peened over the edges, forming a mushroomed head rivet.  The other end of the screw (the side w the head still on it) needs to be resting on a hard surface while doing this.  Sorry i dont have a pic.  But it worked great. Nice and tight if you do it right.


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[Burdar]

That's another great idea thanks.  It can't be pop riveted back on since the mushroomed end would still stick out almost as far as a lock nut.  I guess once I get everything disassembled I can see how thick the frame is, I can decide which way to proceed.

On a related topic, what material did the factory put inside the stainless to hold the side glass?  Is there a replacement? I might talk to a body shop about it to see what they say.  The side glass is loose from what ever material is inside the stainless.  Not sure if it was once an adhesive of some kind or what.

[Mr Lee]

In between the glass and the vertical stainless trim I used some paper gasket material.  I cut a strip about an inch wide and stuck it inside the stainless u shaped channel, letting it stick out a bit so it can accept the glass.  Wet the glass with some windex.  That will help it to go in easier.  Then once its all the way in, trim off the excess with a razor blade. It was a nice tight fit (if you have the right thickness gasket paper i assume.



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[Mr Lee]

The gasket material



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[Burdar]

Thanks.  That looks really good.  I just noticed that someone on Moparts just asked the same question about what to use to hold the glass in.  One reply was strip caulk.  Another person said they filled the cavity with black silicone.  Once that is completely dry you can cut the excess that pushes out with a razor blade.  It sounds like people have tried all kinds of things in there.  Thanks

[anlauto]

I've used windshield urethane in the past....messy, but strong.

[Burdar]

Jim from DMT just posted on Moparts that the correct stuff is called "glass setting tape" and he sells it.  It's listed as being used to hold the vent windows into the chrome lower channel but I'd bet it can be used for the 1/4 stainless as well.

https://www.detroitmuscletechnologies.com/mopar-a-b-c-body-van-truck-window-frame-glass-setting-tape-2-24-pcs/   

EDIT:  I just needed to read the link a little more.  It can be used for the 1/4 glass.

Also used to hold the chrome trim on on the rear edge of the door glass or the front edge of the quarter glass.

[Brads70]

I stumbled across this site when looking for rivets for my javelin grill? Might help?

https://www.rivetsonline.com/aluminum-semi-tubular-rivets-532/t156a00437o