Wing Window Elimination 68 Cutlass
#1
Wing Window Elimination 68 Cutlass
ok so hopefully nobody looks at me too cross eyed but.
say I want to eliminate my wing windows on my 68 cutlass and say I have a spare set of 69 skylark doors in my basement. is it possible to remove the wing frame work out of my doors and use the 69 windows? will they bolt to the regulators and are 68 69 doors even compatible internal structure wise. if I can get away with this I would naturally change the weather striping because they have been imprinted by the wings all these 49 years. thank you.
say I want to eliminate my wing windows on my 68 cutlass and say I have a spare set of 69 skylark doors in my basement. is it possible to remove the wing frame work out of my doors and use the 69 windows? will they bolt to the regulators and are 68 69 doors even compatible internal structure wise. if I can get away with this I would naturally change the weather striping because they have been imprinted by the wings all these 49 years. thank you.
#3
well when I first got the car when I was 18, im 24 now, I liked everything about the 69 more but ive grown to like the 68s more. plus my 68 is LOADED with power options, pwr windows, pwr trunk release, pwr antenna, ac, rear window defrost, speed alert buzzer, pwr brakes, I added disks upfront and I added a tictoc tach, also has courtesy map lights above the stereo and in the rearview mirror. so nah I just want to remove the cherry buster wing windows. if it makes any sense, I added rally mirrors and moved them to the front of the door where they would be on a 69 and up so I don't have to brake my neck to look if somebody is coming up along side me and now I have to look through the windows to see the mirrors.
#4
The easiest way to do this would be to swap to 1969 Cutlass doors. You'd need the 1969 roof rail weatherstrip also.
I'll suggest, however, that you DON'T want to do this. The 1969-up cars without vent windows came with the upper ventilation (two ***** under the dash for non-A/C cars). This somewhat replaces the air from the vents. 1968s don't have this. Note that 1969-up Sport Coupes retained the vent windows and did not have the upper ventilation. Given how that car is equipped, why change it? This is a lot of work for very little effect.
I'll suggest, however, that you DON'T want to do this. The 1969-up cars without vent windows came with the upper ventilation (two ***** under the dash for non-A/C cars). This somewhat replaces the air from the vents. 1968s don't have this. Note that 1969-up Sport Coupes retained the vent windows and did not have the upper ventilation. Given how that car is equipped, why change it? This is a lot of work for very little effect.
#5
I've got vent windows on my '67 Delta, and I love 'em! They both do a nice job of directing air into the car, and they scream that its a 1960s car. I wouldn't have it any other way!
#6
well I guess its a cool feature to have just because its a 60s signature that only that year has, seeing that the 69-72s don't but what happened is I moved the mirrors forward near the front of the door so I didn't have to turn my head to see them, now I look at the mirrors through the window witch is fine but I want to relocate the seat back further than factory but if I do this the post from the vent will be directly in between my eyes and the mirror splitting it right down the middle. if I have to hack the door up and do actual internal damage to the door then im just going to leave it how it is.
#7
Unlike the vent window elimination kits on early pickups, this is NOT a bolt-in.
#8
I think that if you replace the entire window assembly, including all internal runners, etc., you can swap window types, but since all cars had vent windows in '68, it is possible that you may find some holes that don't line up.
It would be an experiment, and a fairly large PIA experiment as they go.
That being said, I like vent windows, and often find myself wishing for them on my newer cars.
- Eric
edit: whoops, looks like Joe just covered it.
It would be an experiment, and a fairly large PIA experiment as they go.
That being said, I like vent windows, and often find myself wishing for them on my newer cars.
- Eric
edit: whoops, looks like Joe just covered it.
#9
I think that if you replace the entire window assembly, including all internal runners, etc., you can swap window types, but since all cars had vent windows in '68, it is possible that you may find some holes that don't line up.
It would be an experiment, and a fairly large PIA experiment as they go.
That being said, I like vent windows, and often find myself wishing for them on my newer cars.
- Eric
edit: whoops, looks like Joe just covered it.
It would be an experiment, and a fairly large PIA experiment as they go.
That being said, I like vent windows, and often find myself wishing for them on my newer cars.
- Eric
edit: whoops, looks like Joe just covered it.
#10
but what happened is I moved the mirrors forward near the front of the door so I didn't have to turn my head to see them, now I look at the mirrors through the window witch is fine but I want to relocate the seat back further than factory but if I do this the post from the vent will be directly in between my eyes and the mirror splitting it right down the middle.
I think the message in all the responses here is to find some way to achieve what you want that doesn't require getting rid of the vent windows. That's a major effort, complicated, messes up the car's ventilation system, and reduces the car's value.
Just sayin'.
#11
#12
#13
I've had this happen in an S-10 pickup, which had no vent windows.
Vent windows actually help reduce the chance of being struck by an outside object, because the rear portion points out and acts to deflect the air stream away from you, while the front portion actually sucks air out of the car.
- Eric
Vent windows actually help reduce the chance of being struck by an outside object, because the rear portion points out and acts to deflect the air stream away from you, while the front portion actually sucks air out of the car.
- Eric
#14
You have to hack the door up. You need to replace the inner and outer window wiper weather strips. You need to replace the inner door panels. You need to replace the window mechanism. You need to modify the top of the inner and outer door sheet metal.
Unlike the vent window elimination kits on early pickups, this is NOT a bolt-in.
Unlike the vent window elimination kits on early pickups, this is NOT a bolt-in.
#15
Same here on my 70 W-30. Stupid bee hit the sport mirror and got deflected into the side of my head.
Mmmm... depends. If you open the vent windows past center so the outside is sticking forward (as I do on my 62), the definitely are directing air in, not out of the car.
Vent windows actually help reduce the chance of being struck by an outside object, because the rear portion points out and acts to deflect the air stream away from you, while the front portion actually sucks air out of the car.
#16
It's "only that year" if looking at the '68-'72 Cutlasses. Vent windows were a staple of pretty much all American cars prior to the late '60s when flow-through ventilation was introduced.
You should have moved the seat first, then moved the mirror. Once the seat is moved, you probably could find a place to put the mirror that will work and that does not put the vent window in the line of sight. That would be a million times easier than getting rid of the vent windows. You can probably STILL move the mirror. If you did it once, you can do it again. You'll have some holes to patch, but you had some holes to patch after the first move.
I think the message in all the responses here is to find some way to achieve what you want that doesn't require getting rid of the vent windows. That's a major effort, complicated, messes up the car's ventilation system, and reduces the car's value.
Just sayin'.
You should have moved the seat first, then moved the mirror. Once the seat is moved, you probably could find a place to put the mirror that will work and that does not put the vent window in the line of sight. That would be a million times easier than getting rid of the vent windows. You can probably STILL move the mirror. If you did it once, you can do it again. You'll have some holes to patch, but you had some holes to patch after the first move.
I think the message in all the responses here is to find some way to achieve what you want that doesn't require getting rid of the vent windows. That's a major effort, complicated, messes up the car's ventilation system, and reduces the car's value.
Just sayin'.
#17
- Eric
#18
ok so new question. does a 69 bench seat slide back farther than a 68. my seat is slid back all the way and I still sit close to the wheel and my legs are cramped at the pedals, HOWEVER my dads 69 skylark custom has a bench seat and when I sit in that car I sit about 5' further back from the wheel than my 68 and my legs are not bent at a 90 but I can stretch them out straight. im not even that tall im 5.7. ive had the seat out and its not like somebody hacked the floor, its in the factory holes. is it possible buick has there holes drilled further back in the floor. it blows my mind sometimes.
#20
Originally Posted by joe_padavano View Post
Same here on my 70 W-30. Stupid bee hit the sport mirror and got deflected into the side of my head.
I once had a bee fly inside my motorcycle helmet while going down the highway at about 60 mph. couldn't get stopped quick enough, not fun at all carrying the little passenger.
Same here on my 70 W-30. Stupid bee hit the sport mirror and got deflected into the side of my head.
I once had a bee fly inside my motorcycle helmet while going down the highway at about 60 mph. couldn't get stopped quick enough, not fun at all carrying the little passenger.
#21
You have to hack the door up. You need to replace the inner and outer window wiper weather strips. You need to replace the inner door panels. You need to replace the window mechanism. You need to modify the top of the inner and outer door sheet metal.
Unlike the vent window elimination kits on early pickups, this is NOT a bolt-in.
Unlike the vent window elimination kits on early pickups, this is NOT a bolt-in.
Thanks for the knowledge!!!
#22
I already took the vent window out and the door panel/felts off already fyi. If I get '69 glass (for a non post car). I would then just need regulators? Would that glass fit?
thanks
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thanks
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Last edited by Carsick; August 27th, 2022 at 02:58 PM.
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