JR's Korner of BillyBob's Garage

TRUCK LINKS including vendor sites for old parts, custom parts, and tools as well as sites for classic car and truck organizations

BOOKSTORE operating in association with Amazon.com Books

PLANNING for the restoration including project schedule and cost estimates.

PRE-RESTORATION includes log entries of minor repairs and and adventures between time of purchase and time of disassembly for restoration.

JR'S KORNER JR's Korner is the history of BillyBob before I got him authored by my brother, Wm. C. Kephart.

6. Fixing the passenger door glass

Over the next six months, the truck got occasional use ringing up about a 100 miles on the odometer. After erecting an "Anyone leaving motor oil at this house will be shot" sign I found an actual, honest-to-God, oil recycling center, and used the truck to deliver my considerable supply of used motor oil. All the oddball containers filled the bed.

I fixed the broken window during this period as it would be necessary when I took the truck in for a real safety inspection. The window fits in a track assembly which must be removed from the door in order to get the glass out. There are a few bolts inside the door which are accessible through a removable panel. There are also some sheet metal screws around the top of the door frame which must be removed. The track assembly simply tilts out and can be pulled from the door. The job should have been easy. Wrong!

The job would have been simple if a former owner had not spot-welded the track assembly to the door frame! He apparently was fixing a broken hinge on the wing. I wasn't sure how to break the weld. I couldn't get a saw on it and I figured breaking the weld with a hammer and chisel would break the wing glass. I would have two windows to replace instead of one. I opted for hammer and chisel. After an hour, and two Iron City's I was able to break the weld. I removed the bolts and screws, and removed the assembly. Then I managed to get the glass out of the assembly.

A friend gave me the number of a glass shop. The glass shop was able to cut a piece of safety glass of the proper size and attach the bottom mounted metal frame which engaged the winding mechanism. Seemed like everything was coming together. I have a friend (different friend) who says to "Expect nothing and you're seldom disappointed!" I should of expected nothing. Ya see, the glass was about a 1/32 of an inch thicker than the original glass. This 1/32 of an inch made getting the track back together a real challenge.

After several more Iron City's I had the track back together and mounted in the door. When I tried to roll up the window it tilted within the track and bound up! I had to keep straightening the window with my hand to get it up or down. Well, it's the passenger side: I don't sit there so what the hell do I care. That window is still there and still binds!

(Editor's note: the window track must like the South Florida weather because the window only binds occasionally now. In South Florida, use of the "2/40" air conditioning is a must!)

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You can email JR at  jr@laroke.com

Issued Wednesday February 18, 1998

Updated Wednesday June 24, 1998

copyright © 1998 William Craig Kephart all rights reserved