It's nearly time to have the glass for my "roof chopped" bug cut....
I have new cal look rubbers, thing is I need to know how much gap there is between the glass and steel flange on a stock bug so I can make templates the correct size.
It's not cheap so I need to get it right the first time!
I was in too much of a hurry to measure pre chop!

So anyone with a bug in bits (mid resto etc) could you hold a rear quarter glass in place minus the rubber and eyeball the gap all round?

No bogus info from purists please!

Cheers
Dave

Pesky purists I will post this in Rods n Rats

If you cut through an old rubber, and measure the thickness of rubber between the 'glass' channel, and where the rubber sits against the body, that should be the 'gap'.

Also, you could measure the widest part of the windscreen, and subtract that from the measurement at the same point at the screen opening....then halve it.

Good luck.

Hi happydaze I've done the guesstimate, I just want to know the factory tolerance so I know it's spot on.
Cheers
Dave

Anyone out there with a stripped bug?

I can get you the measurements but not till the weekend

Cheers Governor!

Dave

May I suggest you make the templates from masonite or plywood, that is similar in thickness to the glass.

If you do a 'fitting', using the intended rubbers with the templates, and sand off any tight spots, the glass made off these templates should fit perfectly.

I assume you know how to fit windows, using a cord [ I use plastic-covered wire clothes line], about 4mm dia.]

Thanks Happydaze, I am on to it with Masonite templates....and strong nylon cord with dish washing soap, done it a few times! I might try the clothes line this time.

The rear window is the tricky bit being a double compound curve...Masonite doesn't like doing that! I found a company which will "try" to water jet my original toughened rear glass, with no guarantees! My new rear window is only about 200mm tall! I might end up with Plexiglass in there!
Cheers
Dave

i use a green coloured earth domestic electrical wire with dishwashing liq.. works good

I have just held my glass to the side window and it is 2mm larger all the way round than the internal metal lip if you get what I mean

use something NON-corrosive for your lube putting the glass in, the factory used Glycerine (available in liquid from a chemist). Dish washing liquid will cause rust (caustic), crc type products will damage the seals

Thanks everyone!

Wow 2mm larger?? I assumed it would be smaller!

I will get some glycerine.

Now we all know!

Cheers
Dave

Matt's right about glycerine. I've used it to fit VW glass since 1958. It won't hurt your hands, either....in fact it's good for them.

Oh, make sure you don't use the 'Nitro' variety!

Hi

I just had VW friend around to help me refit the windows in my bug, He uses a 4 mm cord, but he fits the cord using a silcone nozzle to get the cord right into the groove in the rubber, the cord runs through hole in the pointy bit of the nozzle.

I used glyerine as well, its good stuff.

Steve