Mk1 Golf quarter vent repair

[brackie]

(I'll eventually move this to "Bodywork and Trim".)

Seems like ages since I posted something constructive. These days I seldom get the chance to play with my Mk1s.

Anyway, I was at the tip the other day and what should I spy but a wrecked (and I mean wrecked) Isuzu KB with the 1/4 vents intact.

We all know the story of the perishing glue that VAG in their not-so-infinite wisdom used to fix the pivot and catches of Mk1s. It lasted 3 years if you were lucky. I'd done this mod before so I knew that the Isuzu catches could be modified to fit. Holden EH and HR are better.
The previous owner of my silver Mk1 had broken off the catches, tried to re-glue them, and then given up on it and siliconed the glass into the rubber. I like to be able to open the vents so I decided to filt channeled catches.
Here's how I did it.



Firstly I removed the Isuzu vents and cut off the pivot pin. The whole metal part is stainless steel so there's no worries with rust. I ground/filed the bottom of the channel smooth and cut the channel so that it was the correct length to fit between the Golf pivot pin and the end of the glass.



Next I removed the Isuzu rubber insert from the glass and Araldited it to the inside of the channel. I let it set overnight and the next day Araldited the channel and rubber to the Golf vent after making sure that the catch was in the right position. This is really important as the amount of protrusion of the catch must be enough to allow it to engage the chrome plate on the window seperator but not too much so that it fouls the mirror.



The amount of protrusion can be seen above.



Done! It took ~ 1 hour all up.

[gtimk5]

Thats a great mod brackie! Thats what makes the forum sooo worthwhile. I'm off to the tip now!!!

[DubSteve]

Awesome work there Brackie. Good to see some inovation!!!!!!!

[Oneofthegreats]

Got hand it to you brackie. Who would've thought of this type of mod. (you did )
This is a mod for the mass' I reckon. Cabrio quarter glass(bolt through) I getting rare as rocking horse s#%t.

I like you, also like to drive with the window open & having the quarter glass open stops the wind rushing in & also the rain.

[Golf Loon]

Nice write up Brackie. Good to see such factual info, including the exact vehicle you can get the parts from. Toyota Hilux 1985ish have a similar chanelled window setup, could also be a good donor.