|UPDATED|2/15/2019 10:48:52 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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https://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/39101_39200/39182/DSC_00172018915875r.jpg

I considered it once in 1975 when all the parts were still available from Chevrolet but gave it up as too expensive for the value gained. I did find adding factory air and power windows to be worth the money however. Probably the cheapest way to go today would be to find a Corvette salvage facility and pull the necessary parts from an existing wrecked Corvette.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

I am right now working on several things on my 1976 Vette. One of them is converting the fixed year window to a removable 68-72 style. I have all the parts for the rear window and the storage try for it. I even acquired the latch piece for the later style push button storage tray which took a while to find. I appear to have all the hardware and screws and all the latches and the original halo's with the cut outs for the latches. When I get in there I may find something else I need but I'm pretty sure I have it all! I may put the window set up in and skip the rear storage for now and even sell that or part off......not sure. My car is a low mileage car and the fixed window is pretty firmly installed. I'm looking at how to get it out without using a straight cutter. I can't access this from the inside and I really don't want to start from the outside because one slip and there goes my nice paint! Still looking to see if I can find an angled cutter or something to access the seal from the interior of the car. I'm a nervous person and will think this out for a while and see where it goes. I'd really like to convert it but we'll see! 

My rear window was actually held in with some sticky rope caulk similar to what they put on the inner door panel seals to hold them in place. Needless to say it only lasted about a year-and-a-half before it started coming loose. I replaced it with RTV silicone.

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1973 L-82 4 spd

Well, I installed the removable rear window and decided against installing the push button storage tray (It's for sale on the forum) because I really don't want to drill holes in the rear bulkhead/carpet and I really don't fit well in confined spaces anymore...LOL! The rear window works great but the seal itself was a real PITA to install.

I bought a tactical rifle bag that works perfectly for the removable rear window and fits like it was made for it. Took a bit of searching to find the exact sized one though. The last picture of it is where it's stored on top of the T-tops which I've now put back there and have the handle woven into the hold down strap so it doesn't go flying in a sudden stop.

I also added a Realistic Mini 8 track tape player to the parking brake console and a Soundbar type speaker system. Yes, I'm stuck in the 70's. It sounds as good as it did back in the day with my collection of classic 8 track tapes. 😎

Photos of all are below:

|UPDATED|5/23/2019 1:27:06 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

How did you finally get the original glass cut loose from the body? And could you use the original glass in the frame or did you have to buy a frame with glass already installed?

 

FWIW, I still have an Akai open reel recorder that has an 8-track record and play function built into the side that I picked up in Subic Bay back in the late sixties. So you are not the only one still in the 70s.  ;)

|UPDATED|5/22/2019 5:10:39 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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1973 L-82 4 spd

I used an old guitar string. I pushed a thin tool through a part of the seal and got the guitar string fed through. Slowly I moved around the window, cutting the seal and being careful not to scrape any of the paint off on the outside of the car. The fixed rear window is bigger than the glass of the removable one so you need to buy a 68-72 rear window to make this work. The frame and glass of the removable unit are approx. the same dimensions as the fixed glass.

It is cool to have the option on the later C3 but I'll keep the old glass and trim parts just in case I want to ever go back.

|UPDATED|5/23/2019 1:23:20 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|