Roll Down Rear Window Installation

['31 Patina]

I have a '31 coupe that I bought a couple months ago and the rear window was missing. The guy I bought it from had bought a new piece of glass and had the original window regulator.

After looking at Brattons online, I see there are all kinds of parts needed to install this roll down window. Does anybody have a guide or instructions on how to install the rear window and what parts are needed?

Thanks.

[1931 flamingo]

maybe something in the service bulletins?
Paul in CT

[Larry Seemann]

I may be remembering incorrectly but it seems to me that there are detailed instructions in the "How to Restore Your Model A" series available from MAFCA. Maybe someone can confirm or maybe there is a table of contents on the MAFCA website. I know I've seen some publication with detailed instructions on installing a roll down rear window in a coupe. I have one in my coupe but I didn't install it - the prior owner did.

[Jon-Ohio]

How to Restore Your Model A - vol 4 has the article on building and installing a roll down rear window in a coupe. I followed it back in the 80's when I installed it in my 30 coupe from scratch. You can get kits for doing it now from Snyders, Brattens etc

['31 Patina]

Originally Posted by Jon-Ohio

How to Restore Your Model A - vol 4 has the article on building and installing a roll down rear window in a coupe. I followed it back in the 80's when I installed it in my 30 coupe from scratch. You can get kits for doing it now from Snyders, Brattens etc

Thanks everyone for the help and pointing me in the right direction. If I didn't want to put in the roll down window and just wanted to put a standard window in what am I looking at as far as material or parts I would need? Is it just the glass and the frame? Would it require a frame at all or would I just need the piece of glass and a rubber seal?

Thanks again for all the help!

[MCHinson]

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'31 Patina,

As a guy who once owned a coupe without a roll down rear window, I would urge you to put a roll down window in it. I really remember how much I had wished mine had the roll down window. This would especially be the case if you have a rumble seat.

[1931 flamingo]

can you post a picture of what you now have?
Paul in CT

[Don S]

I have a copy in my e-file that I could E-mail to you if needed. I don't know how to post the info on the web. You won't regret the roll down window,from cab cooling to being able to talk with those in the rumble seat,go for it,I did.

[Jon-Ohio]

I agree with MCHinson - now is the time to put it in when you're doing the restoration and the car is apart. With or without a rumble seat, it's great to have for increased ventilation. I also converted my trunk to a rumble seat back then ( and have since regretted it) when that was the "fad" thing to do. If I could do it over again I would forget about the rumble seat and keep the original trunk but still put in the roll down window.
Back then the hardest thing for me was fabricating the sheet metal drip pan and refabricating the original steel window frame to a deeper depth. They make repo parts for these now including the thicker wood framing required around the window for the additional thickness of the window channnels.

[Clem Smith]

How do you retrofit install a roll down rear window in a 1930 Coupe with rumble seat that has 20 year old restoration complete with LeBaron Bonney interior kit?

Thanks

[Mike V. Florida]

The same way as any other Coupe I would suppose? One of the guys in our club installed the kit and it works fine!

[MCHinson]

Bratton's (and probably other suppliers) sells a complete roll down rear window kit with instructions, as well as all of the individual parts. It is on page 128 of the Brattons catalog.

[bobbycoke]

Anyone pu a roll down window in a 1930-31 closed cab pickup??? Is it evan possible??

['31 Patina]

Originally Posted by 1931 flamingo

can you post a picture of what you now have?
Paul in CT

Attached are pictures of the rear window on my '31 coupe. What doesn't make sense to me is how could have this been a roll down window? Again I'm new to this car so please have patience but when you look at the pictures maybe someone can help me understand. From the inside there's the ledge behind the seat that has the metal attached to the wood frame of the window. As you can tell from the outside picture there is the original latch for the rumble lid. The last picture is from inside the trunk looking up where the window would be. You can see the metal ledge behind the seat, the wood frame and the latch on the outside of the car. So was this originally a coupe that had a roll down window? The guy I bought it from claims it was and it has the rumble seat with lid.

It sounds like most of you agree that the roll down window is the way to go so now I just need to figure out how to do that. From what I see it doesn't look like this was a roll down window unless I'm not understanding some thing. If anybody has pictures to help me out that would be great. I'm in search of literature that shows how to install a roll down window.

Thanks again for everyone's help and guidance on where I can find installation instructions and parts.

[1931 flamingo]

In my opinion this does not appear to ever have had a roll down window. The window cranking mech would have been on the left side (looking to the rear) there would also have been some type of drain channel at bottom of window "frame" with a tube (hose) to remove rain water. Also i believe the window only rolled down half to 3 quarters of the way. At least that's how my 32 5window was (with a trunk no less.

JMO
Paul in CT

[Jon-Ohio]

I agree - the wood around the widow appears to be std stock framing and not for a roll down which is thicker to accomodate the glass channels on the sides and top. Both Mac's and Snyders carries this special thicker bottom , top and side rail framing for a roll down window. The bottom rail is cut with a slot to allow for window movement up and down within the sheet metal drip box and you have to bend the bottom body window "lip" down if I remember correctly.

[pamoola1]

Help! We purchased a kit to install a roll down window in a 1931 Standard Coupe. Despite trying to follow the directions included in the kit and referencing volume 4 of the Restorer, we have been unable to successfully install it. Is there anyone who can send us detailed instructions and pictures of how to assemble a roll down window?

[Rich B.]

Here's a pic of the wood installed for the roll down rear window.
I have a DVD showing the install from another member. Contact me
at:

[email protected]

I'll send you the DVD.


Rich

[real550A]

The flow-through ventilation, with the windshield open and the rear window down, is a real bonus. I think it would make the installation worth it.

[Rich B.]

This is an old post that I offered to send a DVD of the rear roll down window
installation. I ordered that from an older member who no longer offers them.
I sent it free of charge to the first member replying to my e-mail. I told him
there was no charge if he would just pass it on when finished.
Since than Iv'e received at least a dozen requests for the DVD. The member I
sent it to posted twice on the site, and was never heard from again. Oh well...
A member recently e-mailed me, but I'm having problems with my e-mail program
so I'm posting here. (which I should have done long ago!)
Rich

[cradlescyth]

Thanks for the info

[lindy williams]

There is an article entitled "How to roll down your coupe's rear window" in Volume 4 of How to Restore Your Model A available from MAFCA.