Vent window frames

[chevynut]

Does anyone know why the convertible vent window frames don't have the latches on them? I think they're the same as a HT frame otherwise. Curious why GM deleted them on the convertible only.

[markm]

My guess is they figured convertibles were easy to break in to by design, so they added nothing.

[chevynut]

LOL! I thought about that but it seems like a weird reason to make a special part for just that model. I understand the frame is actually slightly different, and doesn't have the notch in the bottom for the latch that I believe the HT/Sedan frames have.

I'm thinking of using convertible frames on my Nomad since I'll have electric vent windows.

[chevynut]

So you leave the latches OFF and charge $31more?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-56-57-Che...BTkckt&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-56-57-Che...pTk9WY&vxp=mtr

I was going to have Madmooks re-chrome my vent window frames but he said it's cheaper to buy new ones. Same with my Nomad side window frames, but I sent them anyhow. It's expensive to rechrome and much more than new ones, but I was concerned about the fit of the repop ones. I wonder how the chrome looks on the repops....any have them?

[LEE T]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/311013813671

http://www.ebay.com/itm/311013813671

<sub><sup>http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-56-57-Chevy-Convertible-Vent-Window-Frames-NEW-/310978879890?hash=item4867c92192:g:lzAAAOxy4fBTkck t&vxp=mtr

http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-56-57-Chevy-Convertible-Vent-Window-Frames-NEW-/310978879890?hash=item4867c92192:g:lzAAAOxy4fBTkck t&vxp=mtr</sup></sub>

[Rustaddict]

It might be cheaper to buy repops, but if it were me, I'd rather have rechromed original parts.

[chevynut]

It might be cheaper to buy repops, but if it were me, I'd rather have rechromed original parts.

Me too, not knowing what the repops are like. Mike (Madmooks) told me most people are just buying new window frames assembled with new glass, but I wanted my original window frames. Have you priced chrome plating lately? Re-chromed original bumpers with nice chrome are around $1000 or more. I got an estimate for my smoothie bumpers from Advanced Plating at $2500 EACH!!

I'd prefer nicely show-chromed original vent windows too, but Madmooks said his plater really didn't want to do them. I just think the repop chrome must be the minimum they can get by with. Plus I don't have any original convertible vent window frames.

[Rustaddict]

I shouldn't judge all repop parts by just my experience, but these days I have an automatic distrust of any of them. Unfortunately, in many circumstances it is that or nothing. I knew chrome was high, but I didn't know it was that high. I had the stick on my Hurst shifter replated by a company here in NC a couple years ago at a cost of $50. They did a decent job and I recommended them to a friend of mine who was restoring a VW van for a customer. They replated the window frames and some other stuff for the bus, but sent the big VW emblem for the front back all warped up with bent studs on the back. When my friend called them about it they told him it slipped out of the guy's hand buffing it, they tried to straighten it and he was just stuck with it. As a result, I will not be sending them anything else and don't know who I will use for a plater from here on out either. The odd thing is, I also have a pair of vent frames at home that are ready to be sent out so before I rebuild my vent window assemblies but I don't know who I want to send them to, or wether I should order new with the glass already in them and be done with it.

[chevynut]

The fully assembled vent window assemblies with the window track included are really expensive....$316 each. I guess if you add up the cost of the new frames, rubber, and everything else it's not that bad. I already have frames, glass and rubber. Who knows....I'll probably end up with more than that in them when I'm finished.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/55-57-Chevy-...hVb1-i&vxp=mtr

[chevynut]

Found this...

http://forums.cadillaclasalleclub.or...topic=136515.0

"Hello,
This has been a question I have been trying to get the answered for quite a long time . Does your 1957 Cadillac Convertible whether it's a series 62 or the Biarritz model have a slide lock on the vent window . I know all the hard tops have the lock . The convertibles do not , however every once in a while I will run across a convertible that has the lock .I would really like to hear from everyone about this but most important from the cars that have not been restored . My next question is why would Cadillac leave off the locks on Convertible ? and were all convertible built without the Slide vent lock ? I have added a photo of my vent window without the lock "

"Hi Bill

I just checked the 47 individual Biarritzes in my photo library and couldn't find a single one with vent locks on either restored or unrestored cars. Out of the 54 Sevilles I have on file all of them seem to have the locks. One explanation could perhaps be that the vent window was an easy object to break into. A convertible may often be parked with the top down, and even if it is up, cutting a hole in the soft top to gain entry would be very easy. The explanation could be as simple as that. Maybe insurance companies had a say in the matter as well, who knows!

Switching between driving our Biarritz and Seville sometimes I forget about the vent lock and for a second or two think the vent window mechanism in the Seville has malfunctioned!

I wonder how many cents they saved per convertible by eliminating the vent locks "

"Don't know, but by 1958 they saved a lot of cents as the locks were eliminated from all models! The bean counters won."

"Weren't the 58s also the first to feature power vents as an option? I would guess having vent locks wouldn't be a good idea then."