Roll up windows

This might be the all time dumb question, but I was wondering if doors with roll up or power windows from, say an IM, could be easily adapted to a Vintage?

I gotta believe that there is a market out there for somebody to provide roll up window or power window doors as an aftermarket item.

Im sure there are all kinds of issues like lining up with the windscreen and fitting to a Vintage roof, but, maybe not so much.

I dunno what I dunno, but I'd wondering if anybody else has tried this.

Bob

There has been a good amount of discussion here in the past, biggest issue is being able to get a decent seal at the windshield on speedsters.

Thanks Alan. I'll do my research first next time. Got that car from Colorado yet?

I think Porsche gave up on this idea in 1958, but we can still keep hoping.

Quitters!

Next you'll want heat, sound absorption and a radio!

Bob, Probably by next weekend ..

Yeah, I need to toughen up and remember why I bought my two and a half season car. Maybe I just see another Illinois winter coming on.

Yeah, once the leaves start piling up, mine goes into storage until the salt is washed off the roads by the spring rain. I worked on my heat, side curtains, top snaps, and windshield seal this summer, mainly for when I have to drive in the rain on road trips. However, I hope that these things will make October, March and April and little more comfortable, as well. I took the Jack Crosby approach to side curtains and extended the material to improve sealing and not change the original look. Side curtains tend to deflect the water, like a tent, rather than seal. I think it would be harder to achieve a good seal rather than deflect the cold and rain. Also, I don't mind some ventilation since all of the ventilated air coming into the passenger compartment is via the heat exchangers that are sucking in air from the top of the engine compartment. I did examine Henry's display cars at Carlisle to see how he did it, though. One of the ingredients is a rubber seal that he places behind the windshield posts that gives you a sealing surface on the front edge. It looks to be a custom part and not sure that he would sell them, but it would be worth a try. If I ever decide to go the the homemade, plexi route, I will try to add these seals.

I've thought of modifying my plexi windows with some sort of carved or molded piece to get a better seal at the windshield. That's really the only problem area at this point. I might try carving a prototype out of wood to get the shape right, and then see if I can get a plastic piece made to match.

This Photoshop work is a little premature, but thought I'd post it to perhaps get a feel from you guys on this idea. By sculpting a piece such as this (details on actual fit are a little vague at this point) in a prototype form (some modeling material, be it clay, wax, etc.) and then casting it with a flexible rubber-like material, perhaps this could help seal up the ever-tough connection point. I'm not totally clear on the casting process, but I do know flexible molding/casting materials are available through art and craft stores. TC, I'll bet you could chime in here with your vast experience and knowledge. Sculpted properly and cast in a flexible material and then slipping it over the windshield pillar when side curtains are needed.
Am I too vague? Or do you get my drift?

Lane, foam wold be easier to carve.
Rich, I like it, looks like you're on the right track.

This is why I suggest sculpting it in a soft material first. Much more forgiving and easier to work with to understand fit problems etc.

Once again, this is why all of us Speedster owners should move to a common commune with a mutually agreeable location where we can work out these details together. You guys may have seen this place: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid35036491001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAACC6OgzE~,L0bTvfk9n161rxAUbRKUHVmDGRBSHx-N&bctid=958137284001

True, foam would be easier. I wonder if you could shape the foam and once you get it right, coat it with something to make it sturdy and rigid.

Personally, I think it should not be rigid (that's not what she said), but rather something like a nice weather strip rubber to create the necessary seal.

I was thinking a close-fitting solid piece with room for a rubber seal. Gotta think about it.

What needs to be addressed is to find a soft weatherstrip that is large enough to butt and compresses against the windshield frame as the door is closed.

"I'm trying to think, but nothing happens." Curly

Yes, Doctor. That's why we must create this piece in our Laboratory!

Or why not ask Henry to sell you a pair of his, or is that just taking all of the fun out of it?

Tom? A pair of his cars? Wouldn't that be nice.

Tom, this project could be your next career move. I mean no one has ever solved the problem. You could become the Dr. Jonas Salk of the Speedster world.

The thing is, I think Henry figured it out along time ago and has custom molded rubber pieces that fit to the windshield. I think I figured out how to improve the seal between the top and the windshield on a Beck per my previous post. That was, by far, the worst leak. The side-curtains keep the water away fine, especially after I added the material ala Jack Crosby. The make only reason that I would consider making my own side curtains would be to make it more convenient to open and close the doors. However, I think that I would rather just move somewhere warmer and not drive in the rain anymore :-)

Really? Henry has this figured out already, I need to investigate this further lest I be stepping on someone's patent or ego. Anyone have a photo of such an item?

Even Henry says that his is not a perfect solution.

If you go to this link, you can see a couple of pictures of the IM Speedster windshield seal.

http://www.intermeccanica.us/availablecars.html

Well I did it and i used a real roadster windshield and top frame.


But a vintage poses some real challanges you have to overcome The forward door post is niped back at the top and reshaped to get you a straght line up to the windshield frame. then you have to add that much matreial back onto the front of the door to close the 4 inch gap it leaves behind and the defrost holes and the lower front seal strip will have to be removed all the hole filled with fiberglass and repositioned to work with the roadster windshield frame . You''ll use it as a guide .

It a delicate proceedure that takes time.

A less elegant but easier to implement approach is used by the UK Chesil Speedster.

http://tinyurl.com/3na9dna

http://www.chesil.biz/Main_Site_Images/Chesil_FB/evo5.jpg

Rich - My brother is in the commercial rubber business - mainly gaskets and hose. He has subs that do molds and casting for him. I sent him your picture to get ideal of cost and minimum qty required. I suspect both sides would have to be identical to be affordable.

Or, you can do what I did...A Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Cabriolet (964).

Aaron, does this mean that Merlot is officially retired?

Greg, thanks for the forward to your (working) brother. It will be interesting to hear his remarks. As for the Chesil, from what I see, it looks somewhat like I'm imagining but of course this shows on roll up windows. Those roll up window guys cheat.