Vent Window DIY fixes

[hgeranium]

Both of my vent windows have now suffered the same fate of that bottom rivet, specifically that black rod, connecting the window to the door completely rusting out and breaking in half. I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with a DIY fix without fabricating/rebuilding that mounting? Or would a full window replacement be the best way to go otherwise? Attached isn't my picture. No AC or vent windows in the Texas summer is going to get old quite fast, so I'm willing to try even the jankiest fixes. My jeep has had its fair share of them.

 

[ghetdjc320]

I’d suggest either swapping/repairing it or going with the full glass swap. Ventless fixed glass design in the later MJ years was a horrible design imo. Swaping to the later style is tedious but sooooo worth it. This guy did a good video install guide:

 

[TX_Heat]

I pulled a set this week and one of them also has the hinge assembly thingy broken. 

 

I don't know if it'll work but this is a kit I came across that LOOKS like it might work but not sure.

https://jeeprecyclers.com/1963-1991-full-size-jeep-vent-window-replacement-glass-pivot-assembly/

 

Does anyone have any leads for a replacement set of seals on these windows that won't cost an arm and a leg. 

 

Good luck with your repairs. 

[hgeranium]

2 hours ago, TX_Heat said:

I pulled a set this week and one of them also has the hinge assembly thingy broken. 

 

I don't know if it'll work but this is a kit I came across that LOOKS like it might work but not sure.

https://jeeprecyclers.com/1963-1991-full-size-jeep-vent-window-replacement-glass-pivot-assembly/

 

Does anyone have any leads for a replacement set of seals on these windows that won't cost an arm and a leg. 

 

Good luck with your repairs. 

Woah! Good find!

[TX_Heat]

36 minutes ago, hgeranium said:

Woah! Good find!

After looking into it more. I’m not sure that kit will work. The vent window glass on the full size Jeeps were 1/4in. While the glass on for vent windows on later model was 3/16in. I think that might cause compatibility issues. 

[hgeranium]

1 hour ago, TX_Heat said:

After looking into it more. I’m not sure that kit will work. The vent window glass on the full size Jeeps were 1/4in. While the glass on for vent windows on later model was 3/16in. I think that might cause compatibility issues. 

Ah, that’s unfortunate to hear. Some junkyard vent window assemblies will have to do, then.

[pizzaman09]

If your willing to mig weld and file and drill, that bracket might be repairable.

[JZLAJeep]

This question fits under this heading so hopefully not too much of a high-jack. Apparently starting in '95 Jeep stopped allowing the vent windows to open. Last Saturday we pulled some vent windows from an XJ that was being parted to install on one of our newer XJs later. The driver door was dented enough to break the main glass, but not the vent window. I didn't notice at the time that unsurprisingly, the vertical rail (for lack of a better term) was bent (see the first photo).

 

It appears that we won't be able to just pull the existing, non-opening, triangle window and replace it with the pulled vent window because of the bend and that we'll need to try to take two windows to make one. To that end, which is the easier route? 1) Move the vent window hardware (hinges, seals, etc.) to the existing window. 2) Remove the vertical rails and replace the bent one with the good existing one. Looks like maybe it's a matter of removing a few rivets (see 3rd photo) and somehow putting it back together.

 

 

 

[Pete M]

if there are rivets to remove, you can rivet it back in place