As with the door rubbers the felts are readily available. They can be purchased already made-up or in uncut lengths. The job of fixing the quarter-vents and the bailey channels should be done first if they are to be renewed. In a large number of cases it will just be the felts at the base of the windows that will be replaced so we will start there.

Do not lever the screwdriver back away from the felt as it may chip the paint. Instead use a forward pushing motion away from the painted surface. The clips that hold these strips in position will be discarded so don't worry about breaking them.

Once the strips are removed measure their length or the door edge from where the came. They will not all be the same. That is why it's better to cut your own rather than buy them pre-made. On coupés they used felt inside and out on other models outside is a rubber flap. Cut the strip of felt 20mm longer than the old strips or the measurement of the door.

Fig 2 Cutting the ends of the Felt

With the outside rubber flap the principle is the same but don't add the extra 20mm.

Wind up the window so the top of the glass is level with the bottom of the window opening and reset the "L" shaped bracket, trim etc. If you do wish to replace the bailey channels, quarter-vent rubbers etc. remove all the bolts, brackets, catches and mechanisms from inside the door.

There are also 3 screws under the rubber weather strip on the leading edge of the window frame on the front doors and the trailing edge on back doors. These screws along with a bolt at the foot of the bailey channel securer the quarter-vents. Remove the felts as described previously. After marking a point with masking tape where the top corner of the quarter-vent meets the window frame and with the window glass at its lowest, move the top of the quarter-vent back away from the frame and out. The flexible bailey channel can now be removed and the steel bracket which is stapled to the lower end, salvaged. The new flexible bailey channel must now be bent to 90 degrees at the same point as the old one. This is best done allowing a bit more at each end than required as the bend will not happen exactly where you want it to. Once bent place the channel in the window frame and mark the point where the masking tape is. Cut and pinch. the chrome ribs to match the old ones. Then with the salvaged steel bracket bolted in its proper place in the door mark the location on the channel.

Remove the channel and bracket from the door and with the channel located in the bracket, drill and pop-rivet from valley floor side of the channel Fig 4 This operation will be made easier by placing a short lenghth of brake pipe over the rivet shaft to enable the Pop Rivet tool to crimp the rivet from the top of the valley. Replace channel and bracket in the door. The bailey channel on the quarter-vent strut, simply slides out and the new one slides in.

To replace the quarter-vent seal unscrew its top hinge and the 2 nuts at the bottom hinge and withdraw the glass and frame. Then remove and replace the rubber.

Sometimes it may be necessary to replace the rubber between the glass and the frame. In which case slide the glass out of the frame. Cut a strip of rubber 50mm wide from a truck innertube and cover it in olive oil and force the glass and tube back into the frame. Allow the tube to shrink for a week or so before cutting it back to the frame. To resemble, place the main window in the door the re-introduce the quarter-vent, swinging it back towards the frame while at the same time locating the main glass between the two sets of bailey channels. Replace the cleaned and greased regulator, brackets, bolts, catches and the felts. Adjust for smoothest operation. See Smooth Handling Hint. The bailey channels will take some time to bed in but they can be lubricated with graphite powder.

Coupé front windows and quarter-vents are much the same but a bit easier because of no window frame. The rear channel in the door has to be re-lined with an acrylic velvet as it dose not have a removable inner section as in the other models. The method is the same for the rear side windows as the front. The exception being that the inner felt is pop riveted to the removable windowsill, making sure the rivet heads are well buried in the felt. The only rubber on the coupé rear windows can be replaced with them in situ.

Front and rear Windscreens are fitted after the headlining and best left to the professionals.

While you have the door iner parts dismantled take a look at two other Restoration Hint that are well worth doing at the same time.
Smooth Handling Getting the window winders and door handels working smoothly
Fresh Catch Cleaning out the old dry grease from the door catches to stop them sticking.

© BigH 2000