Due to other chores and events around home and town I haven't gotten a lot done on Lil' Queeny. But there is some progress.
As I said before, I left the passenger-side front cab-over window assembled, because the glass was in correctly and I felt it may well be sealed okay as is, and because the metal was fairly accessible for polishing and cleaning. The driver-side however was in backwards. My "attention to detail" nature prevented me from leaving the glass pane label backwards, so it had to come apart!
Because it had been "glued or sealed-in" by a previous owner more than original (probably due to seepage in driving rain or otherwise) it was quite difficult to separate. The big fear here is breaking the glass, or bending an extrusion beyond re-use. I have some extra parts from the donor camper, but none in this size or style.
I got three of the extrusions off, and that fourth just wouldn't come. I let it soak over night after applying some "stuff" to seep into the channel.
Next day, still not happening. I have a piece of plywood screwed to my bench top. I pulled two edge screws that just happened to line up with two window holes and fastened the frame down solid. Then I could grip the glass well enough to carefully, and finally, get it pulled apart.
Now I found considerable rubber damage (not much additional from the removal, I was quite careful in that regard), and decided I needed to find some new gasket.
But first, I cleaned the glass up good (hard-water deposits along the edge where the gasket resides, etc.) using razor blade scraper, steel wool, Windex and paper towels.
And set that aside on "The Sunny Side of the Street".
Now I ran around the camper and windows with the tape measure and a notepad, and recorded all the run lengths. If I were to replace all rubber channel on all glass panes (including the three small windows already re-assembled), I found I'd need 78 feet. I went shopping.
Based fully on measurement, and ALMOST exactly on looks, I chose this stuff, out of three styles and types found at Vintage Trailer Supply.
1970 Airstream Window Glazing Strip {Edit 3/23/16 - As it turned out, that was the wrong stuff. A bit mislabeled on the description, I think one height measurement was off and it would be helpful if description indicated it fits a 1/8" thick glass pane. My pane is 3/16" thick so it did not fit.}
I called and re-ordered the product called
Small-U-Gasket. It shows 1/8" by 1/8" but that is incorrect. The dimension is closer (according to a sales help actual measurement) of 1/4" by 1/4". And the inside channel of the rubber is 3/16". If those measurements pan out, it should be an exact replacement. Originally, I wanted it because it resembled mine exactly, but I directed myself away from it due to its 1/8" labeling. I had decided the measurements on the first stuff were closer, and I felt I could trim the excess after install.}
I bought the 100 foot roll. Also, I made some additional measurements and bought some of this.
Jalousie J Sealwhich again, based on indicated size, is the right stuff for my side and bottom seals where the window glass and frame crank down against the main window frame. I mean why not right?
{Edit 3/23/16 - this stuff is quite tight in the groove. I'm not sure if it is slightly different from original dimension, or simply less aged and stiff, but I will be placing it in a subsequent post.}
I haven't yet found a satisfactory replacement for my larger almost 1" wide rubber strips that go along the top of each crank open window, but I thought I saw a suitable source some time ago, so I'll keep looking. In the meantime, I'm fortunate that mine are all in reasonable condition, somewhat flexible and still functional. The pieces on my donor camper windows are horrible! Broken and brittle and non-removable, let alone re-usable.
I'm not sure when the new gasket will come, but it isn't back-ordered, and the company was quick getting me my replacement tail-lights (which I'll show another day) when I ordered those. And they are working well with me on back-ordered exterior aluminum molding.
Until the rubber comes, I'll just keep re-furbishing glass and metal and leave un-assembled piles of individual windows laying around in proper places. I'm glad I saved some boxes.
