Re: GTV-6 window channel

["David R Johnson" <johnsnd@domain.elided>]

On Apr 19, 11:36am, Chris Attias wrote:

> Has anyone out there taken apart the channel that separates the two windows
> behind the door on a GTV-6?  The plastic finish has started to deteriorate
> on mine, and bubbly rust threatens to consume the bottom of the channel
> where it passes through the sealing rubber strip on the bottom. (It might
> be a little anal to tackle this now, but it has to be done eventually...)
>
> First question is how does the rubber sealing strip come off?  I could poke
> and pull at it, but I  don't want to destroy it in the process.  I'm
> guessing that the rubber is NLA from Alfa?
>
> Second, how much has to be taken apart to remove the window channel?  Just
> looking, I would guess the inside panel, window mechanism (how does that
> work?) and the fixed window.  Also the rear seat?  Suppose if I had a place
> to put it I could buy a parts car to practice disassembly on.  Awk!...

Chris, I dismantled the entire rear window sections on my GTV6 (along with the
rest of the car).  It is not many weeks since I did this, yet my memory is
already fading, so I'm not sure I will get everything right here.  Fortunately,
I took lots of detailed notes, so if anything is unclear email me and I will
look up the details.  Also, note that my car is an '82.  I am not aware of any
differences between this and the '84 for the windows, but there could be some.

The channel you refer to is attached in several places.  At the top, it is
rivited to the body through a tab which extends forward.  You will need to wind
down the window and pull away the top rubber seal section to drill the rivits.
 Find an end of the rubber (can't remember offhand where they put the joins)
and prise it out of the channel gently with a flatblade screwdriver or similar
tool; careful, this is the point at which it is easy to damage it, so be
patient.  Once you have an inch or so out, you can pull the rest out with your
fingers, it should be strong enough if you grip the whole thing firmly (if not
I guess you needed a new one anyway ;-).

The channel is also bolted inside the body, so you will need to remove the rear
side trim panel.  This is pretty easy, just don't forget the window winder.  I
had the seat out already, so I don't know if it has to be removed  There is a
bolt for the channel at the bottom and a screw at the base of the window if I
remember rightly.  Remove these and the channel can be removed.  However, here
is where I cannot remember the order in which I dismantled everything.  I
believe you need to remove the inside trim strip at the bottom of the window
(you may have to remove this to get at the channel screw).  I don't think you
have to remove the chrome strip on the outside, in fact I don't think you can
until the glass is removed, since it is attached with a screw through a metal
tab behind the glass.  If you pull the strip too hard the tab breaks off
(AMHIK).

Once you have the channel detached, roll the window down as far as it will go.
 You might even need to unbolt the window support clamp where it clamps onto
the winder wire to allow the window to drop, and you can even remove the rubber
bumper to give more clearance (or was it just the front window that has the
bumper???).  Then you can pull the top of the channel towards the front of the
car so the channel pivots around where it hits the top of the wound-down
window.  Then it is just a matter of gently wiggling and pulling till you can
pull it out.  If necassary you may have to pull the rubber seal for the
wind-down window glass out of the channel to get more clearance, I think I did.
 Get the part you can see out of the channel and then pull upwards - it should
slide out.

You do not have to remove the winder mechanism or the glass, which should come
as a relief.  As for reassembly, I assume it would be the reverse of removal,
but I don't know if that will work because I haven't done it yet!  Your channel
sounds identical in condition to mine.  I would be interested to know how you
intend to restore the finish.  If anyone else has done so, please chime in with
your experience.

Well, that is all I can remeber without notes, I hope I didn't miss anything.
 Good luck!

Dave J.
1982 GTV6 (some assembly still required)

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