OK. I am new to these old cars. Have been working on 60's and up cars most my life but this 37 is kicking my butt. I have a nice driving original car that looks like it has never been apart but has been painted once. I just got it and tried to go around and roll all the windows up and down. All worked fine except the driver quarter window. Got it down and half way and then it bound up so tried to go back up and then handle just started spinning. I saw MAC had replacement part of regulator so thought it would be simple to replace. Wow what a mistake. Started pulling 1/4 interior trim panel off and there is nails and stuff in there holding it on edges. Dont see how I will ever get those back in right. But that is nothing. Unscrewed regulator and thought it would just drop out the bottom but its not big enough to allow it to drop out. So then tried going up with it and then broke the glass. How do you get the quarter window regulator out of the car? It looks like the glass would have to come off the channel first but I still dont see how regulator will fit out the bottom of the body. Any one in the San Antonio area who know about this stuff or can steer me to some books or something? I want to get the interior redone but it was in pretty good shape till I started tearing into it. Now I will need a quarter window. Whats the best way to get one of those. I dont think I will have much of a pattern left after I work with it much more. I guess at this point some pointers how to get the regulator out would be appreciated.
1937 ford tudor 1/4 window regulator HELP
- Thread starter Cjorg
- Start date
Just try to get the back windows apart! I do not remember the combination for the front window but have done it to replace the channels. I would get a replacement regulator that is an original instead of one of MAC's. I am sure someone on the forum will have one, I might even have one myself. Are you are aware that the windows on a 37 roll back as well as roll down.
Zeke...PA
Well-known member
Here is instructions that I copied from this site, Zeke 37 & 40 the same
I tried this on my '40 Tudor and it seemed to work well:
Install anti-rattle "whiskers" in sheet metal around window opening. (you will also install them on the Garnish Molding) I've heard that earlier models use screws and later models use push clips that the whiskers snap into and the moldings often use round staples. Drake has EXCELLENT reproduction clips and original-style round staples. Their full window channel kits sell quickly but you can buy clips and staples separately.
Install vertical Felt "U" channels on the B pillar and against the wheel well inside the compartment panel. These must be straight and a good fit. The back one has a tab at the top that slides down in a slot to hold it in place and the front has a nail or screw at the top that holds it in place. They both have a tab at the bottom of the steel channel that bends over to hold the bottom part in place. Roy Nacewicz at: http://www.fordscript.com/ has the special "Threaded" nails and any other nuts and bolts you will ever need.
The front "U" channel has another rubber and felt coated metal strip attached to it running up into the space between the Garnish Molding and sheet metal that cushions the glass when it's closed. I have no idea where to get this. I cleaned mine off and rubberized it and attached felt myself. The Vintique felt kit comes with a stick-on roll of black felt.
Now to the glass:
Using a rubber mallet, set the glass in the window lift channel with window tape (Steele Rubber products in Denver, NC has it by the foot and it's very close to early versions with cork embedded. Here is a link for the Setting Tape: https://dealer.steelerubber.com/Ecom....aspx?IID=6671 Some use epoxy or urethane to set the glass, but I prefer the original tape method. It allows for easy removal later if needed.
When placing channel on the glass, the tab portion with the stud on the lift channel is closest to the B Pillar, towards the front of the car. The "U" channel track faces in towards the passenger compartment.
Install regulator loosely with all screws in slotted holes. Crank regulator "up" until two rollers touch each other at the top. (You'll be able to see them through the round hole "window" present in the sheet metal)
From the inside of the car, put the glass with channel lift down in the channel opening, resting horizontally on the two rollers. Looking through the hole in the sheet metal, you will see the rollers are close to the division in the "U" shaped track.
Slowly crank "roll" the regulator down. The rollers will begin to separate.
Reach in the hole and pull the back roller toward you enough that it does not go in the back portion of the "U" channel but so that it slides along the outer edge instead. This keeps the window from moving up and down.
Position the front roller just at the opening of the front portion of the "U" channel until the washer is just moving onto the outside of the track.
Push the front roller away from you (assuming you're sitting inside the car) and continue to crank the regulator. This will engage the stud portion of the regulator roller into the "U"channel and the washer will be pressed against the outside of the channel, holding it in place with the spring. The back roller will continue going back, not engaging in the track.
Crank far enough for the front roller to clear the threaded hole in the "U" channel.
Install roller stop screw in the hole in the front section of "U" channel. This keeps the roller from coming out again.
Crank regulator in the opposite direction. This will bring the rollers back towards each other but the front roller will now stay in the "U" channel. At the top of the regulator travel, the back roller will fall within or close to the gap in the front and back "U" channels. You may have to pry gently with a screwdriver to get it in place.
Position the back roller at the opening of the back "U" channel and crank regulator in the opposite direction. Push the stud away from you as you did before on the front roller. You may need to pull on the washer a little to get it to the outside of the channel. As you crank, the back roller should engage the "U" channel.
You can then adjust the travel as necessary.
I hope this VERY long explanation will be helpful to some of you. I am a novice, but this is what worked best for me. Good luck and feel free to give me feedback!
Last edited by Inherited40tudor; Today at 12:28 AM.
I tried this on my '40 Tudor and it seemed to work well:
Install anti-rattle "whiskers" in sheet metal around window opening. (you will also install them on the Garnish Molding) I've heard that earlier models use screws and later models use push clips that the whiskers snap into and the moldings often use round staples. Drake has EXCELLENT reproduction clips and original-style round staples. Their full window channel kits sell quickly but you can buy clips and staples separately.
Install vertical Felt "U" channels on the B pillar and against the wheel well inside the compartment panel. These must be straight and a good fit. The back one has a tab at the top that slides down in a slot to hold it in place and the front has a nail or screw at the top that holds it in place. They both have a tab at the bottom of the steel channel that bends over to hold the bottom part in place. Roy Nacewicz at: http://www.fordscript.com/ has the special "Threaded" nails and any other nuts and bolts you will ever need.
The front "U" channel has another rubber and felt coated metal strip attached to it running up into the space between the Garnish Molding and sheet metal that cushions the glass when it's closed. I have no idea where to get this. I cleaned mine off and rubberized it and attached felt myself. The Vintique felt kit comes with a stick-on roll of black felt.
Now to the glass:
Using a rubber mallet, set the glass in the window lift channel with window tape (Steele Rubber products in Denver, NC has it by the foot and it's very close to early versions with cork embedded. Here is a link for the Setting Tape: https://dealer.steelerubber.com/Ecom....aspx?IID=6671 Some use epoxy or urethane to set the glass, but I prefer the original tape method. It allows for easy removal later if needed.
When placing channel on the glass, the tab portion with the stud on the lift channel is closest to the B Pillar, towards the front of the car. The "U" channel track faces in towards the passenger compartment.
Install regulator loosely with all screws in slotted holes. Crank regulator "up" until two rollers touch each other at the top. (You'll be able to see them through the round hole "window" present in the sheet metal)
From the inside of the car, put the glass with channel lift down in the channel opening, resting horizontally on the two rollers. Looking through the hole in the sheet metal, you will see the rollers are close to the division in the "U" shaped track.
Slowly crank "roll" the regulator down. The rollers will begin to separate.
Reach in the hole and pull the back roller toward you enough that it does not go in the back portion of the "U" channel but so that it slides along the outer edge instead. This keeps the window from moving up and down.
Position the front roller just at the opening of the front portion of the "U" channel until the washer is just moving onto the outside of the track.
Push the front roller away from you (assuming you're sitting inside the car) and continue to crank the regulator. This will engage the stud portion of the regulator roller into the "U"channel and the washer will be pressed against the outside of the channel, holding it in place with the spring. The back roller will continue going back, not engaging in the track.
Crank far enough for the front roller to clear the threaded hole in the "U" channel.
Install roller stop screw in the hole in the front section of "U" channel. This keeps the roller from coming out again.
Crank regulator in the opposite direction. This will bring the rollers back towards each other but the front roller will now stay in the "U" channel. At the top of the regulator travel, the back roller will fall within or close to the gap in the front and back "U" channels. You may have to pry gently with a screwdriver to get it in place.
Position the back roller at the opening of the back "U" channel and crank regulator in the opposite direction. Push the stud away from you as you did before on the front roller. You may need to pull on the washer a little to get it to the outside of the channel. As you crank, the back roller should engage the "U" channel.
You can then adjust the travel as necessary.
I hope this VERY long explanation will be helpful to some of you. I am a novice, but this is what worked best for me. Good luck and feel free to give me feedback!
Last edited by Inherited40tudor; Today at 12:28 AM.
Tim Armstrong
Senior Member
Remove the regulator screws, with the window all the way up, then slide the regulator to the left and right, they shou ldslip out of the regulator track. The regulator will come out the bottom with a little tug on the inner shet metal. Now for putting it back...good luck. I broke 2 windows, finally put the glass channel on the rgulator and installed it in the car. I then glued the bottom of the glass and slipped it in from the top with the regulator rolled up. As for Macs junk, I ordered a regulator kit { made in Aregentins } it would not fit late or early regulators... JUNK
john worden
Well-known member
Do a search on here because this topic has been covered extensively. It's not that difficult.