1946 Ford PU Door Glass

gmc1941

gmc1941

Senior Member
My problem is-I want to replace the door glass on my pickup. The glass has a metal frame and had been set up for power windows which didn't operate. Since the door panels have no crank and only door switchs I thought it would be easier just to replace the actuators with modern ones. Has anybody replace the glass and frame with just glass? Need some thoughts. The cab is I think 46 and the front 40. Mentally handy capped or just dumb.:confused:
 
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My 46 cab has just the glass. I replaced one a few months back and compared the pattern with a side glass with the surround frame. I placed the pattern glass on the frame and it was exactly the same. Building another 40 using the 46 cab and plan on running the same style glass without metal surround. Just looks cleaner to me.
 
mj40's said:
My 46 cab has just the glass. I replaced one a few months back and compared the pattern with a side glass with the surround frame. I placed the pattern glass on the frame and it was exactly the same. Building another 40 using the 46 cab and plan on running the same style glass without metal surround. Just looks cleaner to me.
Click to expand...
Yes I am running just glass in my 46 also. Could not find metal trim in usable shape.
 
If you go without the frame (imho looks better for a street rod) consider spending the extra dollars for tempered glass. I suspect the reason for the frame is to help prevent the cracking that can easily happen with safety plate when the door is slammed with the window part open, or some neophyte uses the glass to close the door.
 
Might be a dumb question but here goes....is the tempered glass stronger?
Is that the reason to use it?
My '40 PU has a cracked driver's door glass since about a week since the resto was finished.
 
This is more than you want to know, but here goes.
1940 Pickup had no frame around the glass. That was changed in 1941 and retained going forward. IMHO this was done because of broken windows due to slamming the doors. To replace a "framed" window glass remove the fasteners at the lower edges and gently ply off the bottom metal runner.
If you want to go frame-less buy 1940 window channels. Frame-less glass is not as thick as the frame and the channel that go in the door and around the sealing surface have a narrow gap to accommodate the thinner sealing face of the frame-less window.
Tempered glass is stronger.
Good luck !
 
I thought the frames came about in the war years, most unrestored 42 pickups I've seen have no frames, mine had no frames, and appeared never to have had them. Most war time and after one's I've seen had the frames. The tempered (hardened) glass is much much stronger. And Much harder to break, the stock laminated stuff will often crack just to spite you. Tempered has to be cut before tempering. Afterwards it's to hard. Normally near 50-75% more expensive.
I actually like the frames, looks more trucky.
Martin.
 
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