Re: Driver's door window removal

Posted by Dave Brownell On 2017/3/11 9:13:53

On a related note, how many of you have cracked the glass in your Packard by an unintended slam of the door? By now, it has happened a third time in my three cars, so I'm quickly learning how easily it can happen.

A few weeks ago, at a Packard board meeting, I mentioned my glass plight and got all sorts of commiserating comments from fellow club members. Our club president, who has had family Packards since the mid-1940s said that it happened all the time in the 40-50s, and not just to their Packards. He noted that such accidents were rare when the glass was fully up and tight. It happened more frequently when the window was halfway down, and sometimes when fully lowered. From hard experience, he and family learned that a gentle closing was the surest way to avoid glass replacement, but a gust of wind or a stranger at a car show could easily cause it to happen again. He said that lots of cars in the 40-50's had similar fates, probably caused by loosening window regulator hardware striking the glass when it was down. Driver's doors, subject to much more regulator wear, had looser regulators, hence they broke more frequently than other glass. Makes sense to me. All three of mine had driver's side glass damage done. One sedan and two hardtops.

One has already been replaced, and while the glass was being cut, I had a second cut, just in case for the second 56 hardtop. Not a month later, someone slammed the door on that car at a car show, and history was repeated. The 1950 sedan was done by me, with no excuses made.

The first hardtop now has a bit of padding wrapped around the regulator arm, to do what I can to prevent yet another cracking. So far, so good, but I am careful and have warned others about thoughtless door closing. Seems like only the Packards at my house are having these issues, but we're being mindful with the rest. Thank goodness Packard used only flat laminated glass that can be cut locally.