So I busted my back window...Kinda wanna swap it myself....

[RobbieD]

....but I just want my back window the way it was.

If I did it myself it would be so its done right, not to save a buck.

I need advice on the best way to do this, not the cheapest.

I would start by getting a quote from a good auto glass and trim shop. It'll at least give you a gauge that your time and hassle can be measured against.

Another thing will be using OEM versus aftermarket parts. An NOS or salvaged slider assembly may be difficult to source and likely at a higher cost. In my own opinion, an aftermarket usually won't have the look, quality and "feel" as an OEM unit.

A big factor here, is that the older OEM sliding window units were designed to be serviceable, and the shop manual describes breaking it down to replace broken components, like a fixed glass pane. That's another reason I would suggest talking to a good glass shop. A good one should be able to tell you what your options are in getting it repaired.

....but I just want my back window the way it was.

If a good and professional glass guy can replace the broken pane on your old unit and R&R it with a warranty, at a reasonable cost (based versus YOUR time's cost), to me that would be the way to go.

Good luck with it.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I would start by getting a quote from a good auto glass and trim shop. It'll at least give you a gauge that your time and hassle can be measured against.

Another thing will be using OEM versus aftermarket parts. An NOS or salvaged slider assembly may be difficult to source and likely at a higher cost. In my own opinion, an aftermarket usually won't have the look, quality and "feel" as an OEM unit.

A big factor here, is that the older OEM sliding window units were designed to be serviceable, and the shop manual describes breaking it down to replace broken components, like a fixed glass pane. That's another reason I would suggest talking to a good glass shop. A good one should be able to tell you what your options are in getting it repaired.



If a good and professional glass guy can replace the broken pane on your old unit and R&R it with a warranty, at a reasonable cost (based versus YOUR time's cost), to me that would be the way to go.

Good luck with it.

Sound advice. I had a feeling there was a reason I was bummed it broke. I'm gonna try to track down an oem unit. It would be worth the cost to me.

Sounds like if I want it done right I need to start sourcing parts...The outside trim is totally shot too.

Im not sure if my local glass place is "good". They are a little bit "ghetto", but have been there for like 30 years and usually looks busy driving by.

Maybe if I brush up on my spanish enough to emphasize I am willing to pay extra for an oem unit, he will get it done for me.

Actually my body shop guy does old resto mods and stuff, he probably has a glass guy....

really wish I hadnt done that last little push on the bobcat.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

My poor ranger

 

[RobbieD]

Actually my body shop guy does old resto mods and stuff, he probably has a glass guy....

really wish I hadnt done that last little push on the bobcat.

Yeah, the local glass shop doesn't sound too promising, but I'd definitely ask the body guy if he knows of somebody.

I get bummed when I pull a boner, too. But it's water under the bridge, and life is just too damn short to keep beating yourself up over something.

 

[Snoranger]

C. R. Laurence makes quality replacement sliders. I know Ford outsourced the roll down rear windows on the Bigfoot cruiser trucks to them, so Ford trusted them to build OEM parts… There’s a pretty good chance that they made the OEM sliders in all our Rangers.
If I were replacing mine, I’d rather use a high quality aftermarket one then a 20+ year old used one. On that old OEM one, the seals and trim are going to be beat to hell from the UV light over ther decades.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

C. R. Laurence makes quality replacement sliders. I know Ford outsourced the roll down rear windows on the Bigfoot cruiser trucks to them, so Ford trusted them to build OEM parts… There’s a pretty good chance that they made the OEM sliders in all our Rangers.
If I were replacing mine, I’d rather use a high quality aftermarket one then a 20+ year old used one. On that old OEM one, the seals and trim are going to be beat to hell from the UV light over ther decades.

I thought aftermarket and high quality didnt go together. I dont need OEM per se, I just would prefer high quality, and willing to pay a few extra bucks for it. I'll check out CR lawrence

Yea I want new seals and trim...Might help with the leaks.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

My body shop guy replied his glass guy has both aftermarket or oem, probably (hopefully) familiar with C.L. Lawrence.

Turns out its the same guys he sent to my place to replace the windshield on moms Mercedes. I remember they did a thorough job in a reasonable timeframe, and it if I can recall it was oem glass. I remember they were regular down to earth guys, and spoke english. Might give them a call.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Yeah, the local glass shop doesn't sound too promising, but I'd definitely ask the body guy if he knows of somebody.

I get bummed when I pull a boner, too. But it's water under the bridge, and life is just too damn short to keep beating yourself up over something.

The salt on the boner is I had just straightened my tweaked bumper that morning to a satisfactory result feeling of accomplishment level. Doh.

 

[RobbieD]

The salt on the boner is I had just straightened my tweaked bumper that morning to a satisfactory result feeling of accomplishment level. Doh.

Ouch!

On a positive note, your body shop's glass guy sounds promising. Good luck!

 

[RobbieD]

C. R. Laurence makes quality replacement sliders. I know Ford outsourced the roll down rear windows on the Bigfoot cruiser trucks to them, so Ford trusted them to build OEM parts… There’s a pretty good chance that they made the OEM sliders in all our Rangers.
If I were replacing mine, I’d rather use a high quality aftermarket one then a 20+ year old used one. On that old OEM one, the seals and trim are going to be beat to hell from the UV light over ther decades.

Valid points.

Not all aftermarket is low quality. That'll be reflected in the cost, but you have to look at what you're buying, so that you don't overpay for the run-of-the-mill.

It pays to be picky when you're salvaging parts. Occasionally you'll come across a junked donor that'll look like it had a sheltered life. But most of the first and second gen trucks look like they saw service in the Civil War.

 

[Eddo Rogue]

Valid points.

Not all aftermarket is low quality. That'll be reflected in the cost, but you have to look at what you're buying, so that you don't overpay for the run-of-the-mill.

It pays to be picky when you're salvaging parts. Occasionally you'll come across a junked donor that'll look like it had a sheltered life. But most of the first and second gen trucks look like they saw service in the Civil War.

Meh I dont have time to junk yard hunt, nor care for authenticity. I was only avoiding aftermarket because I assumed its junk.

Honestly If I must invest time, might as well be fun....I have enough plexiglass, tools and stuff for templating/framing to router out my own window.

These hollywood productions I work for are stupid wasteful. I have quite a hoard of cool hardware/materials from studio lot dumpster diving and buying laborers lunch to haul it to my truck instead of the 40 yard bin.

 

[scotts90ranger]

The $20 butyl rope is the right way... it's literally rope covered in gooey stuff the right thickness to seal the window... For once I'm not even taking the cheap way out , a little bit of a shortcut but it's legit, the flange isn't near as critical as a windshield. I didn't bother to get the window off of the shelf so I just left it as is, apparently that window was put in with sealant not the rope but either will work, the window I put in last time had a trough to stick the rope in. I'm sure you've installed a rope tire patch, the butyl is basically a 20' roll of that rope, it's sticky stuff. A keen eye will notice that's my spare grille and the pop out rear side windows I have saved for the '97...

 

[gaz]

@Eddo Rogue ,
It turns out that the rear glass is only there to deflect firewood from hitting windshield from the back of the truck. So far, everytime I've loaded firewood, the rear slider has done it's job ..(

 

[Eddo Rogue]

@Eddo Rogue ,
It turns out that the rear glass is only there to deflect firewood from hitting windshield from the back of the truck. So far, everytime I've loaded firewood, the rear slider has done it's job ..(

it was the skid steer fork the firewood was dangling from that broke it

 

[Blmpkn]

Haha!






Boner.