Archie's chop's/Mikes windows results. (Page 2/31)
Custom88 OCT 05, 09:32 PM
Anyone with windows want to sell them cause their scared of the differences? I'm looking at chopping my own. I have a local shop willing to do the task, they want the windows first. They've shown me pictures of a 1985 Monte Carlo SS they chopped 5 inches to match supplied windows. Maybe I can see if they have any digitals or maybe I can take a pic of the car its self if it's local.
Archie OCT 05, 09:40 PM
When we started to do the "rolling" operation above, we noticed a large difference between the curve of the 2 windows. At least is was more than I expected it to be. So we decided to go back & take these pictures. We lined up the 7 holes with each other & pinched it down like we did before we "rolled" the window as explained above.

We actually measured the difference, if I remember correctly is was 4.5" between those windows which is 4.5" more curvature in my window. (Note: the measurement was 4.5" or 5.0" I don't remember, jushua is not working tonite so maybe he can verify for us)





After we noticed the large difference in curvature, I (half jokingly) said to jushua that I thought that the stock Fiero had more curvature than his window had. joshua responded that he wouldn't doubt it. So we decided to check it. We got a stock right side window from my window pile & checked it with his window using the same method as we did earlier. The stock window had more curvature so jushua's window is on the bottom again in these pictures........ That's about .75" (edited this distance from 1.25" to .75" as per Josh's recollection from his post below) more curvature in the stock window than what jushua's window has. 3 pics







Next up we try to fit his window in my car using 2 different methods to see if we can optimize it......... hang on.

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 10-06-2006).]

madcurl OCT 05, 09:49 PM

Archie OCT 05, 10:14 PM
As a committee, we decided that there was 2 ways that we could check the side window fit into my car.

The 1st one was to bolt them in to the stock window mounting points just like all of my chop top cars have been. Because his window is not as curved as mine & because I wasn't willing to hack up all the window mounting points, seals, tracks etc. this method would not really show too much about the contour. We really thought about not even trying this method, but then we decided that 27 people would see some kind of conspiracy if we didn't do it. So we went ahead & did it.

We didn't take any shots comparing the contour because we agreed that, considering how far out the window stood, the angle you took the picture at would effect the appearance of the contour more than anything else. so the only real benifit of this method is to prove what jushus said in his opening statement & we can judge the 2 verticle lines on the window & how they fit into the opening.











I'm just posting this picture because I like the reflection in the window.



.....
joshua riedl OCT 05, 10:18 PM
The one thing I noticed, or think I noticed was when comparing a stock window to the chop window. The part above the dew wipe seemed the same as stock. It was below the dew wipe where the stock glass had more curvature. Archie's windows did have a lot more curveature, over 4.5 inches, and the stock windows was about 3/4 inch at the top edge.
joshua riedl OCT 05, 10:21 PM
the installed pictures look a lot like what I had to deal with so this is what people have to expect when taking on this project. Determination and investment pushed me through the tuff spots.
Archie OCT 05, 10:48 PM
OK, so in this next group of pictures, we did not have the window bolted in at all. We put it inside the door where it belongs, then closed the door and maneuvered it fore & aft & up & down & angled slightly to left or right to get the best fit we could find. jushua held it in place while I took the pictures. This method takes the curvature of the window out of the consideration & it does not pay any attention as to wether the window is square to the dew wipe or not so it could be twisted to the left or right & it is being held up by hand.

The one thing that jushua noted here was that the window "tucked in" to the seal in the front while it didn't quite touch the seal at the rear. jushua noted that that fact went along with the spacing & mounting changes he had to make to the window seals when he mounted his windows. We kinda agreed that his window must have more curvature at the front end than at the back end for it to fit like that. As I go back and look at some of the other pictures we took, there is evidence to support that theory.

These are the last of the pictures we took today of this subject.......









Archie
Archie OCT 05, 11:38 PM
Now, I think I have the right to write a conclusion here.

Many months ago F355spider announced that he was selling glass windows that would fit a 3" chop top "to a Natt's A$$" (He mis-spelled Gnat not me). Read the thread for yourself & you'll see what really happened http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum1/HTML/054790.html Now he claims that all those Texas boys use terms link "Natt's A$$" when they don't really mean that the item is THAT CLOSE to perfect. Too bad he didn't explain that to his window customers' 5 months ago.

I warned my customers that those windows were not going to fit anywhere close to as good as Mike had advertised in our 3" chops.

After that Mike & Stuart Lowery claimed that I was lying to my customers and that I was trying to use scare tactics to keep Mike from selling his windows. Mike has spent most of the last years calling me names & mis-quoting other things I said. At my count he has called me a liar more than 20 times this year alone. And in reality he has been the one lying every one of those times. Whenever he hasn't got an answer Stuart then steps up (like he's doing now) & continues the harassment until Mike can figure out some new names to call me. Resently Mike has claimed that I had promised to provide free glass windows to my customers. I never said that & he can't find a quote from me to prove that i did say that. But yet, he's been calling me a liar because the free windows haven't been passed out yet.

I would submit that Mike has been the liar all along & that he's so obsessed with trying to hurt my reputation that he would say anything or hurl any insult or tell any lie, to meet his goal.

I would suggest asking Mike for proof anytime he tries to make a statement of fact from here on out.

I also think it's time for him to go harass someone else for a change.

Mike, you're a hack & a liar. Get a life.

Archie

edit Gnat Thanks, now It's perfect

[This message has been edited by Archie (edited 10-06-2006).]

GonsaiPK OCT 06, 02:59 AM
Now, it's obvious that your windows fit your chops better, so all I can add is that it's spelled "gnat."
joshua riedl OCT 06, 08:07 AM
I think it's up to the individual from here on out. I look at those pictures and think to myself, if I play with it long enough, I'll get a half inch. Other people will look at it and get turned off. I also do not feel I was lied to by Mike. He posted pictures of the windows not fitting his car and then posted more pictures after he made them fit his car. I knew it would take work and I was prepared to accept it. I can't thank Mike enough. Once my engine is done my car can be a daily driver. This wouldn't have been possible without him. Thanks Mike. and thanks to Archie for allowing the comparison on your car.