Side Window Conversion

[allforrevenge]

ok this is going to sound crazy i know, i have a 74 doge charger s/e  and i hate the louvered side windows, i would like to have the regular full side windows that can roll down, does anyone know if you can cut out the fiberglass patch install the side molding window and crank? i mean it seams like it will work?

[Nacho-RT74]

sell it and get a hardtop. That's my advice.

Otherwise the hartop and SE body are basically the same. As body work required you have to cut the B pillar, make the U jam cut on top of quarter window opening ( above the striker ) to allow to roll down the glass and elongate the drip rail.

Rest is remove body quarter glass assembly filler. Is attached with screws.

parts you need to get are:
-inner top rear quarter panel
-inner C pillar ( sail ) panel
-Quarter molding ( boomerang ) if you keep the top of doors ones.
-drip rail modlings if you'll keep all the belt molding kit.
-Roofrail molding ( mandatory, since weatherstrip attachs to it )
-regulators and chanels. lower bracket included.
-upper inner panel bracket.
-glass.
-of course, weatherstripes

the best: get a donor parts car on a junkyard. Try to get all those parts separatelly will be a headache specially if you never have seen that assembly to know all the needed parts.

[Fitz73Chrgr]

I agree with Nacho, it is not worth the work.  Sell the SE and buy a hardtop. 

[Nacho-RT74]

beside that if your SE does have the brougham panels, will be really hard to find a matching rear upper panel, unles you change your front ones to regular kind. hatdtops/coupes with brougham are really RARE

[allforrevenge]

ok what about this a non working window that looks the same as the hardtop? like a plexi and the molding that goes on the outside?

[Nacho-RT74]

will be the same except non regulator and roll down glass, and use the coupe glass and bracket. I think in fact a little bit harder to find but easier to custom made maybe

[allforrevenge]

i think ill just have my windows cut out of something, and try to find the trim off a parts car

[Nacho-RT74]

opera windows are smaller than coupes fixed one and won't fill the quarter opening window.

Now if you simply don't like the louvers you can remove just the louvers and get the "spring special" frames to get an opera window without louvers model... or make a fiberglass frame, since spring specials are not common either

[allforrevenge]

yeah i know, i will remove the window and the fiberglass filler put in a window that is cut to fit the hardtop and the trim and it should be fine...i think?

[Mo Power]

Well allforrevenge you had an idea I was going to do except I was going to convert it to the 71 quarter glass window setup.Because I like to have a roll down also but I'm having second thoughts.

[Nacho-RT74]

guys, get the real deal. Nothing like keep the original body or change of car for the right one you want.

I would understand if you can't find a Hartop, but there are plenty of them around and still on good conditions

[Mo Power]

Well I wouldn't have money to even consider buying a hardtop and I never really liked the 73 huge quarter windows but thats me. And I know alot of people are keeping there cars to somewhat stock but my 73 I'm creating it the way I want. Just like alot of people can't tell what my car is already because I've put 71 parts on it or like my girlfriend calls it frankenstein lol.

[allforrevenge]

yea i never thought in a million years i would come across a running dodge charger i could afford and i did and i love it, but i cant afford another car, it would take me months to find one and even longer to get the money for it haha i just want the windows a hardtop has thats all i would change about my car....well beside the engine and paint and wheels haha

[Nacho-RT74]

but i cant afford another car, it would take me months to find one and even longer to get the money for it haha i just want the windows a hardtop has thats all i would change about my car....well beside the engine and paint and wheels haha

afford another car no, sell teh SE and get a hardtop

you will spend more trying to make the conversion than getting the REAL deal, and never will be the same

[Fitz73Chrgr]

but i cant afford another car, it would take me months to find one and even longer to get the money for it haha i just want the windows a hardtop has thats all i would change about my car....well beside the engine and paint and wheels haha

afford another car no, sell teh SE and get a hardtop

you will spend more trying to make the conversion than getting the REAL deal, and never will be the same

I agree, it will cost more and take longer to convert the window than selling your SE and finding a hardtop, especially converting to 71 style windows. It is your car and you can do what you want with it, but I think you may end up regretting doing the conversion.