So, about 2 months ago, Just before I put the GP back on the road, I removed the vinyl top. Since then, I have been doing body work to make everything look good. I only get to it a few times a week, for a few hours each time, so it would be stupid for me to remove and replace the speed nuts holding the windows in each time. I have left them off for almost 2 months, with no problem. The black goo was enough to hold them in place. Today, I was finishing everything up, and installed some weatherstripping around the hole the windows sit in, to fill the slight gap where the vinyl was tucked in. I didn't put the nuts on, even though I was done, since I didn't have my tools with me. Due to the thickness of the weatherstripping, they didn't sit in as far as before, but I didn't think much of it.
Anyways, my fiance and I headed out on the highway to her aunt and uncle's house. About a mile or so later, I hear a big rush of air, and then her yelling 'The window, the window!', then...BYE BYE window! I pulled over, ran back to where it was lying, half way in the middle of the lane, and to my surprise, the window was intact! The top left corner of the black and chrome trim was all chewed up, as it probably hit the ground 1st, and there was a bit of road rash on most of the chrome, but the glass was fine.
I drove the rest of the 15 or so miles on the highway with her holding the window in her lap, and me praying the passenger side didn't do the same. We got there, I borrowed a ratchet and socket from her uncle, and made sure those windows weren't coming out on their own again. Ironically, when I tightened everything down, the gap that the weatherstripping was supposed to fill disappeared.
Having parts fly off your car while doing 75 down the highway is not very fun. But, it could have been a lot worse. So, now I am looking for a driver's side 1/4 window from a vinyl top GP (so they both match), or both sides from a non vinyl top GP.
Anyways, my fiance and I headed out on the highway to her aunt and uncle's house. About a mile or so later, I hear a big rush of air, and then her yelling 'The window, the window!', then...BYE BYE window! I pulled over, ran back to where it was lying, half way in the middle of the lane, and to my surprise, the window was intact! The top left corner of the black and chrome trim was all chewed up, as it probably hit the ground 1st, and there was a bit of road rash on most of the chrome, but the glass was fine.
I drove the rest of the 15 or so miles on the highway with her holding the window in her lap, and me praying the passenger side didn't do the same. We got there, I borrowed a ratchet and socket from her uncle, and made sure those windows weren't coming out on their own again. Ironically, when I tightened everything down, the gap that the weatherstripping was supposed to fill disappeared.
Having parts fly off your car while doing 75 down the highway is not very fun. But, it could have been a lot worse. So, now I am looking for a driver's side 1/4 window from a vinyl top GP (so they both match), or both sides from a non vinyl top GP.
