MK1 MK2 vent windows

[81caddyGuy]

Does anyone know if a set of fixed vents out of a 92 cabrio will fit correctly in my 81 caddy to swap from opening to fixed vents?

[82vdub]

There's been discussion on this forum about swapping from the glue style vent windows to the style that have rivits attaching the glass to the frame. From what I remember, the whole frame needs to be swapped out to do this. I would suspect the same would be true with going to the fixed cabrio window. The frame area would need to be swapped out.

[Quantum TD]

Does anyone know if a set of fixed vents out of a 92 cabrio will fit correctly in my 81 caddy to swap from opening to fixed vents?

They'll fit just fine. You may need to modify the channel piece at the top (cut out the tiny tube welded to the channel), and you may want/have to trim the overall length of the channel.

FYI: They're all MK1. MK2 never had opening vents.

[81caddyGuy]

do you mean the structure of the door as the channel or something else? I have not removed the seals from my caddy so i do not know what it looks like under them. I found the cabrio windows at the junk yard the other day, removed them and the seals and hid them in another car that way they will be mine. I would like to swap them but if it will be a pain i may reconsider.

[82vdub]

There should be a frame that the window seals sit in and that frame should be bolted to the door.

[81caddyGuy]

The only thing i saw that bolted to the door was thr main window track but i will look again today when I am there.

[82vdub]

I know when people want to upgrade from the older glue style vent windows to the rivited style, they must change the window frame to properly make the change.

[Quantum TD]

I mean the channel that bolts to the back edge of the seal. It screws to the door frame at the top with a philips screw, and it bolts to the bottom with an 8mm bolt, and another 8mm screw. On your Rabbit, the lower part will be riveted in place.

[81caddyGuy]

Ok so i swapped the paasenger door and i see what you mean now. The frame for the vented windows is riveted to the main window track/quarter window rear brace. I used the vent window rear bracket and it is too short on the outside but still works. I am going to find a set of rails to correclty complete the swap as the ones on the donor vehicle were bent.

[Fatmobile]

They were bent,..
or you bent them taking them out.

I remember it being very frusteating trying to turn them the right way so they can be removed.

[81caddyGuy]

It looked like the person who tryed getting them before me did not know there was a screw up top and tryed to rip the rail out in the middle. I too the screw out and bent them out of my way as they were not usable. and i didn't feel like pulling the dorr panels. It was too hot that that day and i couldnt use them so why bother?

[DrAnonymous]

So I've got an 83 rabbit with the driver's vent window missing. The passenger side glass fell out today while I was working on the door. The glass is still intact, but I'll need to figure out how to reattach it and mount the lock lever.

From reading the above and also at another forum on the net, it appears I can swap the vent window assembly for something off a VW Cabriolet. Is that true? What years are swappable?

Anyone have any photos of the difference?

Are there other swap options? I don't have to retain the vent windows. A non-opening window would be fine.

Thanks!

[CarlosA]

Old thread but ...

Both of mine are ^%*#&#$&. I`d like to swap either to the non opening style or the riveted style.

PO just smeared silicone all over the passenger side, my drivers side is sitting in there somehow without any glue. lol

Interested in hearing about the swap-able years also..

[82vdub]

If you want non operating windows, you can silicone them into place. If you want to use the rivited style, you will have to either change the whole door to the 83+ door style that came rivited, or change out the vent window frame to use the rivit style hinges. Probably easier to swap doors, if you ask me. Some have tried to drill the glass, and this never worked without shattering the glass.

I worked last fall to try to glue my windows back in. Used to use the mirror adhesive, but that failed three times. I called a glass specialist and purchased some Loctite glue glass from them, and that failed in two weeks. I'm at the point where I'm going to swap the doors on ole 82 for doors from an 83 or 84 I have out back, that have the vent windows with the rivit hinges. Or, silicone them into place. I haven't used those windows for over a decade, because that glue never really held well. However, years ago, the glue would at least hold, but this past year it didn't hold for longer than a week using multiple products. Don't know what changed.

[DrAnonymous]

I have the rivet style windows and I'm game on swapping the vent window assembly out. I just don't know what I can swap it with. If I can get the right info, I'll make sure to take some pics and do a decent write up for others. Of course I need to get the parts too.