[Squedonk Lee]

I am wondering if anyone knows were to get replacement parts for my side windows. These windows open from the bottom, they open and close with an overcenter latch. I need the little button that goes through the glass and then attaches to the latch mechanism. Thanks in advance.

 

[opelbits]

Unless you can find the part number and then find NOS, the junkyard is your best bet. Or if someone on the forum has a parts van. They are 'probably' the same 1st/2nd gen, unless you have a conversion van.

 

[Squedonk Lee]

Unless you can find the part number and then find NOS, the junkyard is your best bet. Or if someone on the forum has a parts van. They are 'probably' the same 1st/2nd gen, unless you have a conversion van.

Thanks Good Advice

 

[Big_kid]

I found one of mine was leaking, I was able to cobble together a solution from the hardware drawers at Lowes. I used a rubber nutsert, a rubber washer, and a flip-closed screw cap, IIRC. I'll see if I still have the parts in the van, I may have bought extras. I also picked up some factory hardware last time I was at PnP.

 

[Squedonk Lee]

I found one of mine was leaking, I was able to cobble together a solution from the hardware drawers at Lowes. I used a rubber nutsert, a rubber washer, and a flip-closed screw cap, IIRC. I'll see if I still have the parts in the van, I may have bought extras. I also picked up some factory hardware last time I was at PnP.

Thanks sounds good. btw what is PnP?

 

[Big_kid]

PnP = Pick and Pull junkyard. I looked at my creation yesterday and saw the rubber has already started to deteriorate. OEM parts might be a better solution, perhaps from a newer van? I doubt the hardware would change that much, it might be worth looking into.

Here's a few pics I took:

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• Big_kid
• 15 d ago

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• Big_kid
• 15 d ago

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• Big_kid
• 15 d ago

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• Big_kid
• 15 d ago

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• Big_kid
• 15 d ago

 

[Squedonk Lee]

Okay, wow lots to work with. thanks. Before the Astro, all of my automotive resources have been Volkswagen. I currently have a 1973 VW thing, so I appreciate learning about new places to get parts.

 

[Rod's Trucks]

Okay, wow lots to work with. thanks. Before the Astro, all of my automotive resources have been Volkswagen. I currently have a 1973 VW thing, so I appreciate learning about new places to get parts.

I cannot help with sourcing the parts, but a P'n'P might yield a glass with good fittings.
I had a water leak from a side window, and had to remove the glass in order to remove and reseal the weatherstripping (pinchweld gasket).
I tried to get those thru-glass fittings to come loose, but I could not budge them. I was worried I might break them, or the glass. I already had the headliner out, so I drilled out the rivets that hold the brackets to the body structure.
When I was done resealing the weatherstripping, I installed nut-certs in the rivet holes and remounted the bracket with machine screws.
It seems to have worked very well.
Rod J
Issaquah, WA

 

[Big_kid]

My other toy is a fiberglass dune buggy. The body is a KC Clipper, the rest is a 66, 70, 71, what year depends on which part it is kind of thing.

 

[Squedonk Lee]

Cool I totally get that. It would be fun to find out what other automotive interests people have had over the years. If that would not be seen as a deviation from the scope of the community.

 

[Rod's Trucks]

Deviation.....
There is a thread for "What have you done to/with your other vehicles today?"
Your question could beging a new thread about 'other' car interests. That would be more appropriate, rather than hijacking this one.😉
I suspect most of us were/are a bit 'devious', since most do not use their vans as daily drivers.
I am a Subaru guy at heart, but also own a 1954 Volvo P1800, among other things.
Rod J
Issaquah, WA

 

[Squedonk Lee]

...still learning the etiquette, thanks I agree.

 

[sixsix]

Deviation.....
There is a thread for "What have you done to/with your other vehicles today?"
Your question could beging a new thread about 'other' car interests. That would be more appropriate, rather than hijacking this one.😉
I suspect most of us were/are a bit 'devious', since most do not use their vans as daily drivers.
I am a Subaru guy at heart, but also own a 1954 Volvo P1800, among other things.
Rod J
Issaquah, WA

Gosh Rod... It IS his thread , after all.
Not so sure about the HIDDEN forum "Rules" that say anything about "Staying On Topic".
Obviously, it is implied on certain threads. Etiquette is another matter - synonymous to suggestions.

And if anything, the Original Poster ( OP ) has full discretion on that kind of thing.
And... there are "Uncategorized", "Off-Topic" & "Build Threads" that allow real freedoms.

Rod, you and/or the mods can step in any time to square me away or not... LOL : - )

 

[Rod's Trucks]

Sixsix,
Mia culpa
Yup, I was probably out of place in my comment.
I agree with you on it being his thread, and it was a sort of an off-handed comment he made about 'deviation from the scope'...that got me thinking.
Then I messed up the context. I should have said something like..'rather than interested commenters hijacking the thread' to comment on their other interests.
That is why I went ahead with a new post with a title that was more inline with that idea.
Rod J

 

[realityguy]

You might want to check out the window button really well and how it is put together.Check out similar close year CHEV/GMC vans at the junkyard for windows that open the same way;more than likely using the same latch assembly?.I tried to remove one of those glass attachments from a Safari this last week and they can be tough to remove.The rest of the latch was easy.You might even find one with the glass broken and able to remove the entire latch assembly by breaking some more glass from around the latch assembly.Or ..one might be stashed in the back of a van as a "future pull" by someone...even if not an Astro/Safari.If at PnP..more than likely they'll probably charge for the entire latch assembly..so you might as well take the entire assembly if it fits your "angle"(below)..but they will be cheaper there than probably anywhere else,

To remove one,you need to remove the latch portion from the wall with either a torq or phillips head bit(I've run into both in the same van).They can be either.Once the lever portion is removed,a small allen wrench is needed to push out the pin holding the latch/glass button pieces together..so you can get to the screw head for the "in-glass" portion.You may already know that.

If you need an entire latch assembly..make sure you get one that is similar for "mount angle".I found out some are setup to be used on flat surfaces OR angled ones..when I grabbed one of the latches(not that glass button).The side windows and back operable ones can be different in that "angle" latch aspect.Match with your similar one for that(and show them before you go in that you have one)..since every window I've seen has two.

 

[Squedonk Lee]

You might want to check out the window button really well and how it is put together.Check out similar close year CHEV/GMC vans at the junkyard for windows that open the same way;more than likely using the same latch assembly?.I tried to remove one of those glass attachments from a Safari this last week and they can be tough to remove.The rest of the latch was easy.You might even find one with the glass broken and able to remove the entire latch assembly by breaking some more glass from around the latch assembly.Or ..one might be stashed in the back of a van as a "future pull" by someone...even if not an Astro/Safari.If at PnP..more than likely they'll probably charge for the entire latch assembly..so you might as well take the entire assembly if it fits your "angle"(below)..but they will be cheaper there than probably anywhere else,

To remove one,you need to remove the latch portion from the wall with either a torq or phillips head bit(I've run into both in the same van).They can be either.Once the lever portion is removed,a small allen wrench is needed to push out the pin holding the latch/glass button pieces together..so you can get to the screw head for the "in-glass" portion.You may already know that.

If you need an entire latch assembly..make sure you get one that is similar for "mount angle".I found out some are setup to be used on flat surfaces OR angled ones..when I grabbed one of the latches(not that glass button).The side windows and back operable ones can be different in that "angle" latch aspect.Match with your similar one for that(and show them before you go in that you have one)..since every window I've seen has two.

Good advice thanks

 

[realityguy]

It's worth a shot to take a walk through a Do-it-Yourself junkyard for GMC/Chevy 1985-2005 year vehicles with those operable windows..equipped with the small amount of correct tools(maybe pliers/rag to hold the button on the outside?) I think I might add some small container of wd40 or 3 in1 oil to perhaps loosen them up.You should get lucky!
Where I live in the Pacific Northwest and access to two P-n-Ps within about 20 miles,They average about at least 5 or 6 Astro/Safaris all the time.I haven't had to check for other possible ones.