Club 80-90 Forums

Is anyone aware if there is a company that supplies glass and seals for a T25 panel van conversion to camper?
I can find easily replacement units for factory fitted vans but not for panel vans undergoing conversion.
Many Thanks!
Nikos

I think your best option is to contact a breakers or put up a wanted ad, given the age of these vans that any manufacturers still make suitable glass. A set of new seals from  https://www.sealsdirect.co.uk/seals-pro ... rtmentId=4
They can be awkward to fit, you need a special tool or get a local auto glass company to do them? Not autoglass or the like.
The correct seal type are claytonrite need to measure panel and glass thickness to get correct seal size. The glass for panel van is slightly curved unlike factory windows in a caravelle that is flat. Decide if you want glass all round on both thread quarters and the middle sections? will save cutting and installation,  edges of cut metal is a real rust trap !!! I have heard that different converters used slightly different sized glass, so if salvaged make sure all are from the same van. 

Mike

Maybe a starter ("fits either side" which is a bit odd as I thought they were usually sided as mentioned above. Maybe the seal makes up the difference?):
Rear Side window

If second hand is an option this seller sometimes has the glass for van conversions but you'll need to source the seals (you need to work your way down the list as the order can be pretty random):

https://www.partsemporium.co.uk

Some comments here about glass shape in van conversions as well:

viewtopic.php?t=177865


 

Personally I would leave it 'uncut' and source a factory window slider and have it painted to match.

I find panel van conversion windows always leak in the end.

A lot of panel van conversions I’ve seen have had factory flat glass fitted as the curve is relatively small, bay windows were more curved and necessitated curved glass.

I am sure my panel van conversion has the flat glass fitted.
The near-side rear window is printed / etched the wrong way, so it makes sense if it is the same as the off-side window glass.
It had me scratching my head for a while.

As for seals - the conversion seals do shrink and crack with age. Ours did.
Only the original front and rear screen seals have not shrunk or cracked.

Robsey wrote: ↑24 Mar 2023, 20:05 I am sure my panel van conversion has the flat glass fitted.
The near-side rear window is printed / etched the wrong way, so it makes sense if it is the same as the off-side window glass.
It had me scratching my head for a while.

As for seals - the conversion seals do shrink and crack with age. Ours did.
Only the original front and rear screen seals have not shrunk or cracked.

The seals need to be cut a couple of inches to long and squeezed in, it allows for shrinking, lots of folks cut them just so and they shrink quite quickly.

Is your van vw glass?

I am sure it is not VW...

Either Sekurit or Pilkington rings a bell.
I will have a look this evening and report back.

I will update this post in about an hour...

Okay correction.
Just looked at the glass.
Both the sliding door and near-side rear glass are Triplex glass - and there is about a 1/2" (13mm) bow in the glass.

Still think it is odd that the print faces inwards towards the occupants, rather than outwards.

Robsey wrote: ↑24 Mar 2023, 20:33 I am sure it is not VW...

Either Sekurit or Pilkington rings a bell.
I will have a look this evening and report back.

I will update this post in about an hour...

Okay correction.
Just looked at the glass.
Both the sliding door and near-side rear glass are Triplex glass - and there is about a 1/2" (13mm) bow in the glass.

Still think it is odd that the print faces inwards towards the occupants, rather than outwards.

Triplex seem to manufacture most of the curved glass, maybe faces in to prevent the etch wearing away