Hi,
Weve had these windows in since the start, which have been fine but now showing their age with some split seals, bit of a weep, and very stubborn movement. Its a trakka conversion. Its a factory camper, with pressed window recesses.
looks pretty weird now i look at it!
anyone know what these are? and any word on the replacement sliding windows from JK?
Had a customer at the workshop order one from JK for a bay window, quality looked fine.
Very different to see factory recessed panels with windows that stick out like that.. it almost looks like the window seals arent pulling the window in enough to make them sit right.
I do prefer factory windows to panel cut ones.. I just like the flush finish.. he says with a cut panel van..
yeah its weird... its an aluminium frame (black) that can be seen as not sitting flush. its been there for my 14 years owning it, just been blind to it
Aren't the apertures the same though for factory windows regardless of early or late? Maybe try vwheritage as well. I'm sure the jk windows are for all years?
I was under the impression that embossed seal part was like an inner seal that was separate from the actual window seal. If its part of the main seal it isn't sitting right for sure..
Maybe thats why your sliding window sticks out because its for a later van..or for a different vehicle perhaps? It looks like it would fit right but perhaps the seals not right.
Thanks fellas,
Yeah pretty odd really. From some reading earlier, the sliding doors early/late have different width apertures (same height). The non slider side is the same though.
The JK one states in quite small text that it's 85 onward.
I wonder if anyone is making early slider windows then. I'll pursue JK for their answer on that.
Trakka was built in Australia using local parts for the conversion, they are a bit special. In the spring take the windows out and measure the window aperture then we can work out if any factory sized windows will fit; the problem with cut panel vans is that glass and windows for the rear windows are generally flat but the body isn't so they rely on the seal flexing enough to compensate and/or the window frame being slightly flexible too; original window vans have the frame of the aperture flat and the seal is designed to fill the gap perfectly; depending on the seal profile used you get different results on cut panel vans and the glass/window units and apertures do vary between converters, most of the UK builders used VW factory or factory sized glass and chose the seal and gap between the glass and aperture to get a satisfactory fit when new, but as we all know the cut edge not being properly prepared and painted and water getting between seal and steel leads to pretty poor corrosion in the long term, but the difference in price between a panel van and a window van and the vat relief that was applied to panel van conversions back then made for better profit margins (or lower cost) on panel van conversions. Some converters did let first owner choose to use a window van as base at a premium price, or maybe occasionally VW just didn't have panel van of chosen colour available when needed so you see the odd conversion done using a window van instead of a van, but generally we didn't get kombis in the UK, it's very rare to find a van built on a Type 254 ***, that's one of things that's great about Westies, they were built on special kombi bodies that had window apertures and seat belt mounts and the necessary special panels ready for the chosen roof to be fitted and are type 253 so have fewer issues generally with window fitment and corrosion, though after 30 + years they all rot unless exceptionally well maintained in our climate and salted roads.
