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Window Install Advice

rvanstory

Well Known Member
Started the window install yesterday. Got the rear windows glued in with LORD adhesive. That went really smooth. Here's some questions I have on finishing out the "look".

1. The filet between the window and cabin top looks 90%, but want to get some spots smoothed out and a couple of air bubble pockets filled. Besides an Aerosport headliner (I wanted a painted cabin top) what have others done to hide or dress up the transition between window and cabin topj to give it a good finished look?

2. Can I safely use a paintable silicone caulk to make this transition smoother? Will silicone caulk craze plexiglass?

Here's some pics....

Painted cabin top...
37E29oxyhl5m_jbIc6FXFa1bmii0_RtKatn3oTNrmEFoO0vNb_wuxRnQ8i4AiP0272M1hwryi9UJ5HDuk56WyvH_HTd9R4iIRhInrNR79zhnfWlQx_CUzn0qiF2eIWODPSmGwDYaTVm0giLy_YiQcsQBvItCDCinaKZgyjZVTgt2jXGCm1o24HYMTkoRH43zEjuArIBFDNgHDu-KJvsM7r3W5Inh1GXdXdbRMG7j9oAh2pCpXqN3hDFnPT2qj0xJLsIevup_l88R-XHZnyuz3_iBCQShFpcDX6R59MU1dQJ_1HRKGndxoibIzDq9bOuorVyAANZU8RAtu2c3soqa5osQNJlzn86UrKr6AGFC_KJ8xhAWqN9yGkOtZysKX4fSu3E_ccIPqiI386G4s3-pbCWPmfcVtyZX65K7UoUpX6551LjlSN5R0meyyhqnETTTLE8UVZep8S4Rm-sPy6rHzlduP-8OcRYrxZbJmggJ64Z37xuuGE9DhZA0bICE1k5gCwD6CKTh4JD3yXiYriSrZ0JQdc3i79IqDfGDBrufAv2TQSTR3akJ4aHFjRM0FKgdye8CyG2rLIsF5AvjMSqgOQwbs9T9xa5XJffjoV0FVgSNY6yxCOKMDSycoqvb7dFGTaw8s-5fEnuFKyd_InpyTYSjkayCigCSES8ZYNCNY3_egU99QfnoPL2vMug5be2ZINQUkSkAAgTzDGVWbFUeiNNzwU352DKUTWZwFuyvhLCuwHQJ=w1022-h766-no


Rear window...
mMb8An2qjpJO1wmKAfvfny7kF2vxNAC3F0jZcFBxSYJUZuy2Ncb6lx3NeYvsomiksoKFfszv8dsCJ_vHCvZQuljo0bJxbEqoLWyo4mW-wpNigCRwQeQWgeAlZbDZKgYqUb8fvyFUj-TMX4T4izsOocjcLXewtSIxfKa3ZVZN2AMeZDwtF7m8LyJQffYnIc1v5KY9mCIZM_4aBtyGMzO537BTaUchSRWlRgZ4TrONG-ZQ8nfxHuiaQL-w8_8dAqSl-AEKnVGMLdL4noFw_Pa3cjDCF219ootZ_j79XO207suAVF7apFcMFhyPoTPSxFLHirsrnFt1HnvuGuEEd2eSHZIBS_8cCvXu6u0fFNdkygGndN0v_jZJmaeK3bh2WBPh134eln8p6Zv4Yyz8DH-VSB6JLTJWjKV_DnUIMOv9b6ZJvrmJBFQythKMsIwQI0OHMQyNd3NdGoLe9s4nGDDFPZTO1j-YDz0qF0qZleMccUSNz-ERVkD2GiCW6K3SH2-GIX33Vk_XYW9IzoXFRZZDUACATfSz7RwG8pJ1UcclYFWWvB7aCC_MUJChUR8Ngo_IPTCpLwIQ8r0JpWnf3Uq63gQPmRfoQPRX8BFi8sycWtXOFstcXmx51VPTQveWFZg8AIiS6CSx0knIlextXLSD2_oEbO8rPw-XZzbsRzRJy9iMVqdMSbbnrXLQ5DBLWAg2qpwsTgOC-tklQpBjiBpxsxcQf44DoaYdaedGfu95a7IETRuw=w575-h766-no


Transition area that needs some minor work....
Q_fZfPkIh6N6CsC-R2twRm3bTwgO0xbU4OqJS5BuNMBA7WyonxRqWTpsdFnT9znHrEyN4ZhArMhbQT66ZhbKGsABi4_ZnIzI-qEEEJKy6dT0MkoXtykT1z9khskw0BGW8tacqqPV77hImFa4Mzv-b71kg98nPZFqsTdWAZ6cTiibks-6XelRKB6-xGvmKKIx7ZJwU1HlmLTMNyc2fxH7uAvorafvwcgJAX48X5sucQdNsHr-ivaHvM6CB4v-EtlBk3KAeltnt88Y4yWPAQKt0fKUQSuH97tilqfI2OWRqSP0SwR1gNAOeFRGw2dhZ-D5deVlzscdT1NAKcbv1r73WZOaNAlCAtfIRXCj6SUSVkx5hS9lRsFSjPA53hKkRAs2lEZocq403s3YtxT-_hXFg5T_l2XRCxpptv8UJYhgpQVo-v3lI1lxzQ5tMgbGJSHnEdItIT6me34njMbNSqQ3VceQvCoh8uCL8cWy8FngR5vxksGbx6f09AzSc_vG7zzVGOpwmP81kOL3nR5k0bT-BtZvFLsy56_KpT7qZxwotd5rZ3mJuzkUqrwuzKmIliMbMXHo_ElvdWBq6J7qLOZkXVCJ61IzVclFZhjnARF67fdJ0ExUXpZY3XovAu1SI0NA0AMsziQyIUSmNbnObiS9287Cu3YHrbn6NspaTPMoAj6CJvt6o_1lq8YKF1UklLmAdTL3nuhazlrapdol0oP-1ac5pFTvQ7P9XvQfXXPfkWPgu7I2=w575-h766-no
 
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In the transition area - seems like using the black Silpruf Silicone that the Glasair guys use as adhesive for their plexi would work well.....
 
Silicone

Do you research before using silicone. Some will damage plexiglass. I am planning on doing a final fill of that area after paint as the silicone can cause problems with some paints. Some people do a fiberglass layup around the windows. I am thinking about a vinyl trim wrap to cover the glued flange.
 
Silpruf works great. I used it to adhere the windows and fill the joggle. Just FYI, DO NOT get any silicone product on any surface you plan to paint later because it will cause a fish eye on the surface where silicon had been.
 
Interior Window Trim

For the inside window trim especially if the cabin top interior painted here is what Cory Bull did. Unfortunately the pictures have disappeared into the ether along with tiny pic. http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=140073

For this example I used 1/4" deep #8507K14 rubber edge trim from McMaster Carr. I basically made a little jig to cut one side off of the edge trim. To cut the trim I generously applied WD-40 to the trim as I pull it through the cutter. 20' of window trim in 2 minutes, perfectly cut.

I used the 3M instant adhesive in the pic below and installed about 3" at a time. The super glue is very expensive, $30 for that little bottle, but wow does it hold. I haven't even put a dent in it with almost all my trim installed.
 
For the inside window trim especially if the cabin top interior painted here is what Cory Bull did. Unfortunately the pictures have disappeared into the ether along with tiny pic. http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=140073

For this example I used 1/4" deep #8507K14 rubber edge trim from McMaster Carr. I basically made a little jig to cut one side off of the edge trim. To cut the trim I generously applied WD-40 to the trim as I pull it through the cutter. 20' of window trim in 2 minutes, perfectly cut.

I used the 3M instant adhesive in the pic below and installed about 3" at a time. The super glue is very expensive, $30 for that little bottle, but wow does it hold. I haven't even put a dent in it with almost all my trim installed.

Perfect! Just the solution I was hoping for! Thank you!

Any chance you have a picture of the jig you made to cut this trim to fit?
 
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Window Trim

I used car door edge guard to finish the interior of my windows. The profile is already ideal and it comes with 3M adhesive already applied. Just too easy!

i-WMN637x-L.jpg
i-FZdRDWq-L.jpg
 
Perfect! Just the solution I was hoping for! Thank you!

Any chance you have a picture of the jig you made to cut this trim to fit?
The idea was not mine, so I do not have pictures, but the final product looks almost exactly like what Paddy shows.

Paddy do you have any specifics on the door edge guard you used?
 
Window Trim

Can't remember where I got it but here's the same stuff on Amazon. $35 for 50'.

Trim-Gard L Shaped Automotive Door Edge Guard 5/16" X 50' - Black-NE202-50
 
Can't remember where I got it but here's the same stuff on Amazon. $35 for 50'.

Trim-Gard L Shaped Automotive Door Edge Guard 5/16" X 50' - Black-NE202-50

Wow, this was timely, thanks for the info Paddy!
 
Boy I thought that I did a nice job on my cabin top. Yours is spectacular. I went with a more satin finish to both hide my mistakes better and to make sure that there was no glare.
 
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