Vista View window restoration - '79

[Pygmypoacher]

I only found one location on the www that showed someone restoring these windows, retaining the double panes. Which is what I wanted to do. The thought of breaking the inner pane was like considering pulling my own tooth... Ugh. Here's where I'm at so far.

You can kind of see the two steel pieces that are used to lock the frame together. They rust and corrode where you can't tap them apart. I cut the bars and the frame separated easily.

Only thing that worked to remove the uv protectant and tinting was a fresh razor blade. The butyl came off easily with a putty knife.

[Pygmypoacher]

[Pygmypoacher]

Now I'm soaking the trim end to get the metal pieces out. Will make new ones from aluminum.

[CBWELL]

If you check in the forums here you will find that many owners, myself included, have done what you are doing. It is time consuming but well worth the effort. I did every window in my 1976 Sovereign and only had one that the seal leaked after redoing. There are many pictures and ideas on this forum of how to do almost everything. A wealth of knowledge is here!! Happy New Year! Chris

[Pygmypoacher]

Originally Posted by CBWELL

If you check in the forums here you will find that many owners, myself included, have done what you are doing. It is time consuming but well worth the effort. I did every window in my 1976 Sovereign and only had one that the seal leaked after redoing. There are many pictures and ideas on this forum of how to do almost everything. A wealth of knowledge is here!! Happy New Year! Chris

Thanks Chris. I must have missed the posts. How did you get the steel wedges out of the two channels?

[CBWELL]

Didn't worry about them. They are only there to align the window and hold it together prior to original installation. I just installed back in the exact same location and used the Oly rivets to align the window in the original spot I marked the frame prior to disassembly so everything went back the way it was removed. Biggest problem I had was finding the vinyl gaskets that go around the outer edge of the window. Chris

[Pygmypoacher]

Originally Posted by CBWELL

Didn't worry about them. They are only there to align the window and hold it together prior to original installation. I just installed back in the exact same location and used the Oly rivets to align the window in the original spot I marked the frame prior to disassembly so everything went back the way it was removed. Biggest problem I had was finding the vinyl gaskets that go around the outer edge of the window. Chris

Thanks Chris.

[Pygmypoacher]

Here's the work Chris did on his Vista's. This happens to be the one www post I was able to find prior to starting my restore. Thanks Chris.
http://www.airforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=80814

Vista View Window Questions

[Pygmypoacher]

Two completed. Will trim the olympics when the vulkem is dry. I appreciate Chris's guidance on the joiner pieces.

[CBWELL]

They look good!! Much easier to do with the interior removed. It looks like the opening windows will also need to be redone as well. I found them easier, but it helps to have two people to put them back in the top hinge track. Just curious as to what is the caulking looking stuff on the roof to the right of the Vista's? Chris

[Pygmypoacher]

Originally Posted by CBWELL

They look good!! Much easier to do with the interior removed. It looks like the opening windows will also need to be redone as well. I found them easier, but it helps to have two people to put them back in the top hinge track. Just curious as to what is the caulking looking stuff on the roof to the right of the Vista's? Chris

I had cleaned and lightly sanded the aluminum around the windows. At the angle of the photo and direction of the sanding it just looks darker. I'd dressed the vulkem in close to window.

[CBWELL]

I was actually trying to figure out what that was on the roof about a foot to the right and higher up. It looks like a patch of some type. Just curious, as I haven't seen that on the roof of an airstream before!!! Chris

[Pygmypoacher]

Originally Posted by CBWELL

I was actually trying to figure out what that was on the roof about a foot to the right and higher up. It looks like a patch of some type. Just curious, as I haven't seen that on the roof of an airstream before!!! Chris

Ah, I patched the fridge vent. Instead of an eagle I went with a duck. Cut a bear for the intake below. My patches are all animals. More in my post on the Exterior/skin/rivet area.

[CBWELL]

That explains things. Looks cute!! Chris

[Sunnysideup]

I love the look of this! You should patent it. I don't think we can do it on our A/S but it sure looks gorgeous! It was suggested to us to put a flying flag decal on the side of ours to cover where the side is no longer perfect due to some po who wasn't paying attention to where they were going. Don't suppose anybody knows where we could get one??

[Satchien]

Hi there!
I have a 1977 AS and I am at the beginning stages of restoring the windows. I have removed all of the opening windows, but have had a hard time finding a video or much information on removing the vista's. All of the upper vista windows are missing their plexiglass, and if its not super important I would rather not bother with replacing it.

Am I correct to think I need to remove the vista's entirely from the shell in order to properly restore them? I would like to do so without breaking the plexi on the intact ones. From your pictures it appears you cut the aluminum frame of the vista's to get them off. Is this correct? And how did you get them back together on the finished window?

Did you remove your vista's by removing the outer rivets? And then can you walk me through the steps you took to dismantle the windows in order to clean them, re-seal and put them back together?

I understand replacing the black gasket, clearly old and cracked, and re-sealing the outside, but I wonder how hard it is to find that rubber piece that fits around both panes against the metal?

These forums are great! But a lot of combing is necessary to find straightforward information so I'm searching for something concise. Thanks for your advice.

[Pygmypoacher]

Originally Posted by Satchien

Hi there!
I have a 1977 AS and I am at the beginning stages of restoring the windows. I have removed all of the opening windows, but have had a hard time finding a video or much information on removing the vista's. All of the upper vista windows are missing their plexiglass, and if its not super important I would rather not bother with replacing it.

Am I correct to think I need to remove the vista's entirely from the shell in order to properly restore them? I would like to do so without breaking the plexi on the intact ones. From your pictures it appears you cut the aluminum frame of the vista's to get them off. Is this correct? And how did you get them back together on the finished window?

Did you remove your vista's by removing the outer rivets? And then can you walk me through the steps you took to dismantle the windows in order to clean them, re-seal and put them back together?

I understand replacing the black gasket, clearly old and cracked, and re-sealing the outside, but I wonder how hard it is to find that rubber piece that fits around both panes against the metal?

These forums are great! But a lot of combing is necessary to find straightforward information so I'm searching for something concise. Thanks for your advice.

There's a link in post #8 above that has detailed steps.