I have had the same vista view problems with my 77 Excella. The center punch idea sounded great, so I tried it out. Important tip: upper inside windows are NOT safety glass. You have a very good chance (read about 100%) of shattering the outer glass with the punch. Anybody got a vista view window for sale? There is another thread in which the procedure is to use a flat head screw driver with a hammer to gently break the inner pane and then remove it in pieces. Very sharp pieces. This sounds worse than it actually is if you take your time and don't go near the outer pane. Having tried both, I'd stay away from the punch. Oh well, if it were easy, it probably would have already been done!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bhpowell  Laura,
Decide if your inner vista view is glass or plastic. If it is glass, it will probably be tempered glass. That is easy to break our. Borrow one of those automatic center punches from someone if you don't have one. Apply contact paper on the glass surface. Place the center punch tool down in a corner of the glass and "pop" a center punch mark there. Chances are the whole glass will shatter into small pieces. The contact paper keeps it from flying everywhere. Removing acrylic would require that you do it in such a way that you do not contact the outside pane. I opted for a router as I have several and have lots of experience. You could also use a dremel tool but in all cases, be very careful. I built a template out of 1/2" plywood to guide the router. My interior skins are off so it's a bit easier than if they were not. The plywood template's outer edge matches the outer edge of the window; inner template edge is about 1-1/4" inside the outer edge so the template is essentially an oval of 1/2" plywood. The router bit has a ball bearing guide the same diameter as the cutter (1/4" dia) and is above the cutter (between cutter and router). Affix the template to the window with double-sided tape and add some "gorilla tape" to help hold it on. The acrylic is 1/8" thick so adjust the router so the bit barely cuts through the acrylic. The guide bushing contacts the inner template margin. With the initial setup you will be able to cut the top and bottom of the acrylic. Ends are tricker as the windows are curved. You will need to carefully increase the depth of the router setting for the ends but take care not to get back to the initial cut or the bit might get into the outer pane. Just go slowly and carefully. I'll try to figure out how to post pictures.
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