Restoration is nearing the home stretch so I dragged the convertible top frame out from storage and found the rear qtr window frames almost completely rusted out on both sides. The window frame appears to be welded to the rest of the frame work. Is this the case or is there a way to just remove and replace just the window framework or will I need to cut it out and reweld something new back.

or find a used complete frame in better shape?

Thanks

I have about 4 or 5 tops that I'm going to restore. I think everyone of them are rusted. I'm thinking you will have to remove the rusted piece and reweld. I haven't seen or heard much about these being available. But then again I don't know everything. I do know if you were to replace the front vent windows with frames. It costs about $400 each. That's too much!

I'm in a similar situation, Brady.

Does anyone know if you can remove the glass and gasket from the metal frames? Mine have surface rust (it appears to be just surface) but good glass and shot rubber gaskets. Surely someone has refurbished these things. Anyone? We're all ears.

I'm going to do mine in about a month or two. I'll do a write up on it then. Hopefully someone chimes in for you guys sooner.

If all you want to do is remove the glass, I found this previous post.
http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic ... sene+glass

I am getting the impression that I need to either source a new frame with no rust (seems unlikely) or cut out the old window framing and then replace it with a new fabricated window frame.

I am going to work on removing the extraneous bits tonight so I can get a better look and maybe try to cut the frame off.

Thanks for the link. That looks like good advice. Still looks like a bear of a project.

A bear it was. I had to cut 3 welds on each side to remove the qtr window frames.
I should have stopped there but I decided to take the whole top frame apart. I believe they must have crimped the threads on all of the shoulder bolts after they were installed to prevent them from unscrewing themselves. Made then a b**** to remove. Had to use vise grips to grab the heads. I ended up snapping 4. The easy out didn't work so they had to be redrilled and tapped.

I am going to have the pieces sand blasted then repainted with por15. I also need to find someone to fabricate new window frames and then weld them back to main frame.

Please take pic's so we can see what were in for.

How about these? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FIAT-SPI ... ccessories
ron

Thanks, I did see those on Ebay. They look in better shape then mine but still look like they have rusting issues at bottom of window. It sounds like that is a common weak point. Since they are prone to rusting in this area I am going to investigate doing the window frame at least in Stainless. I don't know yet if that is practical or even yet if it would be prohibitively expensive.