1988 Side window repplacement

[fastcars49]

Help ...........

The other day, a guy in a black Dodge Dakota pick-up truck strayed into my lane on a very crowded and narrow country road; I'm not sure if he/she was drunk, sleepy, or talking on a cell phone, but anyway. It happened so quickly that before I knew it, he had banged into my side mirror, and consequently the mirror on my truck smashed my side window, with glass showering me from head to toe. I managed to turn the truck around, but the guy had taken off, and with three possible roads to choose for his escape, I was left with a mess on my hands.

Anyway, I now have to figure out how to replace the window.........

I have made the rounds at the library and at the local Pep Boys looking for information regarding how to remove the side window on an 88 Chevy pick-up. The Chilton's at the library doesn't really tell you how to remove the window from the window regulator tracking channel. From what I can see, the window is inserted into the channel, probably with RTV, or something similar. Can I run a knife edge down where the window is inserted, and is it an easy job to then remove the window?

The above is my first option. The second option I have is to replace the whole door, which I just happen to have in my garage (I picked them up several years ago, because I wanted to replace them 'cause the hinges are shot on the old doors). The doors are from a 96 Chevy 1500, and are basically the same, except for the unlocking mechanism (I believe that is the only difference).

Can anyone tell me what the ins and outs are of just replacing the whole door, and or just the window?

Thanks so much in advance.........

[Browntowns20s]

well typically the window is held in by two 10mm bolts on the bottom of the window, sometimes the window is just clamped in by the two bolts. regardless the window should be pretty simple to take out, in a worst case scenario you will need to unbolt the tracks and the whole assembley and just pull it out the top window so you can see it and replace it all and then put it back in. if you take it out of the top you will need to pretty much gut the door. if you dont think you'll remember how to put it all together you have the otherside to check it with. good luck sorry i couldnt be more descriptive, but its hard when i cant talk with my hands. and to switch doors its just a matter of removing the hingebolts, and disconnectiong the wires that go into the door, and then lining it up. i wouldnt try to switch doors unless you have a friend cause adjusting it will be no good without someone to hold it

[fastcars49]

Hi Browntowns20s:

Thanks for the info, but I think I've got it figured out also. The problem is that my side window is not bolted to the channel at the bottom; it is press fitted, so that the window plus channel has to come out as one unit.

The trick is to unbolt the panel that holds the window regulator to the door, and to shift the panel until the scissoring cross piece that shifts the window up and down pops out of the lower small channel that is located midway on the door panel. Once you release that piece, then you are able to lift the window and slide the one piece of the scissoring mechanism out and then the other. You also need to remove all of the trim around the window so the window itself can be lifted up and outside the door.

I still haven't removed the window, but I will keep everyone posted; and if it turns out that my procedure was wrong, I will also let you know that.