1st gen rear window

[Pizza_Man]

I bought myself a fixer-upper 71 Jimmy not to long ago for a steal of $1500 (considering it only needed some tuning and a change of fluids). Anyway it's has a hardtop, but it is missing the rear window. Now normally this wouldn't be too big of a problem, but it is also missing the housing and hinges that go along with the window and hard top. Now to get to my question; how would one build a new housing for the window? keep in mind that i will most likely not use the factory window.
I had an idea of taking a price of polycarbonate and cutting it to fit the hole exactly, then attaching hinges, a latch and maybe a little hydrolic directly to the polycarbonate, eliminating the housing.
So what does every one else think?

 

[imiceman44]

I bought myself a fixer-upper 71 Jimmy not to long ago for a steal of $1500 (considering it only needed some tuning and a change of fluids). Anyway it's has a hardtop, but it is missing the rear window. Now normally this wouldn't be too big of a problem, but it is also missing the housing and hinges that go along with the window and hard top. Now to get to my question; how would one build a new housing for the window? keep in mind that i will most likely not use the factory window.
I had an idea of taking a price of polycarbonate and cutting it to fit the hole exactly, then attaching hinges, a latch and maybe a little hydrolic directly to the polycarbonate, eliminating the housing.
So what does every one else think?

If you use a thick ( like maybe 1/2" or more) poly, yeah why not.
The first gen rear hatch isn't the greatest to begin with so you can only improve on it if you do something different.

 

[bp71k5]

You might be able to find one that someone is parting out if you look for a while. Otherwise, try the poly version. You'd need some kind of latch to keep it from flopping around when you drive if that matters to you.

 

[Pizza_Man]

Yeah, the poly is seeming better by the day. And as for a latch, I was going to have a simple 1 point deal going into the tailgate. The only problem is I can't think of any issues with the poly... which leaves room for something unexpected.

By the way, my Internet has been down, so my responses will be slow.

 

[K5Nate]

Just saw this online. Don't know what your price range was or if you even wanted to go this route.

 

[K5Nate]

oops here ya go: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts/1587438795.html

 

[chulisohombre]

someone on ebay was making reproduction rear hatches.cant remember who it was but they come up every once in a while.

 

[bp71k5]

Brotherstrucks makes reproduction fiberglass for them. There's no glass or hardware for it though. Costs about $500.

 

[blazin_blazer]

goodness $500 for just the rear window frame..i need 1 for my 69 but i may can fix what i have..its broken at both bottom corners and missing the bottom rail..i may can fab 1 up out of fiberglass..but i'll still need the glass..can it be found aftermarket fairly easy?

 

[chulisohombre]

its a strait piece of glass.so your local glass shop should be able to make you one.prob not chap though.id say at least couple hundred bucks.i had some made for a table i broke and they charged 75 for it.about half the size of our back glass.