Are the frames easy to install?
The frames are made of 4mm thick aluminum with CNC cutting machines. Their design has been made from anchor points that can be easily identified on the door, as you can see in the images shown below, so following the detailed steps, they should be identical to those used for this manual. .
However, the first assembly can be laborious, since you have to fit the polycarbonate to the frame and check again and again to make sure everything fits as it should.
To achieve a perfect seal, it is recommended to maintain the rubber of the "window wiper" and the body itself since this way the polycarbonate will fit in the same way as the OEM glass itself. Alternatively, it can be installed without these parts, but you will have to make adjustments to the curvature of the frame yourself to ensure that it rests well all around but it is important to remember that it has been designed to be used with the mouldings/rubbers/ Original window sills or, at least, a universal type that fulfills the same function. IMPORTANT: If you have polycarbonate windows with sliding windows or similar, make sure they do not bump into each other, since many windows of this type are not designed to be installed with a frame like ours.
Keep in mind that if you decide to install everything without rubber, when removing the rubber from the door there is a fairly large "gap", and there are some areas (see photo below) where it may not close 100%. If the original rubber is maintained, the fit of the assembly will be perfect.
Can you install them for me?
We can assess the installation without any problem, since since we moved to the new workshop we have enough space to work on customer cars. Keep in mind that labor is not included in the price of the frames and it takes a while to install them. That said, we would recommend that if you are going to bring or send us the car, it is to install some more components and not just some frames, since the price would end up being somewhat high.
EVERYTHING OK? Then go to the installation manual:
The first thing will be to remove everything that could get in the way, so panels out.
To secure the front of the frame, position the bracket as shown in the images. You have to remove the indicated metal clips that hold the interior "window wiper". The first (attaching to the rearview mirror) of all the metal clips that hold the window wiper and the last of them (attaching to the latch). You will see that when you remove them, some squares remain visible, which is where they fit. Well, you will have to make a hole (5 or 6mm drill bit) in one of the squares of the first staple, and another hole in the square of the last staple (see images).
In the rear part, we can use the square that is free to place again the metal clip that we removed in the first moment, so we can take advantage of it when we reinstall the "window wiper" and in the front place it as close to the frame as possible .
Here you must fix the frame in these two holes that we have made using 2 of the M5 screws that are included, with its washer and its corresponding brake nut. Don't tighten them all the way. Check that the frame line matches the shape of the body first and then you can proceed to tighten it.
Once these screws are fixed, make the rest of the missing holes using the frame itself (and the images) as a guide and secure the frame with m5 screws and nuts.
Once we have the frame in position, it is time to place our polycarbonate window. Here you can reinstall the window sills to facilitate the installation of the assembly.
Alternatively, you can also install the rubber in the rearview mirror area, but to do this it is necessary to make a series of cuts as shown in the following images:
It is recommended that someone help you (or use clamps or grippers) so that, while one of you holds the window, the other can mark where to make the holes in the "glass" so that it fits perfectly and does not trip when opening or closing the door.
It is highly recommended that you test the latter before making holes, since if the polycarbonate trips, it will not close properly around it.
If you have kept the standard rubber, you will see that the relief of the rubber will mark the exact point and height at which you must fix the polycarbonate.
Our recommendation is to first fix the holes at the ends as marked in the images and then do the rest.
The tension rods are not 100% necessary, but we have decided to manufacture them to obtain extra support for the assembly. To install them you will have to install these m6 metric threaded rivets in the same points where the plastic staples of the original panels would go and, if you have followed all the points, they will coincide without problem with the joining points with the frame. Remember that all the screws are M5 except for the 4 that have the links that have M6 screws, both on the frame and on the door.
It is important to keep in mind that if you have panels and what type, you will have to make a recess in the parts where the frame is supported or extra holes where to fix the links.
If you bring our panels, remember to let us know beforehand to explain where to drill the holes or we can even send you the panels with everything prepared if you purchase the entire set.
It is a job that requires patience, since the shape of the body requires us to be meticulous with the installation. Once the process is finished, this is the result:
Thanks for your attention! (especially if you've made it this far!)