Hi,
New to forum, first post also. I just picked up a 92 RS convertible /w 305 TBI motor. The top is in great shape, however the rear plastic window is very hard to see thru (fog). Is there a way to make it clear again. If not can a new window be put in or do you have to buy a whole new top.

Take it easy on the new guy if this seems like a dumb question .

Thanks
Alan

 

You should be able to get a rear window sewed in. I had to replace the back window on my old 92 Camaro when I still had it. Also had it replaced on my Corvette a couple of years ago. Be sure the Top is worth saving though. It is going to be around $250 - $300 to have a new window sewn in. I spent around $950 for a whole new top on my Trans Am. There was no salvaging the old top on mine......

Old top....



New Top



Welcome to the forum also
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Also, I just re-read your post and saw where you said the top was in pretty good shape... DO NOT cut the window out and drive around with it like that for a while... It is a major support of your top and will mess it up in quick order.

 

In my case I also had a fogged rear window, but the cost of having a new window just sewn in was going to be about 80% of the cost of having a new top installed. I went to topsonline.com and got a black "stayfast" top with a glass window and paid $250 for installation, and I'm extremely happy with it.

 

Thanks for the replys. Wow thats a good chunk of coin for a window all labor I'm sure, these windows should have be made to zipper in & out and made with safety glass. My top is almost new looking, oh well time to go price shopping.
Thanks guys

 

Yea it is... they have to remove the top to sew the new one in place. At least that is what I believed anyeays.

I found the pictures of my Vette before I had gotten the window in it fixed. I learned the hard way that you shouldn't park the car in the garage with the top down when it's 75* out and then try to put it up 5 days later when it's 20* out...

 

I bet you were a happy camper that day. My brother put his top down in early spring (Olds 88 glass window) cool day but nice, heard a faint pop, put top back up later that night no window. Ragtop, you made the right choice going with the black top, sets the body better.

 

Alan, If your window isn't trashed I would recommend Meguiars Plastx clear plastic cleaner & polish. If you need a new top, its your lucky day. I have a brand new black stay fast cloth top in the box sitting in my garage. If you are interested let me know, I am sure I can beat topsonline price.

 

I will try the Meguiars, my top is in very good shape almost looks new, but the window looks 14 yrs.old. Thanks for the offer, I wil keep it in mind. I was thinking of wet sanding the window with some 2500 or higher grit, can't make it any worse.

Alan

 

Sounds good. If you need the top send me a e-mail at iroczvert89@gmail.com

 

I wouldn't wet sand it...IF by any chance the fogging is NOT permanent, you might be able to get it off with that Meguiar's polish like he said above. But if you wet sand it, it's going to permanently leave scratches on the plastic and those WON'T come out.

 

THe fogging could be caused by a few things:

1) Age, plastic gets old and as it breaks down clear plastic looks foggy.
2) Chemical reaction... Unfortunately plastic is suseptible to chemical agents, like Gasoline, or benzene, rubbing alcohol or even amonia, which appens to be in several different kinds of "Glass Cleaner" BTW, Glass cleaner like Windex should NEVER be used on plastics like your rear window, interior plastic, vinyl etc.
3) Scratches, obviously if its scratched it will become hard to see through as the light is scattered by the scratches.

Probably the best thing to do will be to get a new top put on it... THere are several places to get them and they are usually less than $500 its reasonable if you ask me.

John

 

I would bet you a dollar if you buy a new top someone on here will buy your old with even with it having a fogged rear window.

 

I was also going to recommend trying Meguiars PlastX . . .

For only about $6.00 you have nothing to lose. I tried it on an older minivan with clear headlight covers and it made a big difference. It won't be like new but it won't make it worse. Maybe buy you some time until a new top becomes an option.

Welcome to the board.

 

I used the Plastix polish with the mothers powerball and this is what happened. Search the thread: polish the plastic window?
It won't let me put the pics up again for some reason.

 

If this worked right, I just posted the picture you wanted... Here is the thread.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/conv...plastic+window

That does look like it made a big improvement. I remember when I got my Camaro a few years back I had to replace the window too, but it was completely yellowed over... There was no fixing that thing... at least that is what I will continue to tell myself...

 

That was a god thread, thanks for posting the link. Has anyone else tried the rain-X ? WillSpeedy,your window came out great nice job.

 

Yea that's the picture, thanks for finding that. It worked pretty good. I could actually see when I was backing up with the top up anyway.