WTB - Passenger Side Sunroof Wind Deflector Chrome Hinge for '76

[Dan in Pasadena]

I looked through our host's catalog and did not see this part. Based on the "hard-to-see-details" line diagrams in the catalog it looks like the hinge I am looking for is a separate part, just not listed through Pelican.

I am wondering if someone has a car they are parting that might have this tiny part or perhaps one in a pile of used stuff....hopefully cheap and with the chrome still in serviceable condition.

(I also wonder why the stupid wind deflector isn't one piece too but that's another thread!)

At any rate, please respond here or drop me a PM with your price. Thanks in advance for your help, Dan

[Dan in Pasadena]

Man, My "WTB" sunk like a stone! No one has one of these parts?

[group911@aol.co]

I'm pretty sure I have a left but I'll have to check on the right.

[djdsc]

It is always the right side that breaks. I looked for months, here and in the bone yards to find one. If someone was adventurous, it seems like they could take apart the spring steel pieces that hold the hinge in place and replace the hinge. Just a thought.

[Dan in Pasadena]

group911 - BIG thanks for looking for me.

Jung, Not sure what you mean? My "hinge" - as far as I know (I have looked at it in place but not taken things apart yet) seems to be a one piece casting that the "tab" or "ear", for lack of better terminology, has broken off. Frankly, I don't see how it would break since it doesn't seem to see all that much force placed on it?, but oh well.

I planned on taking the entire wind deflector off once I got the replacement part and polishing the thing up. Why? Because I suppose I have an anal retentive affliction or something! Anyway, if I am misunderstanding what you are saying, please explain. Maybe I don't know how this semingly simle device works.

[djdsc]

Dan

I didn't go look this morning but as I recall the deflector is made up of 3 sections, left, right and center. Within each section there is a deflector bar and hinges. The individual hinges are the same part for each section of the deflector. Within each section the individual hinges are held in place with a piece of what looks like spring steel wire that serves as the pivot for the hinge and the spring. It is an odd assembly and will make more sense when you take the deflector apart.

Since it is the right side that seems to break, the left and center sections are more available from the dismantlers. What I was suggesting was to get a left or center section and attempt to remove the spring / pin assembly and change out the individual hinge in your right hand section.

I have never done this procedure, but contemplated its possibility as an alternative given the scarcity of the right side section and the frequency of it breaking. The deflector is the same for years '74-'83.

It has also been suggested that there was one company that supplied sunroofs for the European auto industry, Golde (Rockwell Standard) and that other makers, MB, BMW, and Volvo might use the same hinge or sections.

[rockaria]

I need the left side. I would like to get in line if group911 still has it. Let me know I can paypal today.

Thanks,

[group911@aol.co]

Dan, it is made up of 3 sections but only the right and left have hinges onthem. The center section is only foating. Never thought about swapping the hinges. I'll have to look closely at them to see if it's possible.
Chris, I'll let you know on the left side. I used to have a bunch of these things but the local shops have wiped me out of them.

[Terb Grubmeel]

Dan,

The right side in my 74 carrera is also broken (by previous owner) and I don't even have the broken piece... if you find a solution,please share with the list!

BTW I looked at the right side and I don't beleive you can use it on the left by flipping it over,

My 2 pennies and good luck,

T.G
Calgary Alberta Canada (also north of the bridge:-)

[group911@aol.co]

You can't flip them over but you may be able to take the hinges from one side and put them on the other. The only question I have is how to remove the deflector blade from the hinge. Looks like they are crimped in. The only way to tell is to tear one apart and I don't want to tear apart my good left side to find out.
Dan, I have a right but it is still in a car that I need to leave the sunroof in for the time. How soon do you need it?
Chris, you are first in line for the left I do have. E-mail me group911@aol.com

[rockaria]

e-mail sent...

Thanks,

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally posted by group911@aol.co
You can't flip them over but you may be able to take the hinges from one side and put them on the other. The only question I have is how to remove the deflector blade from the hinge. Looks like they are crimped in. The only way to tell is to tear one apart and I don't want to tear apart my good left side to find out.
Dan, I have a right but it is still in a car that I need to leave the sunroof in for the time. How soon do you need it?
Chris, you are first in line for the left I do have. E-mail me group911@aol.com

Of course I'd love to get it asap, but I've been waiting around to do this for quite awhile, I can certainly wait a while longer. Drop me a line when the part is available and I will certainly take it...even if I find one elsewhere! I had no idea it is so common for the right side to break. I am also thinking of investigating making one. I have a buddy that is pretty handy with metal working...you never know!

[group911@aol.co]

Dan, if you don't find one before the first of the year, e-mail me and I'll work on getting it out then.
Thanks, Bob

[Dan in Pasadena]

Okay, sounds fine. If I do manage to figure out something innovative (or find the same part on a MB or BMW) I'll post a thread on the subject with pictures.

[goldgunner]

Maybe this will help:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=261476&highlight=DEFLECTOR

[djdsc]

goldgunner

Obviously you have dismantled the spring / pin assembly in order to duplicate these excellent hinge pieces.

Do you care to enlighten us on the process, tricks and tips to be able to make use of your parts?

Thanks.

[goldgunner]

Disassembly is fairly straight forward: requires 'un-crimping' in the channel in the back side that holds the long spring in place. I found that using a dremel cutting wheel was the best: just creating a slot in the crimp large enough for the spring wire to come out.

Pay attention, and take pictures or sketch of the back side assembly before removing anything. Nope and doh...I didn't
However, the logic of how the spring functions once reassembled is clear - the most difficult part is getting the spring correctly twisted and held in place long enough for a permanent 'hold' to occur. The aluminum may be recrimped - but I had difficulty with that and found that JB Weld worked well to hold the spring in place.

The hinges - actually hinge halves - that I have available are precise reverse engineered items of very high quality. However, they are not chrome plated, but electro-polished to a very high sheen.

The only hand fit that is necessary is to the slot where the deflector ‘long’ panels fit in: the ‘bumps’ that are on the panels vary in how far they protrude, and with miniature jewelers hand files (available at radio shack) you can either make the bumps less high or widen the hinge slots a little, until you get a good interference fit.

I'm well satisfied with the results on my SC: the complete deflector assembly works consistently and smoothly. No binding what-so-ever.

I chose to have all of the sunroof aluminum pieces, including the hinge halves, anodized (actually chemical film chromate conversion) mil-spec quality with the standard yellow color. Came out a little light yellow, and evened out the old aluminum side channel coloration, resulting in a new appearance that won't oxidize, stain or discolor.

Cheers,
Jim

[dcautomotive]

Well we do have the parts avail; they are pretty expensive though:

http://dcauto.gotdns.com/catalog/index.php?mode=parts&model=911&year=1978-1983&group=8&section=811&illo=811-00

robert

[ossiblue]

Very interesting and informative thread, especially for those of us with this type of deflector. Just a simple question: does anyone have an idea why the right side seems to be the one that breaks most often? I am fortunate in that both my cars (69 and 75) have the three pieces intact, but I'd like to take preventative measures if possible. Any theories?

Larry

[goldgunner]

Larry - My 80SC had all of the hinges significantly worn - 'wallered out' at the oblong spring hole and indeed - the right hinge was broken.

Having disassembled and reassembled with new hinge halves, I'd have to guess that a combination of things causes the right side to fail / break first:

The way the long spring forces the hinge open is not a 'square' and perpendicular operation: there is a significant side force that is not a problem in the hinge operation when the hinge's spring hole and the bottom of the hinge halve are 'full form' (new); as the hinge spring hole becomes 'wallered out' and the bottom and sides of the hinge half become worn - after 25-30-35 years of wear, the side force presses the hinge further and further from 'square and perpendicular', creating - finally - an interference with the closing sun roof that snaps the hinge rather than closing/folding the hinge. The way the spring nests and functions - the twist of the spring - seems to me to have the 'side force' to the right (passenger) side of the car. Perhaps accumulated tolerance and wear create the largest amount of variance on that side, resulting in first failure.

Before I had the new hinge halves produced, I purchased a used 'good condition' hinge assembly from one of the yards - like dc auto - and found that the wear on the hinge halve's sides, bottom and spring hole were pretty darn significant. After all, the breaking yards are offering 20, 25, 30 year old items: it's just a matter of time until they break also.