urbexHHR

Came across this on eBay. Looks like a custom shop put it together (obviously)....

I really like the porthole window!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...fCarsQ5fTrucks

jx3

Several of those have been spotted on ebay. Already a thread started about them. Even have a pic of a white one........

Finkle

I know the look is not for everyone (or most), but I love it. I got my HHR panel because I love vans but wanted something more fuel efficient. Wondering if anyone has first-hand experience installing them. CRL makes the windows but I've yet to find a tutorial for an installation that answers my questions.

Thanks for any possible info.

solman98

6.5 year old awakening.......

I would imagine it would be like the old popup sunroofs I installed back in the day. Locate location, measure once, twice, and then 3 times. Draw template. Then get out jigsaw.... And once last prayer before cutting....

Finkle

Thanks Solman,

The sites that sell them say they install with a 1/8" or 1 1/2" reversible clamp, that's the part I don't understand.

solman98

It's probably similiar to the old sunroofs. Once you set the outter piece in place, the inner bolts, or clamps, to the outter piece. The sunroofs were pretty easy to install, you just had to make sure you cut the hole right.

Finkle

Cool. I've got a buddy who can do a good cut on it. Glad to know that's probably the hardest part of the process. Thanks for your input.

RatRodS

would a nibbler work better than a jigsaw.

Oldblue

A nibbler would work but take awhile, a ribbon shear would work better on the straight lines

Snoopy

I remember a number of years back seeing a vehicle with the porthole mounted on a square piece of metal.....maybe 2-3 inches bigger that the porthole. He/she then mounted the piece of square metal in the C pillar and ringed it with weather stripping. The square was painted a contrasting color of the body (possibly trim color). Looked kind of neat and different. The car was a 2 door hardtop so it had plenty of sheet metal area in the C pillar......IIRC it was a late 60's early 70's Pontiac.