I cleaned up the quarter window frames today and they are also going to need to be rechromed. The stainless piece on the rears are fine. How does the glass come out...in one piece? I am sure I can get it out like a jig saw puzzle, but certainly not what I want to do...
Similar to what has been shared, but no adult beverage, no kerosene, just a vise, a couple narrow blocks of pine (soft) wood, a couple towels and I clamped the glass (noting to NOT clamp against the "curvature"). I then took another block of hardwood (hammer handle) and tapped around the perimeter of the stainless trim. It pulled loose very easily like this. I'm not sure I would want any "buzz" on or slippery surface of the glass around my steel workbench, for fear of dropping the glass as I release it from the vice...but that's me. Like you fear, I was quite nervous I would break the glass but once I did one vent window, all fear left me.
... So you are saying that it is best to rechrome the front inner vent frame rather than buy a replacement frame?
Phil
Problem is two-fold. The only "right answer" is NOS vent frames. Reproduction frames I have found are "ALL CHROME" so not really acceptable in many "judged" situations and if you send it out to get just the pivot chromed, it likely will also come back "all chrome" (pivot and surround). Jim mentioned that a person could request the pivot to be chromed seperately (stainless being masked off) but that process is expensive and is flawed in as much they cannot assure you the masking will not leak chrome onto your stainless. Other threads I have read suggest that any attempt to remove just the pivot to have it chromed, presents yet another obstical...Re-attaching it without having interference for the glass being re-installed.
You'll need to make a choice based on your resources, pocketbook and expectations. I've never tried a reproduction vent surround myself, so I cannot answer to the quality. My pivots were "medium nice" so I intend to re-used them unless something else comes up before I go to assemble the car..