Sliding window kit MK 3 on

[irlmin]

I need a sliding window conversion kit for a customer building a replica 'retro' look Mini , anyone have details of suppliers of a decent kit
G

[Tupers]

Check out Plastic 4 Performance. http://www.plastics4performance.com/bri ... -3087.html

[Craig]

I bought a kit quite a few years ago from minimachine in Darlington .
Might be worth a call or check their web site.

Craig

[monte chris]

I have sliding windows on my mk5 mini, using a combination of street fighter doors and Plastic4performance windows, along with some Mk1/2 parts.
It appears that the top of the door, where the window slides has been folded over which allows the chrome runner to be fixed too, thus the sliding channel itself. I have found that you need slightly more than one upper door channel, prob around couple inch extra, for it to fully go round the door, but only using one does the job apart from leaving some gaps.
Personally I would only use the plastic4performance for the window as I found the windows themselves to be of great quality and great customer service too.
The only problem I have found is at this moment of time they do tend to leak, one side more than the other, but I think this is mainly due to not using a sealant when I fitted the chrome runner and possibly not having any drain tubes doesn't help either.
If you want any pictures, let us know and I will see what I can do.

Cheers

Chris

[irlmin]

Thanks Guys , I would like to see some pics please , I looked at doing the conversion using MK1/2 parts but I think a complete tried and tested 'Kit' may be the way to go .
G

[almondgreen]

I think You have in mind that original MK I windows will not fit in MK III doors, because they are shorter.
This is the reason, I have taken the Plastic performance windows in my conversion.

[irlmin]

I think You have in mind that original MK I windows will not fit in MK III doors, because they are shorter.
This is the reason, I have taken the Plastic performance windows in my conversion.

No I realise that , its just the chrome trim pieces, window catches and channels I was thinking of with custom poly windows .I agree though its better to get something that fits correctly .
G

[m1cH1]

I think You have in mind that original MK I windows will not fit in MK III doors, because they are shorter.
This is the reason, I have taken the Plastic performance windows in my conversion.

@Andreas: I bet the main reason for you to change to the Plastic Performance windows was that they are far more lightweight than the glass windows...
So it should probably read like this:

Perspex is sooo much lighter than glass. This is the reason, I have taken the Plastic performance windows in my conversion.

(Sorry for the off-topic post! )

[m1cH1]

And now back to topic:

Has someone of you some detailed pictures of the modifications necessary to the upper part of the door to be converted to the sliding window kit? I´ve read before that the inner skin needs some modification and somewhere other that the outer skin needs some modification...

If I got it right the available kit, aswell as the street fighter doors, utilize the original sliding door top frame repair panel (which holds & supports the lower sliding channel), fit it inside the internal hinge doors and fit the newly created larger windows to account for the larger height?

[pad4]

Streetfighter doors are done different to the converted mk3 doors and have slightly different sized windows - in the P4P kit you get a baseplate that kind of connects the inner and outer door skins , a modified chrome runner, twin track bottom channel, twin track upper rubber door frame seal and the handles - tbh most of it is available from minispares but it needs modding to fit the mk 3 doors.

the top of the inner door skin needs cutting and folding as well so its a permanent mod.

the streetfighter doors come already modified to accept the chrome runner and seals




Pad4

[monte chris]

Here is the streetfighter doors, as mentioned by Pad4, they come ready to be 'assembled' with the top already folded over.





Hope these are of use.

Cheers

Chris

[LuisM]

I did this conversion , well they are trial fitted and now ready to bolt up everything.
What i've found most important is to fold the inner panel ( to support the chrome rail ) very level, or you will end up with the windows sticking/too stiff , or the opposite... with a lot of slack.
If its just a tad stiff you can file the windows a bit , scraping the edge with a X-Acto blade.

As said, should be useful to add some sealant under the chrome rail.

Cheers
Luis

[irlmin]

Thanks Guys , I think we will be going with P4P kit ,
G

[m1cH1]

Ah, quite interesting! Thanks for the pictures and the information about the difference between the Streetfighter and the converted MK3 doors. Up to now I had assumed that they are virtually the same, as the website of the Minidoor Company hints at Plastics4Performance for the glazing... Good to know, as I already have collected everything to do the conversion, except the glass!

@Chris: Good pictures! Especially the one from inside the door unravels the details of the construction of the upper part!

@Pad: Is there any chance to see a picture of the baseplate used in your kit? It must be very close to the one inside Chris´ streetfighter door?

While collecting the parts for this conversion, I thought a lot about the design of the baseplate to fit the runner on. Initially I sourced the top rail (replacement panel of an external hinge door, as I thought there must be a way to fit this to the door. But it´s a slight bit to short and as it turned out probably not the best way to go. Folding over the lip and fitting another strip of metal to close of the top makes much more sense and is probably easier...
Chris mentioned that his doors sometimes are leaking. If one incorporates draining tubes like used in the external hinged doors, I think that problem will mostly be solved...