My 85Gt Hatchback has been suffering from pooly designed and leaking quarter windows for over a year. I have have stayed vigilant and did not allow any water to sit and so far no rust has started. I have replaced the quarter windows 4 times and still they leak. I have decided to install the 87-93 style quarter windows in a final effort to stop this leaking.

If any of you have done this upgrade to your 79-86 fox hatchback, please share some instructions and pics if you have them. I would like to see pics of a 87-93 hatch with the windows out so I can see where the mounting holes have to go. Did you make a cardboard template then drill holes or what did you do... Thanks a million.

ps: Dont mind the vert in the photo, thats my other GT. I am only talking about quarter windows in a hatchback.

 

fwiw, i have never done this swap myself but i would think it can be done with minor effort. also the only swaps i have seen have been to fully swap the whole car to 87-93, i think your idea would look good. does your car have structural damage that is not allowing a seal?

 

I am beginning to suspect that it does some damage that I cant detect with the eye.... Although I have always thought that 79-86 glass mounted from the inside of a seal is nuts to begin with. Ford probably figured that by the time a leaking window rotted out the floor, the car would be long since retired.

 

It's pretty simple to do. The only hard part is having to weld at least a 1/2" strip of metal inside the qtr. window hole. This is so the front bolts of the 87-93 windows have something to bolt to. There is another option. I did this on a customers car who wanted it fast. I took the mounting hardware that holds the 79-86 window in and modified them to make anchors for the 87-93 windows. Worked great with no issues. However, to do it 100% correct, it needs the metal strip added. You will also need the roof trim rail moulding(see pic). Another thing to think about is the difference between the 79/86 to 87/93 interior qtr. panels. These must be changed also when doing the window conversion. IF the 79-86 ones are not change for the newer ones, there will be a gap between them and the later model style qtr. window. I will try to get pics tomorrow. I might also have most of if not all the parts you need if you decide to pursue this.

 

this would be a good little project for you to do a how to...