There is a lot of discussion and agony regarding the quarter windows on the 67/68 conversions. It seems that I may be missing something important.
Is it not possible to keep the front and quarter glass from the 67/68 Cougar and just alter the convertible top frame to fit the Cougar glass? The photo below shows my combination of the 67 Cougar glass and the 67 Mustang top. It would appear that modifying the top frame flange to allow the quarter window to fully raise would allow me to keep the Cougar glass and avoid the “hump” issue.
For CatVert, we used the Mustang glass and never did figure out a way to keep the quarter panel line for the Cougar or adapt the glass frame to it. In the end, we just accepted the difference when the top was up since there was no issue when the top was down or the window was down.
We didn’t consider trying to alter the top frame line but I don’t know if that would even work, given the degree of difference shown in your picture. If you could raise the attachment point at the base of the frame to tilt the frame up slightly, you might be able to fill any gaps created with some additional weatherstrip. I don’t remember the location of the attachment point well enough to know if that’s even possible.
Although everyone has done it this way, I still do not understand the reason why. Even Kevin Marti’s original info only says use mustang glass without explanation.
I think it’s just because the Mustang convertible top is raked a bit downward compared to the Cougar hardtop line and the Mustang glass was made to fit that rake. Kevin’s build also modified the Cougar quarter panel kickup to follow the Mustang kickup, which also made for a better match with the Mustang glass. It probably simplified the whole project for him.
It makes sense to use the Mustang windows with the Mustang top to ease the install. I think that I will attempt to keep the Cougar glass and modify the the contour of the top. For me this may be less expensive since I will not have to buy the Mustang glass or fight the “hump” issue. I will need a custom top regardless.
With a 1967-68 Mustang convertible top, use 1967-68 Mustang convertible door glass and 1967-68 Mustang convertible quarter glass.
Everyone has done it this way.
Looks like the frame mounting point needs to go back 1.5 in or so to allow the glass to go up…then the front must be longer the same and the trunk area modified also.
Or cutting the frame above the rear widow ,standing up the c pillar (probably have to chop it down) and put a filler piece above the rear glass . All choises are a ton of work!
Good luck
Thanks for the thought provoking comment. However, the top frame is the the stock position and this already requires the extension of the header bow section of the frame by over 2". Moving the frame further back is not really an option as it makes the header bow placement even worse, the deck filler panel much narrower and the quarter panel body lines that much more difficult to massage. Essentially anything that I have to add to the front of the frame, I have to provide clearance for in the deck filler panel. It still looks like modification of the rearmost section of the frame is the path.
