Opening hatch window?

[shawnw]

Just wondering if anybody has ever bult a Festy with a opening hatch window? It doesn't seem like it would be the hardest thing to fab up and it would make carrying those awkward size things possible without a roofrack.

[MONSOON]

Huh? The better question is why would you want to?

[batstiva]

I've played around with making the hatch split. So from about middle brake light level would open up, and below would open downward (like a tailgate). Mostly just for stupid curiosity, but I could see times when it might come in handy.

[lanemeyer14]

I'd like to have a roll down hatch window

[gottafesty]

Huh? The better question is why would you want to?

Why not? My brother's Taurus has a hatch window that opens up while the hatch remains shut. It's great for getting stuff off the top of the pile. I'd love to have my festiva work that way. I'm just not creative enough to make it happen.

[MONSOON]

I didnt even think of that. For some reason my mind was picturing something else.
<< :tard:

[shawnw]

My reasoning for it is that I'd like to be able to carry my surf board in the festiva without having to buy some overpriced roof rack.
I'm just playing with the idea in my head but if I can find a hatch around here for a decent price that isn't rusted out along the window seal I might give it a try.
Find some hinges from a taurus wagon, escape or similar. Take the window out and swap the weatherstripping with a different car. Figure out a latch system, maybe with recycled rear side window latches or get creative and figure out a way to put a lock in the window or use a jeeps hood latch things and voila! Probably would be much more complicated than it seems but would look pretty cool, espesially if some gas shocks were installed to make it look a little more factory.

[festymick]

I like the idea
I have been toying with the idea of rear pop out glass on the Aspire rear quarters for a while now. Looks real easy too?

If you go ahead with it- please show us how it's done??

[shawnw]

will do, that depends on me finding a hatch at a decent price though.

[Festiva_tunner]

I would search the ford wagons for hardware options - another latch option might be the truck topper latches since most of them are locking.

[CharlieZ]

I can't recall the make/model but I saw a "crossover" recently that had the hatch glass opened with a remote. As the lady was walking up to her vehicle the glass part of the hatch opened gently. Thought that was pretty slick. Drilling glass for the hinges, fittings, etc might pose a problem for most of us DIY guys. Great project for the ambitious.

[Festiva_tunner]

I can't recall the make/model but I saw a "crossover" recently that had the hatch glass opened with a remote. As the lady was walking up to her vehicle the glass part of the hatch opened gently. Thought that was pretty slick. Drilling glass for the hinges, fittings, etc might pose a problem for most of us DIY guys. Great project for the ambitious.

it would require water and a special set of bits - I would take it to a glass shop

[lessersivad]

Isn't the rear window tempered glass?? If it is I'd think that drilling it wouldn't be possible. If it was laminated safety glass like a windshield then it could probably be done.

[hofficergrover]

it would be sweet to have

[JPT]

You can put a hole in tempered glass. It's not so much "drilling" a hole as grinding a hole into it.

If it were me, I'd take it to a glass shop for 2 reasons.

1) They have the proper equipment.

2) If they break it (and if it's not done right, a good possibility) you can have them replace it.