Safari Front Window Conversion for Dodge A100

Has anyone seen a Dodge A100 modified with custom front safari windows?  I'm considering the project for my 1970 Dodge A100 truck.



My 1970 Dodge A100.

Welcome to VV!!! I have seen it on a 1st gen Chevy

It could be done. You will need to fabricate/source the following;
hinges
locking pivots
either frames to hold the glass and mount the hinges and locking pivots OR holes in the glass to mount
seals
center post

Take a look at the pop out windows on early vans, 1930s windshields and of course VW busses. That should give you lots of ideas on design.

Don't forget that the wipers on the A-100 are at the base. Either go without (legal issues and safety), move them to the top (major work) or figure out how to park them off the glass (look at SUV rear flip up windows and wipers).

Oh, and welcome to VV!

Thanks for the great information!  I know it will be a lot of work but I might give it a try.

JD and I are going to be looking into this pretty soon for our vans. Im interested to see what others try.

I used to drive a 42 Chevy truck, daily, and the windshield tilted out at the bottom. Amazing how much air you get flowing with it open!

Pop outs would be cool and not to change the subject but are those bumpers on your truck stock and if not what did they come off of.

Nice truck.

I just picked up a set of bumpers like that for my Van.
They are from a late 60's to early 70's Wagoneer.

JD

Killer, thanks man.

I am just brain storming... couldn't the windshield be mounted, the same way the side tilt out windows do? You would have to fashion a metal frame all around each pain, then use the same hinges and snap locks as the side windows.

Here's one way to do it!

I input a search for "VW bus Safari window kit" and found numerous kits are available for their buses. Maybe you could modify a kit, or modify the Dodge's windshield to utilise these kits? Anyways, here's a couple of links, one is a front double window kit for early bus, the other is a rear single window for a later bus.
Front:
http://www.vwvintageparts.com/products/Safari-Window-Kit.html
Rear:
http://www.eisparts.com/EIS-3050/Rear+Safari+Window+Kit%2C+Bus+%27+64+-+%27+79%2C+White.html

Looking at the pictures in the first link, it seem that the "easiest" way to do this would be to take the windshield metal from a vintage bus, modify it to fit the Dodge, then use the kit to install Safari windows.

Looks to me it could be done if you use the entire VW window frame.

Isnt the Dodge windshield much larger than the VW?

Would definately be cool!

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions. Thanks!

I would think that the VW windshield frame could be cut, welded and spliced to fit the larger size of the Dodge windhsield frame.

^^^ That sounds like a very smart solution, but do some measuring first. Im PREETY sure the vw window setup is not NEAR tall enough for these vans.

Click on the pic to see the un-chopped version


I didn't get the picks of the hinges, but they were similar to the framed side windows i just replaced on my van.

itruns wrote:Click on the pic to see the un-chopped version


I didn't get the picks of the hinges, but they were similar to the framed side windows i just replaced on my van.

AND the wipers are below the windshield!

Love your idea!  It might be easier to fab a one piece set-up than trying to go with dual glass like VW uses.  If you form a frame the exact size of the A100 glass for each side, you can cut the glass to fit inside the frame, and the frames will fit inside the original weatherstrip.  You might have to add a “tie-plate” to join the 2 frames on the inside for stability.  You can use a hinge set-up similar to what’s shown in the Bug conversions that are out there, and if you trim the inner lip of the original weatherstrip  I think it just might work.

On the VW Safari window kit, at the right side under "Related Products" it mentions "Safari Window Wiper Shaft." It seems to be a custom machined adapter that allows the wipers to be moved. You can also see in the photo of the white bus that there is a plastic "detent" in the center post that holds the wiper end down. Maybe it can be used or modded, or something similar made.
Link:
http://www.vwvintageparts.com/products/Safari-Window-Wiper-Shaft-%252d64.html

Here's a company making 1932 Ford 5 window coupe bodies. Think American Graffitti.
Anyway, it shows some details of how they did the tilt-out windshields on the originals that these guys are reproducing.

http://projectthx138.com/nam/5%20window%20coupe%20body.htm

Trivia - Lucas' first film was THX1138. The license plate on Milner's car was a nod to it and the name of this company is the plate #.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hLXOVCZr-8

I saw this Dodge on ebay with an interesting safari configuration.