a thought on replacing rear hatch... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cstanley · 01-22-2007, 11:48 AM

While at a truck accessory shop this weekend, browsing the camper shells for my old man's truck, i noticed a few shells that were really nice. they had very substantial locking mechanisms (on the high-end models) as well as the regular ones. anyway, many of them looked to be about the size and shape of a blazer hatch, or close to it. so i'm wondering if a person could use that hardware and possibly have a piece of glass cut to match the shape of a regular hatch. If it were used this way, it would be a lot lighter, more durable, and maybe look really nice. it would be full glass, rather than having the fiberglass frame.

Similarly, i was noticing this setup on newer SUVs, for instance a ford explorer. the glass looked about the size and shape.

I guess the glass could be cut any shape you needed, as long as you had the hardware off of the set-up. could look really nice... sorta like the one below, only with flat glass instead of contoured...

krue · 01-22-2007, 01:33 PM

Sounds like a good idea to me.

cstanley · 01-22-2007, 01:41 PM

my crappy 'chop. i couldn't get it trimmed out very well...original for comparison

2wdBlazer · 01-22-2007, 02:30 PM

I think it looks funny. But that's just me.

bouncytruck · 01-22-2007, 02:43 PM

Personally, I think it is ugly. Maybe if you make the side windows flush too, but I like the tops the way they are. Besides, you have a nice solid top, why would you want to mess it up.

Chris27 · 01-22-2007, 02:50 PM

It would probably look better on a full custom Blazer. Looks out of place on a nice original.

cstanley · 01-22-2007, 02:51 PM

just curious, and yes, after doing the 'chop, i think it just doesn't look right either.
but at least that was a cheap experiment

LUV2XCLR8 · 01-22-2007, 06:00 PM

**uncle** · 01-22-2007, 07:36 PM

You could put a different color tint(say 4" wide) around the outer edge of the glass to give it the look of still having the fiberglass there. Just a thought.

**Canadian694x4** · 01-23-2007, 04:04 AM

That idea might look better for Black blazer tops and dark tinted glass all around...looks outta place on a white top...

cstanley · 01-23-2007, 10:33 AM

yup, i agree with everyone. it just doesn't look right. I'll prolly just strap on the knee pads and pick up one of the repros...

uch:

71jimmy · 01-23-2007, 11:26 PM

CSTANLEY, sent you a PM!

01-22-2007, 11:48 AM	#1
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	a thought on replacing rear hatch... While at a truck accessory shop this weekend, browsing the camper shells for my old man's truck, i noticed a few shells that were really nice. they had very substantial locking mechanisms (on the high-end models) as well as the regular ones. anyway, many of them looked to be about the size and shape of a blazer hatch, or close to it. so i'm wondering if a person could use that hardware and possibly have a piece of glass cut to match the shape of a regular hatch. If it were used this way, it would be a lot lighter, more durable, and maybe look really nice. it would be full glass, rather than having the fiberglass frame. Similarly, i was noticing this setup on newer SUVs, for instance a ford explorer. the glass looked about the size and shape. I guess the glass could be cut any shape you needed, as long as you had the hardware off of the set-up. could look really nice... sorta like the one below, only with flat glass instead of contoured... Attached Images __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/ Last edited by cstanley; 01-22-2007 at 12:18 PM.

01-22-2007, 01:33 PM	#2
krue Designated A-hole! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 36,450	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... Sounds like a good idea to me. __________________ "If it ain't broke, fix it 'til it is!" Being stupid ain't illegal. We're Still Debt Free Except for the House!!! www.daveramsey.com 70 GMC SWB Stepside project "Green Booger" soon to be 6.0l/4l80e 93 S-10 "Poppaw's Truck"

01-22-2007, 01:41 PM	#3
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... my crappy 'chop. i couldn't get it trimmed out very well...original for comparison Attached Images __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/ Last edited by cstanley; 01-22-2007 at 01:43 PM.

01-22-2007, 02:30 PM	#4
2wdBlazer The Blazer King Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Valrico, Fl (Tampa) Posts: 1,213	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... I think it looks funny. But that's just me. __________________ 72 2wd Blazer. Its the superbichinest, megacoolinest, superflowinest.

01-22-2007, 02:43 PM	#5
bouncytruck SKINNY TIRES RULE! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bothell, WA Posts: 11,049	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... Personally, I think it is ugly. Maybe if you make the side windows flush too, but I like the tops the way they are. Besides, you have a nice solid top, why would you want to mess it up. __________________ bouncytruck 1972 K5 The Hauler 1994 K1500 Suburban The Daily2010 Kia Soul Wife's Ride2014 Fiat 500L

01-22-2007, 02:50 PM	#6
Chris27 Blazerless Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kelowna, BC, Canada Posts: 274	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... It would probably look better on a full custom Blazer. Looks out of place on a nice original. __________________ 72' K5 Blazer 4x4 350TBI/700R4/NP205 3/4 ton diffs. Daily driver. SOLD 69' Beaumont 388/700R4 11.70@116 77' Bronco, Wife's mall cruiser/poser 4x4. Capable but too pretty to go offroad.

01-22-2007, 02:51 PM	#7
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... just curious, and yes, after doing the 'chop, i think it just doesn't look right either. but at least that was a cheap experiment __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

01-22-2007, 06:00 PM	#8
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,475	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... __________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Big Piggy: "Goliath" 07 Kodiak C4500 Lil Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T

01-22-2007, 07:36 PM	#9
uncle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Conyers,Ga. Posts: 7,286	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... You could put a different color tint(say 4" wide) around the outer edge of the glass to give it the look of still having the fiberglass there. Just a thought.

01-23-2007, 04:04 AM	#10
Canadian694x4 Born To Lose Club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta/Oxenden, Ontario, Great White North Posts: 13,306	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... That idea might look better for Black blazer tops and dark tinted glass all around...looks outta place on a white top... __________________ Brian Smith - "Born To Lose" 1969 Chevrolet K10 LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 20 Yrs - 1 of 208 Built & Sold In Canada! - 283 V8/350TH/NP208, 2" All Spring Lift, 32" Good Year MT/R's. 1972 GMC K2500 Custom LWB Fleetside - Proud Owner For 2 Yrs - 1 of 571 Built & Sold In Canada! - 350 V8/SM465/NP205, 4” Rough Country Lift, 33” Interco TSL Thornbirds 2007.5 GMC Sierra SLE 2500HD 4x4 - Proud Owner For 15 Yrs - 6.6L V8 Duramax Diesel/Allison 1000, 2" Lift, 33" Mickey Thompson MTZ's. 2008 Yamaha Raptor 700r - Proud Owner For 13 Yrs - ITP Mud Lites. 2015 John Deere 1025R - Proud Owner For 6 Yrs - 24HP Diesel/H120/54D/260B/SB1154.

01-23-2007, 10:33 AM	#11
cstanley Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,229	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... yup, i agree with everyone. it just doesn't look right. I'll prolly just strap on the knee pads and pick up one of the repros...uch: __________________ "Anybody who would paint his truck like this, would go to a minister's funeral dressed in feathers!" - Big Enis Burdett '72 Blazer Restoration Blog: http://sportchicken.blogspot.com/

01-23-2007, 11:26 PM	#12
71jimmy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 1,084	Re: a thought on replacing rear hatch... CSTANLEY, sent you a PM! __________________ '71 Jimmy, 350, SM465, NP205, 2in Tuff Country lift, 33s on rallies, TBI, softtop and hardtop "If life was fair you'd be able to afford one of each and a garage large enough to house them all."



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