A length of 2.1 metres of the window glass channel is required to cover Part Nos 71780 “glass channel upper", 717081 “glass channel rear", and 171082 “glass channel front" as described in the Triumph Stag Parts Catalogue – this will cover one Stag door. The channels were originally supplied as three separate items but it’s easy for owners and restorers to cut a single length into three parts.
Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the correct profile from which all three parts are manufactured.
The correct profile has not been available for some time: substitutes offered by Stag retailers are either too tight as in Figure 2, so that the window lift motor can’t cope, or too loose as in Figure 3, so that the glass rattles. Stag owners have generally regarded these substitutes to be unsatisfactory.
Earlier this year, Russell Lewis – who wanted the “Right Stuff” for a car he is restoring,- approached SOCTFL with an offer to look into having the correct size made available again, using an original channel in his possession as a pattern. The offer was speedily accepted, and it did not take him long to come up with a local manufacturer, and a business proposition for SOCTFL to consider. Funding was agreed, a business partner confirmed, and an order was placed for a trial sample.
Investigations had by then also confirmed that the profile sold by Chris Witor as a replacement for Part Nos 613846/7/8/9, 617188/9 and 617190/1 used on the Triumph 2000 models is different to the one needed for the Stag.
The trial sample has recently been delivered, and has now been trial fitted to a couple of cars. The fit is excellent, so full production will now go ahead. There will be a further update from SOCTFL to let everyone know when the final production item is available.
It is most important that the new channel is fitted correctly to obtain the required width for the glass, as the profile is not the same as the ones we have been used to. The correct fitting is shown in Figure 1.
Best Regards
Philip Wardle for SOCTFL
Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the correct profile from which all three parts are manufactured.
The correct profile has not been available for some time: substitutes offered by Stag retailers are either too tight as in Figure 2, so that the window lift motor can’t cope, or too loose as in Figure 3, so that the glass rattles. Stag owners have generally regarded these substitutes to be unsatisfactory.
Earlier this year, Russell Lewis – who wanted the “Right Stuff” for a car he is restoring,- approached SOCTFL with an offer to look into having the correct size made available again, using an original channel in his possession as a pattern. The offer was speedily accepted, and it did not take him long to come up with a local manufacturer, and a business proposition for SOCTFL to consider. Funding was agreed, a business partner confirmed, and an order was placed for a trial sample.
Investigations had by then also confirmed that the profile sold by Chris Witor as a replacement for Part Nos 613846/7/8/9, 617188/9 and 617190/1 used on the Triumph 2000 models is different to the one needed for the Stag.
The trial sample has recently been delivered, and has now been trial fitted to a couple of cars. The fit is excellent, so full production will now go ahead. There will be a further update from SOCTFL to let everyone know when the final production item is available.
It is most important that the new channel is fitted correctly to obtain the required width for the glass, as the profile is not the same as the ones we have been used to. The correct fitting is shown in Figure 1.
Best Regards
Philip Wardle for SOCTFL
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