Hello everyone.

I thought I'd give this another try since some time has passed.

An option on the '58 444 was to have rear side windows that "vent" open or push-out/pop-out. My 444 had this option; however, the seals for these windows were completely shot and non-repairable. The seals are obviously slightly more complex, not like the normal static windows and the glass has chrome around the window. You can see a not-so-great picture of the vented windows here.

I had the chrome done for these pop-out vent windows, but unfortunately have not found the seals anywhere and I would really rather not go to the fixed windows if I can help it.

I see that Swedish Treasures has seals for the 544 push-out windows (part numbers 658751/52) but I am not sure if these will also fit the late model 444.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


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Tony Scarola
1958 Volvo PV444 (aka 44408, 444L, Old Lady)

http://www.scarolas.com/58VolvoPV444/

Unfortunately, they're not the same. Though similar, 444 and 544 rear side windows are different sizes.

Whether or not a 544 seal could be modified to work in a 444, though, I don't know.

Best,

Cameron
444,122SC
Rose City

Man I sure wish I could get some information on the size differences between the two windows. Side-by-side, the 444 and 544 rear vent windows look identical. Anyways, I sent off a few queries to the vintage Volvo parts guys. Joe Lavetsky of Swedish Treasures replied and said that I should ask Volvo so I stopped by Volvo today and asked the kid behind the parts counter to help me cross-reference. The best he could find was the part numbers for the two door vent windows - of which I already have. Scandcar (Netherlands) replied that "as far as we know they [the 544 seals] will fit." He continued "I first will check the books if this fits but I'm almost 100% sure they all were the same." So, maybe there's some hope there. By the way, Scandcar wants $132 for the seal pair and $98 to ship UPS. Ouch.
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Tony Scarola
1958 Volvo PV444 (aka 44408, 444L, Old Lady)

Hello,

I have a 1958 444 and a 1959 544 in my shop right now.

I will compare the 1/4 windows and report back.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

Thank you Eric. I look forward to your results.
By the way, Scandcar replied back "If pop up window has a lenght of 64cm and 30cm high its okay." Chris at VP says "658751/52 are good for 1958 and later, for 444/544. I think there was only one kind of pop-out windows, so if you have those windows, 658751/52 are the original seals."
We are getting closer to an answer. :)

--
Tony Scarola
1958 Volvo PV444 (aka 44408, 444L, Old Lady)

Hello,

I did a rough measurement of the 1/4 window openings with a tape measure of the 1958 444 and of the 1959 544 in my shop and they appear to be the same size.

A precise measurement can only be obtained with the 1/4 windows removed.

However, I am not convinced that you can use the 544 1/4 window seals on a 444 although they might be usable if modified.

Here are the facts that I have uncovered.

Obviously the 444 and 544 1/4 windows look and are mounted differently.

Secondly, both the 444 and the 544 have a non-opening 1/4 window option and both the glass and the seal part numbers are different.

And finally, in most cases, Volvo will list superseded part numbers in their parts catalog or in their price catalogs and I can find no evidence of any correlation between the non-opening windows or seals.
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Eric
Hi Performance Automotive Service (formerly OVO or Old Volvos Only)
Torrance, CA 90502

This is getting interesting. I don't believe that there's only one kind of popout window - I have 544 popout windows in my shop, and not only are they larger than those on the 444, the latch mechanism is different. The one on the 444 is all metal, with a curved 'spoon' area for a handle. Those on the 544 are mostly metal, with a black plastic ball for a handle - much like the early 122.

When I had a 544 here, we measured the distance from the shoulder along the side of the car to the bottom of the window, and from the B pillar to the forward edge of the window, then the overall length and height of the window. All of these measurements were markedly different than those on the 444. We didn't write any of these numbers down, as we didn't see any reason to have such info on hand.

Granted, the 544 was a '64, so it's possible that the earlier 544s had smaller windows than the later models - but I'd sure think that the side rear windows were enlarged at the same time as the windshield and rear window. If it matters, the 444 is titled as a '58, but the data plate is stamped "1957" and the chassis number indicates that it's a late '57.

I'm really curious to hear what Eric finds on the two cars he has.

Best,

Cameron
444,122SC
Rose City

Have a look here, I think you'll find something, actually a lot of things, interesting.................

http://s262.photobucket.com/albums/ii107/1schmidtchen1/My%201956%20Volvo%20PV%20444%20K/?start=0

Great find. Thank you. This looks exactly like the vent windows I have. Very interesting.
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Tony Scarola
1958 Volvo PV444 (aka 44408, 444L, Old Lady)

Very cool.

I have one of those round reverse lights on my 444, and it's stamped "Ford" across the top. I've seen the exact same light at a number of swap meets around Portland, with other stampings, including Hudson and Rambler, as well as a few that don't have any stamping at all. I wish mine didn't say Ford, but I haven't wished it enough to shell out the dollars for blank one.

Best,

Cameron
444,122SC
Rose City

My guess is that they are the same, especially for a '58. (I had one about 40 years ago).
It MIGHT be that Christer at VP Autoparts in North Charleston, SC can verify that for you.
I think he has a good set of catalogs to compare part numbers.
Another purveyor of old timer parts is Olof at Vintage Import Parts in BC.

Thanks. I have also sent a note to VP Autoparts. We'll see what they have to say.
--
Tony Scarola
1958 Volvo PV444 (aka 44408, 444L, Old Lady)