Well, I did it. I managed to break the latch on the right rear side window. To save myself further embarrassment I won't go into how I did it, but believe you me, it was pretty stupid. The part that broke is where the portion that attaches to the frame is connected to the portion that attaches to the window. The service manual is singularly unenlightning about how to replace this latch. Am I right in assuming that the window portion of the latch is welded onto the chrome trim around the glass? It looks like the various pieces that make up the latch can be taken apart by driving out the rivets or pins that hold them together. But to do so one would have to remove the window. It looks like the hinges on the leading edge of the window are hidden behind the rubber seal, which, of course, is brittle with age and hard to pry away without breaking it up. We all know that these seals are hard to come by, so I'm hesitant to start digging around there. I can probably find a replacement latch, or even just the rear part of one that I could use if I can get the hinge apart. I might even be able to find a replacement window with latch attached. I would very much appreciate hearing from anyone who has dealt with this situation - even the unsuccessful ones. I'd much rather learn from someone else's failures than from my own ;-).
Bob S.