In a message dated 16/05/2005 3:25:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Frank  G's "pushing out windows" experiment was pretty unscientific.
Whether or  not it seemed easier after he pulled the strip is a already
a fairly  subjective judgement on its own, and doesn't even address
whether the  difference was actually relevant. Without measuring
equipment and  controlled samples, it's hard to say whether a
de-trimmed window is  actually unsafe. How much force SHOULD it take to
push out a window? The  closest to an official word on the subject is
from WCM, who makes  replacement rubber, and says it's purely cosmetic
and NOT a lock strip.  This is not to say that removing it won't make
it easier to push out a  window and/or cause it to leak. Certainly this
may affect both those  things, but this isn't its PURPOSE. My '90
without the trim leaked at the  windshield until I sealed it, so
apparently this is a general design  problem for ALL Vanagons, with
some people's plastic inserts merely staving  off the inevitable.

FINALLY, some common-sense is added to the  discussion !  I was beginning to
wonder why my windshield has not  fallen out over the past 10 years !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com