Removing the bar between the quarter window and main window

I'm stripping my MKI for a full paint job.

I have stripped and removed the doors. HOWEVER the bar between the quarter light and main glass I can't get out. I have drilled out the rivets and the screw at the top is out so the bar can move in the door.
But how the bloody hell do I get it out? With the brackets on it I can't get it out. Both sides need paint/powder so I have to get them out.
It's like a bloody chinease puzzle and I walked away before getting frustrated.

I'm thinking of getting it painted first, tape it up and then get rest of door painted?

i got em in and out by rotating 90degrees, but that may not do the powder coad any good. try dropping them down inside the door maybe? then when you refit put tape on the powdercoat

Drop it down the inside of the door at an angle and out through the hole in the bottom right hand corner.

It's even more fun putting it back in without scraping the paint on it  ops:

Have you removed glass, winder mechanism, then as already suggested its a matter of twisting it so the welded on bracket misses and twisting back so you can use the curve to get it out, but i wouldnt want to assemble a nicely painted one.

Yep I have all glass out but I have not taken out the winder mechanism. I was hoping not to have to. It didn't look like it was in the way. So I'll try again turning 90degrees, if not then I'll remove the winder mechanism. If not then I'll cut a 1'' strip out of the door then weld in a new piece after!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah like you said, assembling a painted one is going to be a pain in the hole.

I'm thinking of taking it an inches up out of the door which it can do, get it painted then tape it up and have the door painted?

i think this link may help.. it's for the opening quarter glass but think its the same principle..

http://www.mikegabriel…bitrabbit/ventwindow.html

can't remember having so much trouble getting mine out  but it was a few years ago so must be a logical trick to it.. good luck, and tell us how you got on..

cheers

chris

safer to push it back in at the top if you dont want to scratch the bar paint, like i say it will go. main thing is put tape on the door to protect the paint

I put mine in and out without removing the winder mechanism or door glass, its tricky but as I said feed it down through the door and out at the bottom corner near the hinge.

Watch how you get it out because putting it back is the reverse process.

I scored the paint on mine trying to refit it the first time. So after a repaint, I used insulation tape on the bar and on the edge of the door where its fed up through. When you get it in position pull the tape off, if you take your time and say a few bad words it can be done. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Ok I was at this.

Turning it 90deg: Would work but you have to ''open'' the gap up a bit to get the bar out.

Through the bottom hole: Possible yes. However getting back in?

So in short I can get it out. But I want to take it out, get it painted and refit. Getting it refitted without marking new paint would be bloody impossible and too risky.

I am going to show it to the body shop and see what he thinks.
I'm thinking of pulling it up say 2 inches from the door and paint it. then refit it into the door and mask it up when the door is being painted??

Some pics. I'll do a project tread in a while. Phone pics but ok enough.

Sorry for the large pics, resizing them is doesn't seem to be working.