How to install a windshield.
- Thread starter MJBooker
- Start date
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i just recently did one ......i replaced my dash so i had to pull the windsheild first.
this was my second attempt at installing a windsheild and first sucessful time.
the first time i cracked the glass on a 71 dart and the mistake was that i tried to re-use the old gasket....old gaskets are not as flexible as new ones and they dont seal once removed like a new one will......getting a new gasket saves a lot of headache unless you find an original gasket that is really nice and not dry rotted at all .....that is rare where i live bcoz its desert here so most older gaskets are cooked and new ones are soooo flexible and seal up very nice.
the other mistake i made on my first attemp was that i seated the window on the bottom first and tried to work the sides and top in ....didnt work
the second and successful attemp i wedged the top of the glass in first and worked the sides and bottom in ....and it went right in.
i also had rope in the gasket pinchweld part on the sides and bottom only and pulled the rope from inside the car ....that worked great and i bought a little tool from a paint shop used for windows .....its just a plastic stick with a rounded wedge end ....worked great and its plastic so it wont tear the gasket.
installing a window sure is a workout and takes patience ....i had some time into it ....but it was worth it to keep the glass in one piece.
this was my second attempt at installing a windsheild and first sucessful time.
the first time i cracked the glass on a 71 dart and the mistake was that i tried to re-use the old gasket....old gaskets are not as flexible as new ones and they dont seal once removed like a new one will......getting a new gasket saves a lot of headache unless you find an original gasket that is really nice and not dry rotted at all .....that is rare where i live bcoz its desert here so most older gaskets are cooked and new ones are soooo flexible and seal up very nice.
the other mistake i made on my first attemp was that i seated the window on the bottom first and tried to work the sides and top in ....didnt work
the second and successful attemp i wedged the top of the glass in first and worked the sides and bottom in ....and it went right in.
i also had rope in the gasket pinchweld part on the sides and bottom only and pulled the rope from inside the car ....that worked great and i bought a little tool from a paint shop used for windows .....its just a plastic stick with a rounded wedge end ....worked great and its plastic so it wont tear the gasket.
installing a window sure is a workout and takes patience ....i had some time into it ....but it was worth it to keep the glass in one piece.
SleeperScamp
Well-Known Member
I paid the man $100 and let him worry about breaking it..
Looks like you had the gasket on first? Reason I'm asking is I will be doing the same thing soon. Thanks.
cudavert
DARTAHOLIC
Take a deep breath before you start and be in the right frame of mind too.....trust me. I don't think I would even drink any caffeine beforehand. 
If you decide to install it without sealer, it will probably leak. I did, on my old 'cuda, and mine leaked, but it was basically a garage queen so I wasn't overly worried. But I'll never install one without sealer again.
If you decide to install it without sealer, it will probably leak. I did, on my old 'cuda, and mine leaked, but it was basically a garage queen so I wasn't overly worried. But I'll never install one without sealer again.
rlevs
Well-Known Member
nice info thanks
Take a deep breath before you start and be in the right frame of mind too.....trust me. I don't think I would even drink any caffeine beforehand.
If you decide to install it without sealer, it will probably leak. I did, on my old 'cuda, and mine leaked, but it was basically a garage queen so I wasn't overly worried. But I'll never install one without sealer again.
uh-oh ...i didnt use any additional sealer ...a glass place and someone i know from a body shop told me that no additional sealer is needed the first time the seal is used .....they said the only time sealer is needed is if re-using a gasket..
makes me want to take it outside now and hose it down to see what happens
66340SEDAN
FABO Member #3649
Thats a great idea if you can afford it, then, if the glass breaks or leaks, it's covered. I would have used sealer too, hope yours seals up nice Rani :glasses7:
Woods74
Broke Senior
straightlinespeed
Sometimes I pretend to be normal
I just did mine this past weekend on my 71 Scamp. The rear was super easy compared to the front. I researched on here and did the reverse of Rani. I installed the gasket on the car first, it was all going good until I got to the top of the windshield. What a PITA!!! Im not sure if putting the gasket on the glass would have been easier or not but I got it in with out cracking it! That is all i can ask for!
Dont force it!
Dont force it!
cudavert
DARTAHOLIC
Aw, dang......I mentioned it to ya before on another one of your threads. Well, hey, maybe it WON'T leak! After washing my car, I would notice a little bit of, what looked like, condensation at the inside bottom of the windshield.....you know, down near those dash bolts?
I also look at this way. How awesome is aftermarket parts, like windshield rubber, compared to original Mopar quality? That's another reason I really wanna do the sealer. But I'm not looking forward to the mess I'll probably be making with that sealer.
Yeah, do the wash test, Rani......and let us know if you see any leaks or any of that condensation. :happy1:
67Dart273
Well-Known Member
Can you link to the original thread? I backspaced back to 1392124 which should have been the thread, but that didn't work.
426hemiswinger
Well-Known Member
These tips are very informative it would be a good idea to use painters tape to hold the gasket in place to the windsheild, it tears of easy after seated, starting the installation at the top rather than the bottom may be better from watching the pros. do it.
mark the trim hold down clips with tape so when you put the chrome trim on you will know where to push it down into place. you can put sealer after cut the tip very close to the end and slide the tip into the gasket and gently squezze the sealer in between the glass and gasket, push the gasket along the end if any sealer comes out just use a blade to skim the access. I wonder if coating the pinch rail and gasket chanel with Vasaline would work and is a good water repelant after all its used for getting into tight places .HA HA
I have a used but not so bad gasket I might just buy a new one, I have to intall the windsheild on my car also.
mark the trim hold down clips with tape so when you put the chrome trim on you will know where to push it down into place. you can put sealer after cut the tip very close to the end and slide the tip into the gasket and gently squezze the sealer in between the glass and gasket, push the gasket along the end if any sealer comes out just use a blade to skim the access. I wonder if coating the pinch rail and gasket chanel with Vasaline would work and is a good water repelant after all its used for getting into tight places .HA HA
I have a used but not so bad gasket I might just buy a new one, I have to intall the windsheild on my car also.
MOBodyman
Well-Known Member
Another tip; use BUTYL sealer, NOT urethane! Butyl stays flexible, urethane gets too hard.
My experience has been that they will leak, even with a new gasket, unless you use sealer. I put it between the gasket and pinchweld, as well as between the glass and gasket.
Dallas
My experience has been that they will leak, even with a new gasket, unless you use sealer. I put it between the gasket and pinchweld, as well as between the glass and gasket.
Dallas
i did a garden hose test and so far i dont see any leaks and the carpet and dash cluster are still out of it.
you guys have me paranoid i might pull it again and use sealer.
you guys have me paranoid i might pull it again and use sealer.
ESP47
Well-Known Member
Yeah I would pull it and use butyl so you know you've done it right. I can almost guarantee it'll leak on you, but only once you have everything put back together :violent1:
Woods74
Broke Senior
In the very top right hand corner there is a hyperlink back to the original thread.
http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?p=1392124#post1392124
Randy Miller
Well-Known Member
I have chrome around mine? Looks like it takes a insert? Do you know?
Have I seen a hack on here about flipping the nut/clips on the front of the dash assembly to be able to remove dash bolts from underneath?
Ron816
Mopar forever
You HAVE to use butyl or it WILL leak
harrisonm
Well-Known Member
I disagree with using sealers with the type of windshield gaskets these old cars have. The glass fits tightly in the gasket, and the gasket fits so tightly over the pinchweld that it should not leak. Over the last 40 years or so, I have installed a lot of windshields in older cars, and I have never had a leak. HOWEVER, if using butyl strip sealer makes you feel better, go ahead on.
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