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Looking for windshield install experience Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
Forward Look Technical Discussions -> General Technical Discussion and Troubleshooting | Message format |
Randy Schultz |
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Regular Posts: 84 | Hi, I am putting a windshield in a 57 Dodge. I got a Pilkington glass and a gasket off the internet. The gasket is really thick and heavy. It has been rolled backwards from what need so it coils and just fights me all the way. I have installed several windshields in 60's cars but this is a lot harder. Does anyone have any better source for windshield gaskets? Or any tips to install? Ive worked 3 hours on it and its in the same place when I started. | ||
mikes2nd |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5006 | what gasket did you get? a factory seal? this is a two man job and the top goes in first.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjdV1amZFdg
Edited by mikes2nd 2019-05-07 8:17 PM | ||
Randy Schultz |
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Regular Posts: 84 | That's a pretty good video. Thanks for pointing that out. The gasket I got the guy said that was all that was available anymore. It is two piece with a bottom and a different top strip that butts together at the corners and you trim to fit. It is just unbelievably thick and heavy. Being permanently coiled makes it a bear to get to stay on the pinch seam. Im going to shop the internet tomorrow and see what else I can find. I was hoping someone would have a gasket source that would be better. | ||
mikes2nd |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5006 | your probably going to have to pay a lot for a professional install with that split window seal. A auto install custom shop might be able to do it. I think a rear two piece(cut into 4) would be easy but the front has a big curve at the top that will "bind" and i think this is what your running into. I am selling originals but they aren't cheap. if you have a sedan its cheap If a 2 door hardtop its gonna hurt. I would lose my mind trying to fit a 2 piece. There are various types of seals also. Here is my video and you can see the original seals. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piNBvcMv5xY | ||
big m |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7805 Location: Williams California | I've installed lots of windshields on these cars by myself, but always using a good, used gasket. Every reproduction one I've seen is made incorrectly, or has too many junctions that have to be made. ---John | ||
ronbo97 |
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Expert Posts: 4034 Location: Connecticut | Send gasket back to who ever you bought it from and get your money back. You should shop around and talk to people that may have one off a parts car. You didn't mention what bodystyle you have: sedan, hardtop and convertible all use different gaskets. Just FYI. Comments from Mike and Big M are sage advice. Ron | ||
LD3 Greg |
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Expert Posts: 1906 Location: Ontario, Canada | big m - 2019-05-08 10:01 AM I've installed lots of windshields on these cars by myself, but always using a good, used gasket. Every reproduction one I've seen is made incorrectly, or has too many junctions that have to be made. ---John Me too!! Easier with two people but the lack of help never stopped me from doing the job! Those of us in the cold "rust belt" could at least get decent rubber components. Greg | ||
Randy Schultz |
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Regular Posts: 84 | I want to follow this post up for future information seekers. Many times a post is started and its never finished so a person does not know what happened. First the previous posts are absolutely correct. I purchased a brand new gasket from Kanter which is nothing more than some really heavy formed rubber off a roll. It has a permanent roll twist to it and it has to be cut in pieces. It does not work at all. I worked on and off for a week, and it was a complete waste of money. I threw it in the trash can. As suggested above I purchased a used gasket from Mikes2nd. It came in very good condition and was not hard or cracked at all. I put my new Pilkington windshield in by myself in just about 2 hours. It worked great. So bottom line unless you want endless trouble, use a good used gasket or get one from Mike. He saved the day for me. | ||
Apollo 61 |
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Elite Veteran Posts: 765 | Would this thread apply as well to 60 to 64 front windshield gaskets? | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9604 Location: So. Cal | It does for at least '60-'61 and the later cars that use the same windows. I don't think there is good rubber available for any of the forwarlook cars except the '55-'56 & the A-bodies. The lack of good rubber is definitely the worst part of working on these cars. But I know that professional glass people do install them successfully with the 2-piece gaskets. But I would never attempt to do it myself. It isn't easy, so you need someone experienced with it; and only with new glass as the old glass will likely crack on you trying to get it in. | ||
ronbo97 |
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Expert Posts: 4034 Location: Connecticut | I have a nice W453 windshield gasket. I offered it to Steele to make a mould. But they were less than interested. They also said that if they were to do it, they would have to cut the original gasket apart to make the moulds for the corners. That is a big no, of course. But if someone has a damaged one that they don't need, maybe Steele could put in their queue, which has a lot of projects ahead of it. Ron | ||
mikes2nd |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5006 | they wont do it, that tooling would cost 20-30k... thats a giant mold... how many would they have to sell to recoup that? only a few people want them... a handful. | ||
Powerflite |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 9604 Location: So. Cal | And yet....they have them for many other less desireable cars like the early '50's Mopar up to '56. They even have 4 different versions for the '55-'56 Dodge/Plymouth. You would think that if they were concerned about molding costs, they would have bothered to look at the market before they made all those. There is certainly a lot more interest with the Christine cars than there is with the early '50's stuff. I bet that in 10 yrs time, all of the '57-'58 Plymouth 4dr sedans will be built into something, not to mention all the hardtops. That's a pretty decent market. Edited by Powerflite 2019-06-12 10:24 PM | ||
mikes2nd |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5006 | yeah i wonder if they have a cheat instead of totally molding the whole thing. I think the 57-59 have different top and bottom seals | ||
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