Body / Glass: New windshield install. Any insight appreciated.

[poweroptions]

I am buttoning up my total restoration on the 54 Starlight, Looks like I will be installing the windshield with a helper. I read the process outlined in the factory manual and understand it. My retired mechanic (he drives a 53) swears I should not glue my new gasket to the glass and I should avoid using a butyl cord of sealant in the exterior flange. He also insisted I put the chrome in after the glass is fully installed. On my trial runs on my work bench I have gotten up to 3 pcs of chrome fitted in the new rubber gasket on the glass as it lays on my work bench, but on the 4th piece of chrome my rubber gasket has popped out of place, I have my blue masking tape out trying to keep all in place, the soapy water I'm using to help with the insertion of the chrome strips weakens my blue tape, come to my 4th pcs of chrome my gasket pops off the glass. Not one of our longtime glass shops here in Tyler Texas will install it. Should I lay a small bead of butyl sealant from CRL in the gasket and tape the gasket so it is held against the glass edge of the winshield and let it cure/dry, before I set the chrome strips in ?? All and any advice is really appreciated. I HAVE NEVER INSTALLED a windsheild.

[StudeRich]

Your friend may have owned or worked on a '47 to '52 Stude. or a "C" Cab Truck windshield, so his "help" will NOT work on a '53 or newer Stude. ALL completely Wrong !

Install the moulding per the Manual, First in the rubber, NOT last.
Glass setting Clay is used on the Body under the rubber.

[poweroptions]

My paint and body shop supplier in Tyler said they have no windshield clay when I asked. I was sold CRL butyl sealant in a chaulk gun tube and a roll of 3/8" bead of butyl tape. I called both prominent auto glass shops in Tyler. They both said no to working on a old car. I am really winging this. Rich the gasket from SI does not fit up snuggly to the edge of the glass in the middle of the 4 sections. It gaps away, making for 2 days of aggravation trying to fit the chrome strips in the groove and keeping the gasket on the glass edge. This is why I thought of a small bead of adhesive in the channel the gasket and glass come together. I will keep fighting this out. Thanks Rich.

[jts359]

I have done 5 or 6 Stude windshields, Put the trim in first. Get at least 2 other people to help , I have tried to use current sealants but have found they are more trouble than they are worth , I have tried to find the sealant they used back in the day and cannot find it. Ed

[5brown1]

Use this for sealant: https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c...und/mmm0/08509
It worked for me on the Speedster after my installer said sealant was not needed - he was wrong .

[JoeHall]

I am blessed to have a "glass guy" within 50 miles, who's been installing auto glass for decades, and is popular with local street rodders. He does house calls, and has came to my house to install Hawk windshields, front and rear, probably half dozen times over the last 25 years. He works alone, and uses modern sealants and other stuff. (But brought his son once, in effort to teach son the trade.) He is usually done and gone within 1.5 to 2 hours. I have never had a problem with any of his installs, no leaks, garnishing placed incorrectly etc.. As for having to use ancient tech clay and other stuff, I ask WHY? There's nothing "special" about the glass in our Studes, or the metal the seal seals against, that mandates using obsolete sealing materials.

As for installing Stude windshields myself, I have tried twice, and each time was a huge FAIL, one was a 56J front, and a 62GT rear, back in the 1980s - 90s. I would not even consider it today, especially with the "glass guy" only a phone call away.

[ddub]

Connect with local car enthusiasts. I'll bet there is someone in your area who does this.

[DieselJim]

At the National Meet in Enstice Park Co. I and the owner of a '55 Coupe put a wind shield in his car in the parking lot. I know it was a long time ago and I still had black hair.

[Topper2011]

It can be done. I broke my first one. Didn't realize you need to shove the top of the windshield under the roof edge first, then the bottom. You need 3 people for this.



Is it perfect? Not at all, my car is far from perfect anyway. The rear glass was a piece of cake compared. I used rubber lube, a cotton rope and a radiator hose remover for the stubborn spots of the weatherstrip that didn't want to flip over. Don't use your fist to seat the weatherstrip, use both palms and press.

[poweroptions]

It looks like you did a great job to me. Thanks for your pictures. I am on the same wavelength as you, Damn PITA !

[JoeHall]

Topper it takes 3 novices, or one good "glass guy". My guy uses large suction cups with handles on them, which he uses to shift, push and pull the glass as needed. My hat is off to him, but there just ain't enough of those guys around.

[Charlie D]

I am blessed like you. He does lots of older vehicles in the Tulsa area.

[poweroptions]

Moose Glass in Tyler opened in 1949. I used them for decades, the best. No longer doing cars with rubber gaskets. No qualified installers.

[r1lark]

It can be done. I broke my first one. Didn't realize you need to shove the top of the windshield under the roof edge first, then the bottom. You need 3 people for this.

Hi Roland, was wondering if you can expand a little on what you meant by ".......shove the top of the windshield under the roof edge first........". Are you simply saying, guide the top of the windshield/gasket in place first, then the bottom? Or something more?

[poweroptions]

Yes I was wondering exactly what was meant too.

[Topper2011]

Hi Roland, was wondering if you can expand a little on what you meant by ".......shove the top of the windshield under the roof edge first........". Are you simply saying, guide the top of the windshield/gasket in place first, then the bottom? Or something more?

Due to the top of the glass having a "swoop" to it, higher on the edges, lower in the center, if you set the glass on the bottom lip of the opening, when you try to lay it down, the top out edges of the glass will hit the crown of the roof and not lay against the opening. We had to pull it back out, tilt the windshield flat, sweep the top in first just to clear the crown then we could lift it and set the bottom in. Then I just used the rope to start pulling the weather strip over the lip. My wife and my eldest daughter were on each side putting pressure while I was inside pulling the rope. It was a sticky mess due the sealer I was using. It wasn't easy trying to not disturb the weather seal around the glass, while trying to not get black sticky sealer all over everything. You may not have this issue with other models, just my GT and my methods may have made more work for me that should have. ps: For those that don't know, you must put the stainless trim on before installing the windshield. Yes, it's fiddly too.

[poweroptions]

Roland thank you for that well worded explanation ! I just ordered a pair of suction cup handles from Cali. With all of the advice I have gathered here I am going to attempt installing with 2 helpers. Thanks to everyone, as always you Stude folks are a great bunch.

[r1lark]

Due to the top of the glass having a "swoop" to it, higher on the edges, lower in the center, if you set the glass on the bottom lip of the opening, when you try to lay it down, the top out edges of the glass will hit the crown of the roof and not lay against the opening. We had to pull it back out, tilt the windshield flat, sweep the top in first just to clear the crown then we could lift it and set the bottom in. Then I just used the rope to start pulling the weather strip over the lip. My wife and my eldest daughter were on each side putting pressure while I was inside pulling the rope. It was a sticky mess due the sealer I was using. It wasn't easy trying to not disturb the weather seal around the glass, while trying to not get black sticky sealer all over everything. You may not have this issue with other models, just my GT and my methods may have made more work for me that should have. ps: For those that don't know, you must put the stainless trim on before installing the windshield. Yes, it's fiddly too.

Thank you Roland for the excellent explanation!