Body / Glass: Front and Back Windshield Stainless Trim Installation on a Silver Hawk

[scarecrowtim]

I am redoing the interior of my 58 Silver Hawk and I had a local glass shop remove the front and back windshield so that the headliner could be installed. The stainless use to fit flush to the rubber and the corner stainless pieces on the lower rear corners fit tightly against the body. Now they are sticking out in some areas and the shop used some black adhesive to try to glue these lower corner pieces down. In some areas the outside rubber does not even touch the glass which makes me think that it will leak horribly. The rubber was purchased from Valerie Hansen at the Southbend International Meet a few years ago so I believe that it is top notch. The guy who installed the windows said that the rubber was different and that is why it will not lay straight and accept the stainless. Has anyone else had this happen or is the guy inexperienced and did it wrong. I am worried that with the lower stainless corner pieces on the back window sticking out almost 1/4" that they will probably fly off and be gone forever or gouge my finger when I go to wash the car. I have tried to attach some pictures so you can see what it looks like but I have never done this so I am not sure if they will be there. Thanks for the help.

[rkapteyn]

It looks like they installed it inside out.

Robert Kapteyn

[bezhawk]

If it is a replacement glass, the glass today is thinner, and doesn't fit the rubber well. Also if it is at all possible, it's a very good idea to place the new rubber on the glass and tape it in place, and let it sit for a few weeks. Also the shop manual says to include bedding compound between the rubber and glass. Never install them dry despite what anyone tells you. The bedding compound sticks the rubber to the glass so it installs in the corners without rolling away from the glass. Be sure the stainless remains fully seated in the rubber when installed. If it starts to pull away from the rubber, stop and fix it before continuing installation. Rear glass takes 3 people to install.

[52hawk]

It looks as if they put the stainless on after the glass was in.[especially those damaged corners.] Do you know if they had the stainless all in the rubber before they installed the glass? I would think a good installer could make that right,but you"ll have to find at least the one new corner piece.

[RDWEAVER]

It looks as if they put the stainless on after the glass was in.[especially those damaged corners.] Do you know if they had the stainless all in the rubber before they installed the glass? I would think a good installer could make that right,but you"ll have to find at least the one new corner piece.

52 Hawk is correct in my opinion. It appears they forgot to install stainless in the rubber BEFORE they installed it. It was not done correctly, and unless you got it done for free you should ask for a refund. go to a competent glass shop and have the window installed correctly.

[Dick Steinkamp]

Unfortunately, few shops today have the knowledge to do these installations. Here's how it is done...

http://dicksteinkamp.wordpress.com/2...he-windshield/

[scarecrowtim]

Thanks for all of the info, the rear window was the original window so it is not thinner glass, however the front windshield is new and the stainless looks just as bad. I think that the shop was just not experienced in the installation of old windows even though they said they do them all the time. I am going to go and talk to them and tell them that it is unacceptable and needs to be redone, if need be I will take it to another shop.
Thanks again for all the help,
Tim

[Jerry Forrester]

It is my opinion that you need to order new gaskets. That's what I had to do when the new windshield wouldn't fit Leo. I cracked one new windshield trying to get it to seat. With a new gasket from SI and a new windshield from Phillips everything went together with no problems.

Thanks for all of the info, the rear window was the original window so it is not thinner glass, however the front windshield is new and the stainless looks just as bad. I think that the shop was just not experienced in the installation of old windows even though they said they do them all the time. I am going to go and talk to them and tell them that it is unacceptable and needs to be redone, if need be I will take it to another shop.
Thanks again for all the help,
Tim

[bezhawk]

I have the corner pieces if you need them

[Matthew Wendt]

I had the same thing happen on my 64 GT. Original window, NOS side stainless, perfect used upper and lower trim, Fennesy gasket, and a very experienced installer that just did another GT before with an SI gasket. We got the glass in and in the process the trim wouldn't stay seated. What a mess to take it back out and clean everything up.

I talked to Valerie and she was super, but I ended up getting a new gasket from SI and new installer, the first installer didn't want to try it again. This time it went in, still tough, but it is correct. The SI gasket seemed slightly smaller in cross section and not as stiff as the Fennesy part.

I still am not sure the gasket is the issue, my Avanti has all Fennesy gaskets with no issue. I am just saying the exact same thing happened. Perhaps the first gasket would have worked with the different installer.