Originally Posted by Dusty53
kl hansen - for reasons I cannot figure out, I couldn't respond directly to your post but here is what I wanted to share -

Yes it fits outside the pinch welds. Looking at the cross section of the Steele gasket, it fits in the "window opening" in front of the pinch weld. I estimate that the opening is supposed to be 15.820 with a +/- tolerance of .020 at the center from the information found in Section 1 sheet 63.03 of the FAM, by subtracting B from C on ref. # 39 and 42 and adding those to the 15.160 pinch weld opening dimension you referenced. My window opening measures 15.750 using a tape measure. So I'm approximately .070" short from nominal and .050" short on low limit window opening, I think. So would .025 - .035 per side prevent installing a windshield? Another concerning measurement is the Steele gasket. The distance from the window groove bottom face to the face that sits in the window opening is .320/.325". If the window is 15.438 (rounded) and the window opening is 15.820 , that leaves .191" clearance. Would that mean the gasket compresses .135" roughly all around? I wish someone had a 1954 or 1955 1st series sitting around without a windshield and could take that center measurement. I suppose if the "Glass Guy" grinds away glass and makes it fit, all's well. My need to understand is overwhelming. lol
I had not seen those dimensions you mention (there are a bunch of them).Those reference dimensions at #39 and #42 are from the zero line (measured vertically), so with the windshield slanted back at about 30 degrees, your numbers you added to the pinch weld opening (measured at the windshield angle) would be slightly larger, so that would make your opening even smaller than nominal. You might try checking the vertical dimension from the floor to the center of the windshield frame holes shown at centerline and 18.88 inches off centerline. That should match the dimensions shown on the FAM if you add 11.88 which is the floor location from the zero line. That would tell you if your roof has somehow been crushed down a bit. I would think that would be pretty obvious, but would explain your shorter windshield opening.
But you're right, if your glass guy trims the glass so it fits you're good. Hope everything works out for you.

Kevin
1951 Chevy 3100 work truck
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1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car)
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