The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Windshield gasket

I spent about an hour today attempting to install a new gasket (purchased from Jimmy Carter) onto a new windshield for my 1960 Apache. I was entirely unsuccessful. I believe it would have been easier to placed a full grown tomcat into a plastic bag tail first.
I tried doing the sides first. I tried doing the long straight sections first. It looked like it should work..it just didn't. The gasket did not accomodate well the the sharp curves on the sides. It was difficult to get the glass to seat into the deep track, and even after seating long sections and taping with duct tape I could not get the entire thing to stay in place.
Remenbering that I had heard of installing the gasket into the frame opening, and then installing the glass into the gasket, I decided to try that appoach. Another failure, even more drastic than the first. The slit made in the gasket to fit over the metal flange in the cab opening was clamped shut by the rubber with such force I could only open it with a screwdriver, and only in sections an inch or so long at a time.
What am I doing wrong? Is the gasket too much a misfit for my particular application? My only experience in this matter was that of installing many years ago a used windshield with a used gasket into a 1952 Ford with only a couple of screwdrivers as tools, and it was a snap compared to this.It occurred to me later that it might have helped to lay the gasket out in the sun for an hour or so to soften it. Has anybody out there had experience with a gasket from Jimmy Carter? Right now I am not at all sure it can be made to work..
meansam

meansam, I had the same problem with that same gasket from the same vendor. I took it to a glass shop and they said that rubber was junk... to hard to make fit the curve. I got another from Steele Rubber Products and it worked fine.

never done a 60, but the dogleg windshield on the TF trucks is definitely a bear, not a tomcat

there are no doubt poor quality seals out there, but I think Carter generally has good ones

you can't put the gasket on the truck first, can only be done by putting it on the glass then using the 'string around' technique to pull it into the opening ... I've only seen the dogleg glass done by 2 people working together, struggling all the way, including one done by a glass shop - me and a bodyman started on the lower side, working with the glass on it's face on cushioned sawhorses

a used gasket already has the right shape, so it'd be easier, but with a new one it does take many hands to hold it as ya go and get it all on - once it really is on all the way around, it will stay if handled carefully - and yes, it'll help if the rubber is softer

keep at it and good luck!

Bill

Theyre all crap from the suppliers. The ideal time to do it is on a summer day,and DONT,,by any means use a screwdriver against the glass.
As said earlier,,the new ones dont have the shape,so everything needs all the help it can get. Lotsa patience,,soapy water,cuss words.
It'll go.

Meansam,
First thing to do is slam you hand in the door ..... this will put you in the mood for tackling this job!
I personally have done this type of work since 1975, and still do this today. www.aglassenterprise.com Red58 is very close on this experience on this installation. The gasket needs to go on the glass before installation. Make sure to center the gasket on the glass correctly ( vulcanized butt-joint on gasket at bottom center of windshield). Using blue painters tape, secure the gasket about every 12" around the entire gasket. Your tape should go from the outside of the windshield around the gasket to the inside of the windshield. Starting at the BOTTOM center of the windsield insert a 1/4" NYLON rope into the gasket around the entire perimeter of the windshield where the gasket fits onto the pinchweld. Cross the rope approx.6" over the starting point at the bottom. You will have to momentarly pull the tape back from the inside of the windshield to run the rope by, then pull tape back to inside once you have run the rope past each piece of tape. You can now CENTER the windshield into the opening. If you do not have suction cups, and 2 other people you are in for a fight!. The correct tools like, suction cups, hook tool, plastic stick, extra hands, and experience are going to make this job a lot easier. The new gasket is a royal pain in the --- if you have never tried this and personally and 1955 - 1965 car or truck is really the wrong year to be trying this by yourself ..... get someone locally to help, and someone that has done this before, or you will be buying another windshield and gasket once you have broken the windshield, or torn the gasket. Not always poor parts, just the correct no how. You can call me at my shop toll free in the U.S. at 1-800-223-1141 and I will be glad to help you in anyway possible. I do have gaskets, sealants, clips etc. if needed.

Thanks to all for your advise and comments. To clarify, I never entended to attempt the whole job by myself. I intended to just install the gasket on the glass in preparation for having my son come by to assist with installing the glass in the truck. I appreciate very much the details provided by RESTOMAN57. I will give you a call tomorrow at your place of business to ask a couple of questions.
thanks again...meansam

LUBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOTSA LUBE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just like 54 mentioned

On windshields like that, I tend to use 2 ropes.
First I insert a 1/8 in rope than I insert a 1/4 rope.
Pull the 1/4 in rope first to get the gasket started over the pinchweld then use the 1/8 in rope as a back up to help the gasket the rest of the way.
This method is a must on 67-72 chevy,gmc trucks due to the double lip on the gasket.