Yesterday I finally got my windshield installed! (1953 Chevy 3800) It was much more of a job than I had expected. I tried the method using a rope in the rubber groove to pull it in, but that didn't work at all. Maybe the rope was too large in diameter. I ended up getting it in using nylon tools I'd picked up at Harbor Freight. It took about three hours to finally get it all the way in, and I still need to do some fiddling with the center chrome trim. Having stainless trim around the windshield made it more difficult to get it in, I think. Ended up beating it in the last 1/8" with a rubber mallet!
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
I got both the rubber gasket and glass from Jim Carter, and as far as I can tell it fits as original both inside and out. Although it's been years since there was any glass or rubber on the truck, so I'm just going by how it looks compared to the edges of the frame.
I don't think my problems had to do with the materials, more with my lack of expertise.
Now that I know how to do it I will never do it again. The only reason I did this was because the local glass shop wanted $300, and wouldn't guaranty that they wouldn't break the glass during installation, nor that it wouldn't leak afterwards.
I'll get some photos to post today.
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
Here are a few photos of the windshield. Starting to look more like a real truck!
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
Yeah, I picked that color (Burgundy Maroon) because it was a one time only color used in 1953, which is the year of the truck.
It's an odd color. Depending on the light it can look red, or purple, or even sort of brown.
And, by the way, that's the original stainless steel trim.
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
You need to apply for a job at the glass shop! (You'll get faster with practice.) The lower outside corners is where most folks leave a pucker. Your's looks perfect.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
Ron - - Dusty53 1954 Chevy 3604 In the Gallery Forum "You can't dance with the Devil and then wonder why you're still in Hell." "They will forget what you've said, and they will forget what you have done but they will never forget the way you made them feel."
I agree that the chrome trim can add to the frustration in getting the gasket to lay flat in the bottom corners. My 1950 3100 came with this original trim...had new windshield and trim installed by a professional auto glass company. ($100) It's puckered in the lower corners. I've bought a new gasket without the trim groove for the chrome molding. I'm going to rope in the windshield and forego the chrome...tired of messing with it.
When I got around to trying to install the corner glass in my 5 window cab I had serious trouble. I just couldn't get the rubber to fit right, or stay where I put it. I finally ordered new rubber from Steele, and the windows went in with absolutely no problems. Both sides done in under an hour! Maybe the rubber from Carter was from a different manufacturer, or maybe it was older and had dried out some, but it even felt different than the stuff from Steele. I think if I had to do any glass again I would get all the rubber from Steele, even though it is about twice as expensive.
By the way, when I was installing the glass I used GOOP for lubricant. Worked very well, but it really made the glass hard to hold onto!
Tim
I am currently digging back in to a 1953 3800 (one ton) with a nine foot bed. I've owned it since 1979, and drove it until 1982 (or so). My wife got me involved in restoring it back in 2002, got the body removed and the frame redone, then things came up. Now I am retired and starting again. If anyone is interested I have photos on Imagur ( https://timwhiteblues.imgur.com/ ). I live way back in the woods in the Ozarks on 40 acres at the end of a 2 1/2 mile private road.
