The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop Intro and a glass removal question

First off, let me say howdy to all! I'm a newbie on this forum and want to say thanks to everyone responsible for creating it!

Here's a little bio just to let you know where I'm coming from; I'm 46, happily married father of 2 teenagers and am a licensed mechanical engineer. After 20 years of being away from the hobby (my last build was a 67 Barracuda street rod), I've finally come back to it and am in the midst of building a 55 Chevy shortbox stepside 3100. I'm building it for/with my 15-year old son as a way to teach him how to spin a wrench, show him what makes cars tick, give him something cool to drive during his high school years, and to spend more quality time with him. My daughter pitches in too, she's a real trooper. Anyway, we're building it as a resto-rod and we've completed the chassis this past year. it is sporting the stock frame, upgraded with a TCI Mustang II front suspension, 2" dropped spindles, power steering, big disk brakes, under-cab master cylinger/power booster with remote fill reservoirs. The rear suspension is a new TCI dropped leaf kit holding an S10 Xtreme rear axle with big disk brakes. The wheels are Vintique OEM steel rims with chrome moonies; 15x7 up front and 15x10's out back. I'll be tubbing the bed for sure! The motor is a new crate SBC (350 ci) with mild upgrades to keep it streetable, the trans is the original 3-speed manual converted to a floor-shift. The e-brake is also on the floor now. We've test-driven the truck to sort out the new suspension and so far I'm thrilled with the results. It sits very low to the ground and handles like a go-cart, and the 2.73 gears in the rear allow the truck to cruise nicely at highway speeds. So now it's onto the bodywork, and my question;

We've taken the sheetmetal off the frame and am prepping the cab for removal. The windshield and gasketing is new, put on by the PO, so I want to re-use it. How do I remove the windshield without breaking it? My local glass shop guy says it's unlikely that I'll be able to accomplish this. He wasn't confident that he could do it. But I say; if there is a will, there's a way. Can anyone give me some tips?

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the longish post.

Anthony
In New York

Hi Anthony. Welcome to the bolt. Have a look at this page from the 1955 (second series) service manual. It gives instructions on removing the windshield and preserving the gasket. I've never tried the procedure, though. I cut mine out and used a new gasket--but then again, I was replacing the glass too. Also, you can get a plastic window tool from most of the vendors that you can use to work around the glass and rubber. Good luck!

windshields are expensive enuff to save, seals are cheap enuff to sacrifice, the glass guy is right, you'll likely crack the windshield trying to save the seal, so cut the seal around the outside to remove the flange of it that covers the glass, then the glass can be carefully pushed out from inside

Bill

Thanks Bill. I'm not at all concerned about saving the seal, just the glass. So I'll give it a go!

Thanks much.

Anthony

Thanks Greg! That window gasket section really shows what I need to do - basically run a sharp blade through the gasket along the outer perimeter to cut the lip away, then I can (hopefully) gently push out the windshield as you suggest. I'll give it a go!

Thanks again,
Anthony

I think you are on the right track. I too would play it safe and cut the rubber seal if I were trying to save the glass. Let us know how it all works out 55stepside.

55,
Ditto above... seal is cheap compared to glass.....Another New Yorker.....Welcome
Dan

Thanks! And thanks again everyone.

Anthony
Westchester County, NY

Nice name.