The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop AD Rear window gasket

I am installing a new window this weekend in the rear of my '50 AD truck. I bought the gasket from on of the usual suppliers and it is a straigh length. When I install it, do the two ends come together on the bottom of the window or the top? Does it get overlapped at all? Can I expect any stretching? Should I leave a little extra on there... just in case?

Thanks in Advance (no pun)

Red,
make the ends meet in the center of the rear window bottem side,
when you get to the end an go to make it meet give yourself a good 1/4" when you cut it ..it will squeeze in there and give ya a bit for shrinkage over time and the sun beating down on it.

Thanks, SW. I'm heading out to try it out now. I'll have pictures of it shortly.

Well, I'm having a heck of a time with these things. After two days of fighting with them, it turns out half of the front windshield had to be pulled back out because the whole thing has to go in as an assembly. Then I find out I have the gasket for the stainless trim but don't have the stainless trim, so I'm off to order a new gasket for the front windshield.

On to the back window. That is a bear to try to keep the gasket in place and the two ends meeting while installing the window. After two hours, I gave up for the day. I'll try again tomorrow and report my "learnings".

Red,
On the back window gasket try this ..put the gasket on the glass use some twine in the groove that goes against the cab and ty it on the glass, then put lottsa blue painters tape around the perimeter to hold it in place real good an set it out in the sun that should help get it to conform to the shape it needs to maintain especially on the corners wich will make the install a little easier....I understand your frustration ...makin a straight pc of window gasket go around the corner and stay there is nerve rackin at best~!
Being you are in FL. you should have SUN...it hasnt made it to PA yet!
Hope this helps.
Tim

Thanks, Tim. I tried microwaving the gasket for the back window this morning as there is no sun to be found down here either today (or the rest of the week, according to the forecast). Go figure.

Just gave it another try with no success. I've done the string trick before with great success but this gasket is just fighting me the whole way. It didn't help that the wife decided this would be a good time for me to watch the 1-1/2 year old and 3-1/2 year old kids in the garage. I spent as much time yelling at them as I did yelling at the gasket.

The directions for the rear window in the Chevy manual tell me to put the gasket on the truck and then put the window into the gasket. Tried that too with no luck.

I suppose I'll switch back to the front window. I think I'm going to install the gasket with the groove and just pretend it's the right gasket. I have to get SOMETHING done this weekend.

Well, I'll strike this weekend up as a total bust. Neither window is installed and nothing else went right this weekend. I had a list of 5 things to do this weekend, all relatively simple, and I got nothing finished.

The only good news that came out of all this is I at least didn't break any of the panes of glass..... but there are still a couple hours left in the weekend.

Red,
I wouldnt use the windshiled gasket without the trim in it, I installed the SS Trim in mine when I did it, without the trim in the gasket Im afraid your windshield will be loose as the trim is a filler in that gasket.

Hi there, I've been following your 'trials' with interest!
Regarding your rear window gasket.The rubber is what's known as a 'Claytonrite' rubber.It MUST be installed to the body first and then the glass is worked into the rubber. The glass/rubber is then 'fixed' into place with the locking strip.This can be either a rubber or chromed plastic strip.You cannot string this type in.It's quite difficult to explain in text but if you can obtain a nylon or strong wooden spatula approx 1/2" wide,wet the rubber with a light soap solution.Place the left or right lower corner of the glass into the rubber,then with the glass at approx 30/40 degrees to the horizontal,slide the opposing corner down,keeping sufficient pressure on the glass to prevent it 'popping' out.
Once you have achieved this use the impliment to 'work'the rubber over the glass all the way round.Once the rubber is over the glass,gently 'pat' it into place to seat it correctly.(Deep breath,open another beer!)
Now for the locking strip!Ideally you should try and get an installation tool(try www.eastwood.com)It should be fairly self explanetory how this works but be patient it can be fiddly! Again lubricate the rubber with a soap solution.
Personally I would join the rubber at the top (less likely to leak)Apply a small drop of superglue to the join. Cut the rubber 1/4" oversize to allow for shrinkage.Sorry if this seems a bit 'long winded' but it's difficult to explain! I would call in myself and help but a 3000mile trip is pushing it a bit! Good luck!I will keep an eye out on this post if you need any more advice!

Hello again! Just another point regarding your front screen rubber.The Chromes on this are purely a 'cosmetic' and unlike the rear have no bearing on the tightness of the glass/rubber.
It has an "S" section whereas the rear rubber is an "H" section and needs the lock strip to secure it. Hope this helps! Jock

The front window is tough but once you figure it out by getting it in there the next time you do it is a lot faster.

You have to start by seating the bottom, using lots of lube. The radius at the bottom is too sharp to stuff the rubber over the lip, so start at the bottom and work your way up to the more gentle curve at the top. It's all in the wrist, as they say. What a rediculous system, no wonder most modern car glass is just glued in with goop.

Sometimes the glass is too big. If this glass was already in the truck then its not, but sometimes the pattern the glass is made from is just slightly oversized and that makes it a lot harder to install.

Also, if you haven't ordered the new gasket already, there is no point in using anybody but Steele's gaskets. They really are that much better.

The most useful tool for do glass like that is a fiber stick, AKA paddle. Go to your local glass shop and buy one.
Or better yet have them install it.
Time is money even if you don't pay yourself. It's well worth the headaches you are getting.
The locking strip is another story, special tools are needed but may be obtainable from your local FLAPS that sell carlisle tools.

Thanks for all the info, Jock. Before reading your posts, I spent some time in the garage last night. With the help of my wife (she wants kudos for her patience while helping :-) I finally got the rear window seated.

Some other friends told me to lube everything up with silicon spray. Seeing that Armor All is mostly silicon, I used that to lube up the whole gasket, window edge and truck steel. The downfall of this approach is the gasket won't stay on the truck without some support. And the string just pulls out of the corners when I'm trying to install the window. Back to the drawing board. I put the gasket back on the window and went back to the string trick. By this time the swears are really flying.

My DW (Dear Wife) was patiently holding the window in place but couldn't seem to push hard enough to get it where it needed to be. We switched sides and she worked the gasket while I pushed the window around. Finally we got it in. But there is a gap in the gasket at the bottom. I guess my 1/4" wasn't enough. I have a fix for that though.

I got the locking strip in about 1/4 the way around before I gave up for the night. My fingers are killing me. I'll finish it up tonight.

As for the front window, I decided to go ahead and order the correct gasket. Might as well do it once and be finished with it.

My DW thinks I'm nuts becuase I've wasted hours working on these windows when she gave me the okay to call the local glass company to do it for me days ago. But I've found it much more satisfying to figure it out myself.

Thanks for the inpt guys.

Glad to hear you've got it sorted, I assume the truck is already painted! That Armorall could give a painter a few headaches!
I agree with wilbur, I just use plain Glass cleaner to 'lube' the rubber.
If you haven't got the lock strip fully installed you may be able to 'drag' the two ends together to close the join.Be careful not to slip!! ,
Well done Mrs Redgreen!

jockbolter 50.
Ever been to this site?

http://pub24.bravenet.com/forum/2036554146

Thanks for the link wilbur, I had a quick look before I sent this! I'll go in for a more detailed look later!
I don't know about the 'States' but there's a lot of "butchers" about! Some of the work standards I see is beyond belief!
Does nobody take a pride in their work anymore?
More incredibly is the fact the paying public put up with it!
Thanks again
Jock

Here's an update for anyone interested. I called in the "experts" to install the windshield. He arrived and I placed the glass in the openings without the gasket and told him that it looks to me like the lower left corner is going to be tight.

He saw my handy work on the rear window and told me I'm holding the tool wrong. Go figure. I was following the picture in the manual. He told me to hold it so the spade shaped piece that feeds the trim into the gasket is flat inside the gasket, not standing up. (tough to describe, I'll have to take a picture) Sprayed it with glass cleaner (he uses non-amonia based glass cleaner) and it slid right in like a zipper. What took me 2 days, got finished in about 5 minutes with 1/10 of the effort.

On to the windshield. He wiggled and beat on that thing for 45 minutes. It's in and looks good but the lower left corner isn't quite in. He told me I need to take the truck to his shop so he can trim that glass and fit it correctly, for an additional fee of course. That'll be later. At least all the glass is in right now.

Thanks for the replies.

Cool ya got em in Red!

Hi Red, Pleased to hear you've got progress! Your Glass guy's right though. The lower corners can be tight. Better to pay out a few more bucks and get them right! 'cos if they're going to leak...that's where it'll come in! Nothing spoils an interior more than water leaks!
Jock!