The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk installing windshield in 54 chevy

Can someone give me instructions on how to install a one-piece windshield in a 54 Chevy truck. Does the glass go in the rubber first and then installed. Or, does the rubber get mounted in windshield frame and then glass installed.

Jon,

This is a two person job and it would be nice if one person has experience installing a full-width windshield.

To answer you question, the windshield glass is put inside the windshield rubber weatherstrip before putting a pull-cord in the weatherstrip. Then the windshield & weatherstrip is installed in the window opening.

Tim

Hi Jon,

The glass goes into the weatherstrip first. Next, a cord is wrapped around the assembly in the pinchweld slot of the gasket and finally it is installed in the opening using the cord to pull the gasket over the lip of the pinchweld. Do a search and you will find a lot of helpful hints that will make the install go smoothly. It is a very doable project.

Are you starting out with a good quality new rubber gasket?

Having gone through the 54 windshield install I would suggest that you shop around and find someone who has successfully installed a one-piece 54 windshield.

If by chance you have a stainless steel trim piece in the rubber gasket I would make that mandatory. Secondly, I would use only a Steele windshield gasket. If you do have the s/s trim it must be installed in the gasket before the windshield is seated as it plays a roll in seating the gasket properly against the pinch moulding.

After using a well known glass company for my initial install, I discovered that there was an air-gap that poured water into the cab. My second attempt required another major company with a 3 person crew.....the lead guy was experienced with the 54 truck specifically and the other two were glass company employees. The actual installation took 3 hours....one to get it seated and the other two to clean up the sealer. And they couldn't get the S/S trim to lay flat all the way around. Because of this I had to add some sealer after-the-fact to fully seal the glass.

If I had it to do again I'd hire it done by some experienced glass installers.....I'd use the Steele gasket and personally test it with a hose the next day after the sealer cured. It was a month before I discovered the little leak. Cabs get twisted and the glass may even need to be ground on the edges for a perfect fit. All it takes is one little leak to cause you grief!!!

Dave

Thanks for answering, I did get the windshield in by putting the glass in the weatherstrip first. It was still quite a job getting it all around without slipping back off. I had to use tape all around until it was completely on. I had a weather strip from Precision so I guess it is a good strip.

Dave, nice truck. Mine did not have the s/s trim. Is there anyway to add one later if it can be found.

Dave, just wondering if I did the job right. The weatherstrip had longer and wider rubber about 3/4 of the way around the windshield gasket. I assembled it with the 1/4 side on the bottom inside of the windshield, thinking the molding would cover the gap in the weatherstrip for the 1/4 length of gasket. Hope you can understand what I mean. Its just that the weatherstrip is not the same all the way around on the inside and its like it has a flap three quarters around the gasket with about a quarter of the gasket that does not. I put the part without the flap on the bottom inside. Does this sound right.

I just eyeballed my windshield and my gasket doesn't have any flaps visible!! I'm almost certain that the first one I got had the flaps but it was improperly installed. I didn't pull the trim piece off the bottom but if there were flaps on the second gasket I purchased it would have covered them up.

Sorry I can't give you a more definite answer. Just be glad you don't have the ss trim......it's a real bear to get into place and laying flat!

Dave

Here is a photo of the interior flap that is just to the left of the defroster deflector-strip

Thats how mine looks also. Only problem, the outside does not fit right and is too narrow and does not cover the window opening out to the edge. I am going to cut it out and I have purchased a rubber from Steele. I also purchased a SS trim and will try and get it in this week.

jon d can I ask where you purchased the ss trim ? looking for some for my 54. I also need the outside trim for the windows - no one has these items or they do not want to sale them lol.

Post a Want Ad in the Swap Meet and the person who sold the SS to Jon will most likely contact you, if he has another set.

No parts offers here, Guys. Use PM.

Thanks