The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Windshield Replacement '51

Does ANybody know where I can find a tutorial on replacing a windshield on my '51?
Don

Don, firstly welcome to the Stovebolt.
There's a tech tip here that should give you some pointers.
I cut and fit auto glass for a living and i'm planning on doing a step by step guide myself but I regret I haven't reached that stage yet!
Sadly it might be a while.

If there's any questions you have though, feel free to send me a PM.
Jock.

I installed my windshield with new rubber and no mastic or caulking. I haven't been caught in one of those gully creating downpours but have driven in some rain. No leaks yet, it's been about ten months.

Great Political Statement,Pete

I put my windshield in myself. The gasket and/or new glass did not quite fill the opening. I used RTV in the end to fill out the bottom corners and it looks and works fine. I understand that there is more than one maker of the gasket.

I have seen installations where the gasket stays within the groove around the outside creating a little crown to it. I have also seen them laying flat and extending past the groove on to the sheet metal. I don't know which is correct.

I found using a couple of the little articulated suction cups to be useful in the process. Part of the difficulty is keeping the glass centered. It is easy to get it too high or too low.

I am hoping that this post will get lots of comment so I can learn something here!

I did this uneventfully by myself in five easy steps:


Mount glass to rubber and secure with masking tape on outside.
See here.

Insert wire in slot and tape down ends shown
here.

Apply dish soap liberally in slot as shown
here.

Attach suction cups to inside and lay on hood as shown resting on blanket like
this.

Lift into place insuring the pinch weld is equal all around, pull wire slowly and add a bit of outside pressure where necessary and
it’s in.

Curt B, great photos! Your truck looks super! Your tech tip will be a great help to those who have this project ahead of them. I'm sure I'm not the only one that has had trouble getting the outter corners to fit? I wonder if the rust problem in the lower corners was due to the poor seal or design, or both? Another possible problem stems from glass size and repop seals. I have a 51 & 53 that I've installed glass in and found that you can make the corners fit. The main thing is to make sure the glass is "outward" in the opening, this will leave the center rubber right on the edge of the glass. I've also slipped a piece of rope into the lower corner, between the glass and rubber to push the rubber outward onto the lip of the opening.

A couple of Q's: 1)I got my rubber from Brothers. Is there some way of telling top from bottom?
2) My truck is a Deluxe model with SS trim. Does the trim go on before the whole thing goes in?
Thanx to all.