Windshield install help!

[Denee007]

I just had two guys here trying to install my front glass. After 3 hours, I said enough~! I asked them to take it back out and they feared it may break, and said it's my call. They asked me if the truck has had body work, blaming it on that, but I think it would have gone in! The glass on the passenger side sticks out about 3/4" and I told them the glass needs to move over, but it was too late cause the glass wouldn't budge no matter how hard they pulled with their vacuum things.

I told the boss I'd pay the 200 for what has been done if he can reimburse me if I have someone else do it with success. He agreed to a 100.
I kept trying to get them to use soapy water but instead they used my wd40/lithium. I said the window needs to float and slide, this stuff won't allow the windshield to "settle", soapy water I said.

I"m depressed and out of 200 and don't know what to do and my husband is going to have a fit!

[Denee007]

I'm angry~ I removed the windshield and didn't break it. I'm cleaning it up, getting all of the wd40/lithium off. I'm going to soak the rubber in hot water with soap to get the residue off. then re-attempt installation by myself.

[NEWFISHER]

Have you held it into the opening without the rubber gasket and looked at the body pinch weld to glass distance? Inspect the pinch weld and if ok, you may have a w/shield that was cut large at the supplier if you feel the body is good and the distance is too small for the gasket or seal. Most glass shops can grind the edge and repolish it for a custom fit.

[NEWFISHER]

Kudos to you for removing it without it cracking! Remeber to never get angry around glass, hang in there. Using the liquid soap trick, uncut with water works well.

[68JOHNDEERE]

The tricky part of the install is to have the windshield centered into the opening. With a curved windshield like yours it may not seat all the way back into the corners, but while working from the center out it will pull in. It is not a task to perform alone, it will need an extra set of hands on the outside putting pressure on the glass while the other is on the inside bringing the rope in. Foaming glass cleaner works well for lubrication also.

[Denee007]

I'm not really angry, just dissappointed that the professionals couldn't install it. I haven't tried what you said about holding it up without the rubber. How should it "fit". Should it fit just inside the pinch moulding? This truck didn't have glass when I got it. I just came in from round two. The first time didn't work, the second time didn't either, oh, and my suction glass thing broke!. Gary's off at a business meeting. I'm going to take the glass back out, and just have to wait until Gary gets home and hold the glass up to the truck like you said without the rubber. I bought the Steel brand and didn't skimp on that, but made in China glass doen't make me jump up and down. My neck is killing me~ lol

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Have you held it into the opening without the rubber gasket and looked at the body pinch weld to glass distance? Inspect the pinch weld and if ok, you may have a w/shield that was cut large at the supplier if you feel the body is good and the distance is too small for the gasket or seal. Most glass shops can grind the edge and repolish it for a custom fit.

[OrrieG]

Can't add any advice except get someone to help and more suction things, they are $8 at harbor freight. WD40 is the wrong stuff to use, it does not evaporate and let the rubber seal. If the soap won't get it off try disc brake cleaner, then follow with simple green. when I need lube I use dish soap diluted a little bit too (also works when applying and smoothing silicone sealant). I will place an offering before the old truck gods tonight for you...

[Denee007]

I soaked the rubber in warm soapy water and washed every inch of it. ; ) The truck gods, that's good OrrieG! ; ) The suction thing was from HF and actually was doing pretty good, but the ones the windshield people had, wow, I've got to get one of those! I can't imagine those guys having to tried installing the windshield with a hood on!

I cleaned up the garage, cleaned the windshield and put it back in my bedroom.
So, where can I get measurements of the opening where the windshield goes? Maybe my new windshied is too big or opening too small. I went out to mearsure, but forgot and am not going back out there tonight! I'm woooped!

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Can't add any advice except get someone to help and more suction things, they are $8 at harbor freight. WD40 is the wrong stuff to use, it does not evaporate and let the rubber seal. If the soap won't get it off try disc brake cleaner, then follow with simple green. when I need lube I use dish soap diluted a little bit too (also works when applying and smoothing silicone sealant). I will place an offering before the old truck gods tonight for you...

[buggy5872]

I tried for hours to get a windshield in big bertha that was a made in mexico windshield. It was thin and did not fit. I ended up kicking it out of the truck from the inside after it broke. Made me feel better. lol. I then went and dug throught my used original windsheilds and found the best one. 20 minutes later....it was in. I had the same problems you have. It did not fit in the corners. It stuck out about a 1/2 " on both sides when the window was centered.

[Denee007]

Made in China So I guess I should try to find an original? I might could take this one back to the glass place and let them find a neat place for it. Heading to craigslist right now to start my search~ and thanks!; )

Originally Posted by buggy5872

I tried for hours to get a windshield in big bertha that was a made in mexico windshield. It was thin and did not fit. I ended up kicking it out of the truck from the inside after it broke. Made me feel better. lol. I then went and dug throught my used original windsheilds and found the best one. 20 minutes later....it was in. I had the same problems you have. It did not fit in the corners. It stuck out about a 1/2 " on both sides when the window was centered.

[Denee007]

This is as far as they got. Looks like the drivers side is almost seated,but the passenger side I could get my little finger into the cab, or about 3/4". If the windshield had been centered, would it have worked?

[NEWFISHER]

Mabey measure and mark center of the glass with some tape and do the same with the cab. Mark both top and bottom of each and try to line it up without the gasket. Do you have the old gasket? you could cut some 2 inch blocks out of it to "rest" the glass into the cab. make sure you tape off the paint while you are measuring/sample fitting.

[Nordic]

When it was time to do mine I called Payless auto glass. It cost me $270. they supplied the windshield and one guy had it installed in less than an hour.

[OrrieG]

The windshield I took out of my truck (70's PPG) is 58.25" wide at the bottom points (outside dim). My truck window opening is 57.25" wide at the pinch weld location matching the windshield. So gasket between the pinchweld groove and glass are 1/2" difference on each side.

[Denee007]

Newfisher~ that's a great idea, I bought a suction thing at Home depot, but I'm going to HF tomorrow to get a couple others.

Orrie, I'm so happy that you posted some measurements, I was about to ask.

*I measured mine at the bottom points, the tight curve at the bottom, I get
57.5" from pinch to pinch.
*The glass is 58 5/8"(outside to outside), or 58 3/8" to the center of the same corners on the glass(glass being .25" thick) on the glass.

The middle of the opening from pinch to pinch is 17.75" (one spot is a little narrower .25"
the glass is 18.25".

I don't know how it's supposed to work, I've never had to understand the fitment of glass and how the rubber gasket supports it. : (

Looks like my glass may be kind of wide at these points?

Perhaps Saturday I'll try again, with help this time, but if it sounds too big, or sounds futile due to the size, please chime in!~
dne'

[68JOHNDEERE]

Those glass installers looked like they had a slippery mess on thier hands. With the dimensions you have it sounds like that windshield should fit. The glass is designed to be bigger than the opening, thus the gasket will be offset. For installation; work the bottom in first half way up both sides this will help center the window in the opening. Then finish by working the top in. If you work top and bottom of one side first this will not allow you to adjust the glass side to side to center. Patience is important when working with glass.

[Denee007]

Hi, Thank you! You're right about the slippery mess, but funny enough, the glass wouldn't budge despite all the wd40! Thank you also for the explanation of how glass fits in the frame. I put a front windshield in my 67 Mustang by myself and was "easier"! I'm just wanting to prove to that company that it can be installed and prove that his boys don't know as much as he thinks they do!
It will probably be next week before I attempt it again, but with help (had an injection to my low back yesterday), so I'll just whittle on other things, of which are many!
Again, thank you! and welcome!

Originally Posted by 68JOHNDEERE

Those glass installers looked like they had a slippery mess on thier hands. With the dimensions you have it sounds like that windshield should fit. The glass is designed to be bigger than the opening, thus the gasket will be offset. For installation; work the bottom in first half way up both sides this will help center the window in the opening. Then finish by working the top in. If you work top and bottom of one side first this will not allow you to adjust the glass side to side to center. Patience is important when working with glass.

[OrrieG]

Your dimensions look good and you have the good gasket, so rest, get some help and next week show us boys how its done!!

[Denee007]

OH gee, now I'm on the spot! I have to do it now!

Originally Posted by OrrieG

Your dimensions look good and you have the good gasket, so rest, get some help and next week show us boys how its done!!

[kustom40merc]

Did you check the fit of the windshield in the opening without the gasket, also check the to see if the gasket fits the opening as well you could have a crappy gasket I had a professional try to do an install on a 60 Chevy truck and fit like crap bought a new gasket from Steele rubber and did it myself with the stainless trim with no professional help so check your glass and gasket fitment and see if you have a problem.

[NEWFISHER]

Well, how did it go?

[Denee007]

How sweet you are to think about me! ; ). I'm still kind of recovering from an injection from last week to my low back. It kind of aggravated it more than helped. But I have been working on my wiring harness in the house. That's been challenging and time consuming, no wiring in the truck yet, just on the workbench. I did go to harbor freight to buy more suction devices. I have 2- 2", 2- 5", and one that's a double doodad. I read that wire pulling lube works well, so I need to go to Home Depot for that, then I have what I need. I wish I could tell you that it was installed.
I hope I can get the job done and write the professional guy that a girl did it, and get 100 bucks back that he promised! that would be sweet! ; )
Dne'

Originally Posted by NEWFISHER

Well, how did it go?

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[Maximus]

Good luck on the WS install, and be thankful you don't have a big rear window. I think the key to the front is making sure you have it lined up... I wrapped the rubber seating surface with some surveying string/rope and once the glass was centered, used the rope to pull the gasket over the lip and started pounding on the glass.
the rear glass... that was a whole other story. The center "bead-lock" was miserable to install, took 3 different days of going back to it and finally only got it in after i pushed the truck out into the sun for 3-4 hours. this is a bad time of year to wait for the sun to heat up the gaskets, but if you get the opportunity i would set the windshield in place, with a string in the groove, and let the sun warm it up for a couple hours to make the rubber more pliable.

good luck!


Edit** its worth noting that my glass came out of a parts truck so it was a couple decades old at least... had a couple rock chips but im not building a show-truck...

[NEWFISHER]

Hope you feel better, installing a windshield and doing alot of leaning is no bueno on the back.

[mknittle]

just rest for awhile, recover and retry! and happy thanksgiving