964 Windshield Install

[abisel]

I have searched for, but did not find if anybody has had problems installing a windshield into a 964.

A friend has a C2 and is having a heck of a time getting the windshield installed. The top edge will not seat down onto the pinchweld.

• We have placed the glass (no rubber) against the pinchweld to see if it follows the coutour properly.
• We have tried a different windshield.
• We have measured the opening of the pinchweld and the width of the glass.
• We have tried starting the rope pull at the top.

The glass is a Pilkington and the rubber is a factory part. Both came from Porsche.
Any ideas?

[sc_rufctr]

Lots of lube?

[abisel]

Yep, done that too. Lots of lube and still the top edge will not seat down onto the pinch weld. The rubber keeps popping off the pinchweld and the glass appears to be too high and not seated all the way into the rubber at the bottom.

[sc_rufctr]

Sounds like a nightmare.

I'm not sure what else to suggest. Are you sure the windscreen is the right one for the car?

[sc_rufctr]

Do you still have the original windscreen? If yes does that go in OK with the new seal?

[Zeke]

Whether you start the pull at the top of the bottom, make sure the glass is bumped all the way in the opposite direction before pulling the rope. A glass suction cup is almost a necessity and certainly a handy tool. When finished, try to move the glass in all directions to center it while the soap is still wet.

Personally, I think it's easier to push and seat the glass upward and finish at the bottom. I know it might seem counter intuitive, but the shape of the opening allows more movement upward. When done, just wiggle it downward to close the gaps at the lower corners if necessary.

There are several tutorials on the 911 BBS on all models.

[abisel]

The old glass is broke so we can't use it to check fit.

The shop instructions from Porsche say to glue the glass to the rubber and then the rubber to the body. We tried that at first when we discovered this problem with the top edge not seating. That was a mess to clean up so now we are trying to set the windshield dry. Then we used used lube and that did not help.

Now we are thinking the pinchweld on the sides is less than 90 degrees to the body causing the rubber/glass combo to angle more verticle and not allowing the top edge to sit down. Looking at another car's pinchweld, it looks like only the bottom edge is at 90 degrees while the remaining edges are more than 90 degrees.

This is just not going right and we can't figure out why.

I will look into getting a pair of suction cups. They sure would make it easier to shift the glass around a little.

[Zeke]

Are you getting the pinch weld into the correct groove in the seal? I haven't used a 964 seal, but the last one I did there were 2 channels. I don't know why. And, I had to deal with the metal trim, you don't. AFA the gluing, that's the new deal. Keeps the glass intact in the event of a collision. You can put sealant in post installation by inserting the tip of the tube behind the outer lip of the seal.

I've not heard of gluing the seal to the glass. But if you have done enough of these to know how it goes, you can get the job done well before the glue (butyl sealant) sets.

[abisel]

Yep, we are getting the pinchweld into the correct groove in the seal. The 964 seal only has two. One for the glass and the other for the pinchweld.

The more we look at it, the more we think the roof is pushed down a little, but you can't see it. I still think the pinchweld along the A-pillar is keeping the glass from sitting properly. We will pull the glass again and sit it in place without the rubber. I believe there should be about 5mm or 7mm clearance all around between the edge of the glass and the body.

Sure wish I had a the steel windshield template special tool P852 (or such).