any tips on 911 windshield removal?

[mjshira]

I need to change my dash and I was wondering if any of you have some tips on pulling the windshield? Also, what type of paint should be used on a re-spray of the bezel? A previous owner covered it with vinal :-(

thanks fellas

[masraum]

Removal should be easy, you cut the gasket, but for detail instructions you can get Wayne's book "101 projects for your 911".

[Chuck Moreland]

No need to cut the gasket. Just push from the inside out. Start near the upper corners.

It comes out alarmingly easy.

I believe that was design-intent for safety. In the event the doors become inoperable in a wreck the driver can easily kick out the windshield.

[motion]

Yeah, in both of my 911s the windshield was just kind of sitting in there. Amazing that they even stay put when you stop hard.

[MY83SC]

Hmmmmmmmmmm....But then does the windshield go back in as easy as it came out? I have heard of using a string to help get the gasket in place....no idea how it is done.....Dash project in my future also....Have the good ol' plastic hide it cover

[Schrup]

Speedy Auto Glass qouted me $225 to come out remove my windshield, then come back later & install a new one. I'm wandering if there's a catch.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

on my 84 Carrera, we did have to run a cutter around it as it wouldn't push out. I had an updated antenna in glass (Sigla I think) put in for $457.

[Reg]

great info!

My windshield has two small chips in it that are barely visible as they are right near the edge and partially inside the seal area. Will these chips make breakage a much more likely scenario when removing ?

If its easy to remove perhaps I should remove it instead of the glass shop. If it breaks its my fault. Then I would not be thinking they were wanting to sell me a new unit.

What do you think? Thanks!

[widebody911]

Three ways I know of:

• Open the rear two popouts, slide the car backwards @ 100MPH.
• Plow into concrete barrier @ 50MPH

(C) Jack Olsen, 2002

Or, you can just cut rubber along the edge of the glass, then have one person push from the inside while the other 'catches' the glass
(C) Thom Fitzpatrick, 2002

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by widebody911

[*]Open the rear two popouts, slide the car backwards @ 100MPH.

Jack has some great pics from that remarkable afternoon.. the pic of Makaio in a sureal wave from inside Jack's car is LOL.. but it was a very efficent simple removal not requiring any assistance.

[Jack Olsen]

Originally posted by widebody911

• Open the rear two popouts, slide the car backwards @ 100MPH.
• Plow into concrete barrier @ 50MPH

(C) Jack Olsen, 2002

[mjshira]

I was able to remove the glass without any trouble. Then I got the dash out and started to remove the extra stuff. The previous owner put all 86 dash (all options!) in this 69. Needless to say I appreciate the comments of all. And Jack, I tried the 50+ in reverse... ahh it didn't work. :-)

[HawgRyder]

It wasn't the 50mph that does it....it's the sudden stop at the end of the slide!
Bob

[Jack Olsen]

Yeah, the 50 mph hit was going forward. The car stopped at the concrete wall, but the windshield kept going. (Note the funny shape of the steering wheel. It's breaking from my arm pushing against it.)



The backwards trick was over a year ago, but it also got the windshield out. You need a lot of speed, and the side windows open, to make it work.

[ischmitz]

Thom,

time for cleaning my screen. All that coffee I blew at it reading this.....

[Swank911]

I had my windshield replaced by a local glass shop.

Removal was easy, but they had a bear of a time putting it back in correctly.

After several attempts by the shop, I brought in Wayne's 101 Projects. I have not had a problem since. They did rope it in.

[GSpreeman]

Well, I can help out with this one. I tried to get my 356 windshield out without cutting up the gasket and now I have a windshield with multiple cracks (long ones) but, my gasket is still intact! Plus, if you do fracture the windshield you'll never forget that pop that it makes when it happens. Perhaps next time I'll use a blow torch just to liven things up.

[rob911]

Remove the trim before popping the scrren out, just like I should have done. Windscreen fitters who installed my new one (just £50 - the excess on my insurance) claimed that there was no need to cut the old seal. Teh seal is chaper than a new screen, probably cheaper than the excess on a new one.
Cut the seal, buy a new one first.
Also buy an original Porsche seal as replacement seal is physically smaller, therefore will reveal more paintwork.

[KTL]

I pushed my windshield out by myself with one hand. That old seal had seen better days and had been reused once (my current windshield is not original).

If your windshield is as floppy/loose fitting as mine was, you don't have to cut the seal to get the glass out of the opening. I would certainly recommend cutting the seal to get the trim out. You're not going to reuse the seal, so why run the risk of bending the trim. It takes a long time to reshape the trim. Been there and done that.

I found the reinstallation to be a piece of cake. Seriously!

I simply wet the seal and the length of rope really well with a soapy water solution. Set the glass in place, nicely centered in the opening. This is important because it ain't moving once you get the seal over the channel!!!! Then I had mommy push on the glass, following the rope around the perimeter as I pulled. It was very easy. Putting in the sealant was a little tough. Mostly messy. I used urethane which most everybody poo-pooed. But it doesn't leak and ain't coming out any time soon! I'm quite pleased with myself. Turned out awesome.

[MY83SC]

Just a quick???

Do you pull from the inside or outside?? I'd guess from the inside....

#1....soap up new seal and rope

#2....instal new seal and rope on windshield....probably some more soap solution

#3....Have "Help" push from the outside in

#4...Pull rope from the inside to set new gasket

#5...Seal w/sealent (this is optional...correct?)

#6...Replace trim

Have I got it right???

Thanks!!!