Windshield install again

[mb911]

Ok just got 3 hours of sleep because myself and some other pelican were trying to get my front windshield in. We had it in many times(10 or so) Soaped it up etc. The windshield and rubber gasket are new. What has happened is the upper corners do not fit in the way it should. I would say about an 1/8th of an inch away in each corner. We tried pushing ,massaging , starting at different spots etc. Not fixed yet. I read a bunch of old threads and most people say to use Dum Dum! I am not a big fan of this idea. I want it to fit the way it was suppose to. Any secrets?? We are using the rope trick and I should mention we put the rear glass in with no problems. The front windshield is a sukruit made in finland. Any thoughts or am I going to have to yuse sealant????


Ben

77 911 3.0
75 914-6 2.7

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by mb911
Not fixed yet. I read a bunch of old threads and most people say to use Dum Dum! I am not a big fan of this idea. I want it to fit the way it was suppose to.

my shield had factory style dum dum to center the gaskets and shield. So basing my use of dum dum on other projects of how it should lay out and the amount running from the corners I extended the once installed stuff a bit extra++. Then I was able to somewhat move the shield around to lay it down to the correct even overlap of the top and bottom. at least one other set of hands, better 3 sets is almost manditory. It took me 3 trys.

PS: I used grease instead of soap. Then it must settle for at least one day before driving.. I figured the longer the better.

[mb911]

Thats waht I was not sure on. With the dum-dum in can you tell its there?? Does it look like some of the old cars with caulk on the windows or does it look right??? I guess the look is more of my concern than anything

Ben

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by mb911
. With the dum-dum in can you tell its there??

it's burried deep under the gasket. impossible to see.

[mb911]

SO it looks as it should??? I know you understand what I don't want!! (I had an85 golf that had a siliconed in window) If thats the key then thats what I will do. I have also thought that maybe the seal was strecthed when installed causeing it to be thicker on the bottom and top rather than consistant all the way around. It was just a thought at 2 in the morning as I was trying to fall asleep after a disappointing night of p-work

Ben

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by mb911


SO it looks as it should???

absolutely
and I'm not a pro.. my posts are what I had to do for it to sit and look perfect.

[mb911]

I'll give it a shot thanks

Ben

[Zeke]

Ben, the gasket wants to fall in at the upper corners. Some improvising is necessary, including backcaulking or dumdum putty. Nothing will be seen. You can stick something like a piece of insulated electrical wire into the gasket at the upper corners to push the gasket further away from the glass and toward the corners of the car's frame. It's real easy for the wire to slip off the edge of the glass, but if you can get it to hold long enough for some caulk to set up, you're golden.

[mb911]

Thanks milt I will try it. I was just hoping to have it fit right without improvising

Ben

[sammyg2]

The first time I installed my windshield (with new OEM gasket) one corner fell in.
I pulled the window back out and measured it near the top to mark perfect centerline, then did the same with the window opening and a plumb bob. It would have been much easier if I had a helper
When I did the install the second time I paid extra attention to keeping in centered in the opening. I have a couple of window suction cups from harbor freight, can't imagine doing it without them.
Anywho, the second time was a charm, it fit perfect and neither side dropped in although both sides looked like they were close.

[curiousone940]

Dumb question, but you do have the correct glass??? Did you note these same "bad-fitting" problems with the fomer glass/rubber??? I replaced the rubber on both the front/rear on a '76 and yes, it was a PITA, but with three of us working at it (yes, use the rope and check with your local glass installation people for their suggestions on a spray lubricant to faclitate the process), it eventually went into place with no undue gaps nor filler necessary. Don't suppose the car itself has been unduly "traumitized" around the windshield area???

[no substitute]

Originally posted by curiousone940
Don't suppose the car itself has been unduly "traumitized" around the windshield area???

I doubt it. Many of us have had this same problem. For all it's virtues this is one area of 911 construction that is sorely lacking. I once put a windshield in a '74 Civic. I did it by myself, quickly, easily, one try, and absolutely NO leaking. Same basic type of windshield and seal. The 911 was a pain by contrast.
BTW does anyone know of any Cal look rubber for the 911 (no trim strip) like some of the VW crowd uses?

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by sammyg2
measured it near the top to mark perfect centerline,

. It would have been much easier if I had a helper
the second time I paid extra attention to keeping in centered in the opening.

suction cups from harbor freight,

second time was a charm, it fit perfect and neither side dropped in although both sides looked like they were close.

I had a better appreciation of the whole design after it was all over. That glass is meant to be kicked out in an accident.

The #1 shot confused me.. I had only replaced the factory corner "filler" that attempts to center the glass. And there was still plenty of slop, gasket fit bs, etc. BINGO, then it hit me about what's happening. #2 was more bum dum in the corners and under the support part of the lower gasket only. That gasket seems like it does more than glue the glass and keep water out... meaning I kinda extended the support. I guessed conservative on how much base support and added a little on the side midway. #3 was more dum dum and more grease. We started rolling around the glass until I felt it felt and fitted well. I didn't add any dum dum to the top gasket support area
anyway, that was my act.

and ditto on "both sides looked like they were close". and I figure grease instead of soapy water made getting the feel of the glass saying in nice++ smoother.

[Zeke]

Originally posted by no substitute
I doubt it. Many of us have had this same problem. For all it's virtues this is one area of 911 construction that is sorely lacking. I once put a windshield in a '74 Civic. I did it by myself, quicky, easily, one try, and absolutely No leaking. Same basic type of windshield and seal. The 911 was a pain by contrast.
BTW does anyone know of any Cal look rubber for the 911 (no trim strip) like some of the VW crowd uses?

Yes, 964 rubber and glass.

I can't find it in the catalogue right now, but in the past, Pelican has had some wide flange seals that cover the areas in question. I guess you have to ask. These would apparently be like the 964 except take (require) the aluminum trim to be used.

[nhromyak]

Hmmm.

I didn't have any problems when I did mine.

I am using the factory aluminum and rubber-gasket with a SEKURIT glass too.

I found the "key" was to mold the aluminum around the bare glass. This give you and your windshield frame the look, and the OEM style install. It also allowed the rubber to lay inside the the windshield (car) frame perfectly.

Unfortunately, I didn't take extra care with the aluminum trim. My trim has a little "wiggle" or warp in it.

So basically, take the aluminum and the part that goes into the the rubber, goes on the outside of the glass edge. Yet the aluminum "overhang" goes on top of the glass edge.

This gives you a near perfect OEM aluminum trim mold and install.

This also allows the rubber to "stretch" (not that it needs to stretch, but to go to all the corners of the windshield frame.

Remember to install the aluminum in the rubber and the rubber to be in the windshield. Then set it in the windshield frame, and use a string (3/8" IIRC) and it sits right in.

YMMV

[Schrup]

I bought some black windshield sealant from an auto body supply store & used it to fill the corners, worked like a champ. The hardest & most time consuming part of the job was getting the trim into the gasket without bending it before the installation.

I saw a windshield gasket on a car that looked like it was one piece & the trim was built into the gasket & made out of hard rubber. Has anyone seen one of these?

[mb911]

I think we are going to give it one more shot! I just can't stand the thought of it looking wrong. Its kind of like have a hood badge on the car with no gasket! I see those all the time and can't stand it. I am going to remove the seal from the windshield and form the metal again and soap it up and put it in. Hope it works

Ben

[khyden]

Good luck, IŽve been trying for a while. Had some guys from a garage that does windshield changes, but they only do new cars, so not much help there. IŽll give it one more shot next week and it will go in.

Kris

[mb911]

Kris same deal ha?? I think I will lube up the windshield to rubber channel a little more allowing it to move within that channel. Then recheck that the seal is centered on the glass and put it back in. When it goes in next time that will be the last time. I hope it goes

Ben

[pwd72s]

Originally posted by RoninLB
I had a better appreciation of the whole design after it was all over. That glass is meant to be kicked out in an accident.

The #1 shot confused me.. I had only replaced the factory corner "filler" that attempts to center the glass. And there was still plenty of slop, gasket fit bs, etc. BINGO, then it hit me about what's happening. #2 was more bum dum in the corners and under the support part of the lower gasket only. That gasket seems like it does more than glue the glass and keep water out... meaning I kinda extended the support. I guessed conservative on how much base support and added a little on the side midway. #3 was more dum dum and more grease. We started rolling around the glass until I felt it felt and fitted well. I didn't add any dum dum to the top gasket support area
anyway, that was my act.

and ditto on "both sides looked like they were close". and I figure grease instead of soapy water made getting the feel of the glass saying in nice++ smoother.

I love this board...learning something new every day. "Meant to be kicked out in an accident"...I just learned why the windshield popped out so easily after I endoed my old '69 912....