911 windshield install problem

[tkd911]

i have a 78 911 and have done a ground up restoration all is said and done but installing my windshield. "new one ppg" and old one is long in the trash. i bought new oem seal and have had it in and out a few times now. i have figured you have to bend and shape the trim to set the frame size. i have the trim as far out as i can and still be able to hide the gap in it with the coupler i still keep coming up with a gap in the top corners between a 1/2 and a 1/4 in each top corner and the glass is just in the rubber not by much. now i am wondering is there a possibilty i could have the wrong windshield. i ordered for my year model did they change size on any other than new ones that could cause this problem. any ideas would be helpful

[KevinP73]

yep wrong glass. have your supplier double check the size. sounds like you have a later year glass.

[tkd911]

yes, that was what i was starting to think also. i have heard that later models using just the gasket and they did away with the trim. could i simply order a later model gasket " seal " and use it that way? i did not like the trim anyhow and that would simplify it all.

[Porschekid962]

Im not too certain but I think you can use the 964 glass and gasket seal on the older cars. Do a search it has been discussed in depth before

[KevinP73]

Originally posted by Porschekid962
Im not too certain but I think you can use the 964 glass and gasket seal on the older cars. Do a search it has been discussed in depth before

As long as you both the glass and the trimless seal you can install one just fine. no mods or special tools needed.

[RoninLB]

The shield floats in the frame so it can be easily kicked out from inside in a crash. I slowly figured out the center float . I removed it 3x till I got the lower dum dum and side dum dum amounts correct.

So dum dum along lower and sides till it sits correct. Don't drive it for 24hrs to allow glass to set up. I don't understand that but it's hard info.

[tkd911]

yes, i understand it just rides in the frame but it seems i just do not have enough glass to fill in seal it just inside the ruber seal to the point if i could stretch enough to fit it would be simply unsafe. it look like it would work great if it was around a inch bigger overall. that is why i am thinking it is a later model glass. i do not mind changing seal to trimless one i would really prefer that does anyone know what year model seal i would need to order?

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by tkd911
but it seems i just do not have enough glass to fill in seal it

it look like it would work great if it was around a inch bigger overall.

I did about 1/2-3/4" dum dum on the lower and sides to center it. There was even some old factory stuff in the corners. It's still perfect after a few thou mi. My rubber was very loose on the shield. I used some duct tape on the rubber to glass.

[tkd911]

my original windshield fit perfect and had no butel on it i have windshield butel but it's not oem recomended gasket properly fit should seal it properly. even if i used butel it would not look right.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by tkd911
. even if i used butel it would not look right.

ok.. I was just answering the routine shield falling prob.

[Nitrometano]

I have that problem in my car. I have a new PPG glass installed. The problem is the trim. You will need to buy a new one or install the glass without the trim. To knew that the trim is the problem, try to install the glass with the trim. It will not fit. Try to install the glass without the trim and you will notice that you can install and remove the glass a lot of time. The trim get deformed when you remove the glass and it is coupled to the old glass form. You need a new trim to get the PPG glass form.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Nitrometano

You need a new trim to get the PPG glass form.

KTL/ Kevin suggests laying the trim on the glass without the rubber and shape it before install. I don't know if PPG makes a difference?

[Nitrometano]

You need to install the trim into the rubber seal, then take the rubber with the trim and install it into the glass. Then install the glass in the car.
This is the way that the work shop manual recomend.

[tkd911]

i have removed and installed the trim about 7 times now each time i would set back in fram and see where i need to go with it and i cant bend it out any more now it's at the limit now to be able to use the center trim sections now to hide the gap and at thet the glass is just in the edge of rubber trim not a safe margin. i am thinking the best option now is to get the trimless gasket for it someone mentioned trying installing without trim without trim it would fall out on to the steering wheel.

[Nitrometano]

The glass will not would fall on the steering wheel. The trim is for decoration only. The rubber seal is the one that makes the work.

[tkd911]

if that be the case then i do have a newer model glass. as it all i can do to get it in the seal and stay without trim. what year did they switch to the trimless seal.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Nitrometano

This is the way that the work shop manual recomend.

I'm not questioning that.

I was refering to shaping the trim before install.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Nitrometano

The trim is for decoration only.

not on my car.

[tkd911]

i think the supplier sent me a later model glass and as i ordered it out of state it's not easy to just switch it out. when i first put the seal on it i thought it seemed a very loose fit. thats why i say if i can cure the problem by switching to a diffirent seal that would work for me.

[tkd911]

i also think another give away that i have a later model glass is that i also put in a new seal on the rear glass and put the trim back on it and it went right back in without any problem at all.