Problem reinstalling rear window

I'm having a helluva time getting my rear window back into place in my '83 SC Coupe. I didn't have much of a problem installing the windshield, so I do know the string-in-the-slot technique, install the aluminum trim strip first, etc. but what has happened with the rear window is that the top edge went into place fine, both sides went into place fine...but now that I'm approaching the bottom corners with the string being pulled out, there seems to be no way the bottom edge of the window will settle sufficiently into the opening in the body.

It's the exact same piece of glas that came out of the car, with the same trim strip and a brand-new OEM gasket. When I first placed the glass-and-gasket unit atop the body opening, I assumed that it was going to "fit" into the opening, but no: either the top edge will go into the opening but the bottom won't, or vice-versa.

What am I doing wrong?

Stephan

start at the bottom, just like the windshield.

Guys,

I was thinking of replacing both the front and rear seals around the glass. This seems like a good thread to seek out procedural advice. Any helpful tips? TIA, David

The most basic piece of advice is that when you replace the glass, you have to reinsert the malleable-aluminum trim strip into its slot in the gasket _before_ you replace the glass in the body. Obviously, you put the glass onto something like a blanket or other padding, put the gasket on the glass, and then put the trim strip into the gasket.

Remove the trim strip from the old gasket as carefully as possible, since it's easy to bend it. Then, before putting it into the gasket, place it into the empty windshield (or rear-window) gutter in the body and reshape it to _exactly_ conform to the shape of the opening in the body at the position where it will rest inthe gasket.

There's sure to be lots of other advice on glass replacement in a variety of archives. Some people (my local Porsche mechanic, for one) will tell you they would never dare attempt to replace a windshield and leave that to a professional glass shop, others will tell you that VW Beetle owners did it routinely and that anybody who doesn't do the job themselves should be ashamed of themselves. I found replacing the windshield, at least, realtively easy although I'm having problems with the rear window (which is typically the harder of the two jobs). The glass _can_ crack if mishandled, and the job should be done with care and caution.

STephan