Can anyone in the U.S. install a windshield?

[ramonesfreak]

dont mean to hijack, but if one wanted to attempt this on their own, where is the best place to get the windshield? im gonna have to attempt this this winter myself.

between this forum and the 101 book, seems like a doable job

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

Susan has stopped doing windshields. Only valve adjustments now.

[rnln]

For the record of anyone in SCal, OC and LA area, AXIOM (from this board) installed my front windshield with 993 WS and seal last year. It's perfect. I love it.

[tijnes]

Curt

Instead of putting one thicker rope in the groove to pull the seal over the edge, use two thinner ones. The first rope in my case gets about 75% of the seal seated. After this you can position the glass so it is centered. Then just pull the second rope to get the rest of the seal in place and you're done.

Martijn

[Ray_G]

Did my targa glass myself, I had an installer put a new windshield in. I had to show him how to put the "trim strip" in and how to adjust it. He argued with me about putting it on after the windshield was in. But I finally convinced him that it went on the seal first. It went right in, I had to adjust the "trim" to get the seal to seat. He just shook his head and said that he learned something. This board is great.

[austin552]

Well the clowns never called back so I called Triumph. they came this morning but didn't bring a windshield gasket. He installed the rear glass with the chrome trim after two hours of battle. The company ordered the windshield gasket which should arrive Monday...

[nilknarf]

Instead of putting one thicker rope in the groove to pull the seal over the edge, use two thinner ones. The first rope in my case gets about 75% of the seal seated. After this you can position the glass so it is centered. Then just pull the second rope to get the rest of the seal in place and you're done.

Martijn-
Awesome idea- thank you very much for the advice! Did you put the seals in dry or use silicone in the groove where the seal goes onto the body over the headliner?

(sorry to be hijacking your thread, austin!)

_curt

[austin552]

Thats okay. Use silicone it seemed to help allot.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

How can anybody spend two hours installing the rear glass? Was that how long it took them to get the soft-metal filler strip properly shaped and in place?

[GothingNC]

I had Raleigh Auto Glass install mine last year

Did the job in my garage and took about 60 minutes.

[dtw]

Originally Posted by austin552

Well the clowns never called back so I called Triumph. they came this morning but didn't bring a windshield gasket. He installed the rear glass with the chrome trim after two hours of battle. The company ordered the windshield gasket which should arrive Monday...

I know you're probably already frustrated enough - but you're going to want to make sure they use a Porsche seal. The knock-offs - even if they're labeled "Made in Germany" - are crap and don't fit.

[austin552]

Originally Posted by Formerly Steve Wilkinson

How can anybody spend two hours installing the rear glass? Was that how long it took them to get the soft-metal filler strip properly shaped and in place?

The guy had a time with the chrome trim poping out of the seal.
oem trin and oem seal used.

[austin552]

[JohnJL]

I watched as the "expert Porsche installer" was slapping the glass against the gasket with his hand and his ring smacks the windsheild...presto, crack in the new windsheild! He paid for the new windsheild and I had another place do it.

[Dixie]

I suspect it's a "lost art." Installing the windshield in an old 911 is no different than a '65 F-150 pickup.

[Formerly Steve Wilkinson]

By the way, liquid dishwashing soap works just as well as silicone and is already right in the kitchen.

[crustychief]

had mine done 15 minutes ago by all-star glass in So Cal and it was less than a half hour and 180. bucks. Nice guys too!

[Superman]

Tips:

1) Lay the glass on a couple of padded sawhorses, and tweak the trim strips to fit the countour, carefully using the glass as a template.

2) With all due respect to auto paint guys who HATE silicon, coat the gasket with silicon grease.

3) Install the trim into the gasket, being careful to ensure the trim 'hooks' into the gasket securely.

4) Install the rope. It should overlap a couple of feet at least, at the bottom of the glass.

5) Place the glass, gasket and trim over the window frame. One person should be outside, and one person inside.

6) Go slow. Start at the bottom, obviously. Go slow. The guy on the outside can help carefully press the glass to ensure the gasket flips over the sheet metal sill.

7) Form one or more blocks of wood in the shape of the inside curves of the trim in the corners. Carefully use the block, and a hammer, to coax the trim outward to ensure the gasket covers and overlaps the sill making a raintite seal.

Based on my understanding, regular glass guys know almost none of the above tricks. When done properly these gasket joints do not leak.

I too wish I knew where to get reasonably-priced glass.

[cgarr]

All excellent tips from Super above, also if you have the newer dash unscrew the metal trim strip across the defrosters for better clearance.

[crustychief]

for mine the glass was 165. so the install was like 20 Bucks. easy choice.