Windshield Gasket Advice Needed

[Conserv]

21 hours ago, John76 said:

… I too have the original windshield gasket on my car, and it is much crustier than Tom's!…

 

What rots and what doesn’t rot is a mystery on many old cars. My ‘76’s paint — Polaris metallic, of course — went to hell, the front fenders rusted, and a boxed floor reinforcement between the fuel tank and right quarter panel almost disappeared. But the original windshield and backlight gaskets could have been re-used: not a crack by the time of the 2015 re-paint. Given a choice, I would have probably opted for paint that lasts and gaskets that rot…

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[bergie33]

10 hours ago, Mike Self said:

Another thing that works well and won't dry out..."personal lubricant."  Doesn't attack rubber, very slippery and stays slippery for quite a while.  And doesn't harm a thing, including your skin ?.

 

Also good for install cooling system hoses in awkward places, like the heater and heater valve...

 

mike

Ooooo....I 'm gonna try some Astroglyde on my outer control arm bushing!  Once again, thanks Mike!

[jgerock]

Alternative for window gasket installation is glycerin which can be found at a CVS or other pharmacy stores.  Tip courtesy of Mike Pugh.

[Billsmith]

Great info guys.  One final question in case I get up the courage to replace it myself.  Does the gasket just float over the flange without any sealant in a proper install?  No offense intended in prior misspelling of flange.

[Son of Marty]

21 minutes ago, Billsmith said:

No offense intended in prior misspelling of flange.

Just poking fun at ya Bill, I thought it was ?.

[Conserv]

6 hours ago, jgerock said:

Alternative for window gasket installation is glycerin which can be found at a CVS or other pharmacy stores.  Tip courtesy of Mike Pugh.

+1

 

The Owner’s handbook recommends glycerin. I used to use it in the 1970’s. Then I forgot! ?

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

 

[Stevenc22]

14 hours ago, Billsmith said:

Great info guys.  One final question in case I get up the courage to replace it myself.  Does the gasket just float over the flange without any sealant in a proper install?  No offense intended in prior misspelling of flange.

Yes, no sealant. The gasket is pulled around the metal frame and then expanded and locked into the metal frame with the silver locking strip. No sealant is used.

 

Its not a terrible job, but is takes 2 people, lots of soap and and watching some youtube videos to see how the  rope trick works!

[NYNick]

1 hour ago, Stevenc22 said:

Yes, no sealant. The gasket is pulled around the metal frame and then expanded and locked into the metal frame with the silver locking strip. No sealant is used.

 

Its not a terrible job, but is takes 2 people, lots of soap and and watching some youtube videos to see how the  rope trick works!

Well, that's correct, mostly. As a first timer, there was a fair bit of cursing and several tries involved, mostly aimed at people who said it was easy and the job would take an hour or two. You know the type: "oh sure, the widget slides right in with a little heat and some encouragement from your wife and two year old. Took us a little over 15 minutes before we went off to win the local Concours d'Elegance."

 

I would encourage you to have a helper who has done a windshield before. It's simple but not necessarily easy. I would also encourage you to buy the correct tool for the locking strip. That thing gave me all sorts of trouble on the front, but with a helper and more lube, the rear went in in no time.

 

Also, keep your wife out of the garage while you're working.

[Markster]

Hi Folks - I have a quick question on my windshield installation.  I have new glass, new BMW gaskets and even the new chrome plastic.  My glass guy comes in a few hours to install.  

 

The question is around the galvanized metal frame that was on the car before I had it painted.  The frame is actually four pieces - the top, the bottom and each pillar.  Here they are.  I THINK their part number is 51317440104.  

 

 

Cross sectional view..

 

I believe the tab faces inward into the cabin when properly inserted...

 

So what gives here - do you guys know the purpose of this "frame"?  My glass guy has only questions on it - has not seen it yet.  I would like to be more informed.  It has some surface rust but nothing major I cannot clean up and simply re-install.  Just curious though - it appears to be "nla" on real oem - they do not even call it out on the bill of material but they number it as 5 on the picture.

[AceAndrew]

That looks pretty alien to me.  I wouldn't run it.

 

I just installed the front and rear with Walloth/Nesch sourced OEM seals with the help from my wife and oldest son.  It took a couple times, but wasn't (knock on wood) too terrible.  The biggest PITA was the chrome locking strip at the corners, should have let it warm up, as per suggestions here. 

[Markster]

yeah I have the rubber and chrome in the sun right now.  thanks for your input. My car was pretty original - but yes I guess the glass could have been replaced and this was inserted then.   Interesting.  Wonder if anyone has see it?  My glass guy is intrigued as well - he does all sorts of classics so his vote will be interesting.  

AdvancedAutoGlassBayArea.com - Customer satisfaction is our #1 priority!

WWW.ADVANCEDAUTOGLASSBAYAREA.COM

 

[John76]

On 4/19/2022 at 7:57 AM, bergie33 said:

And doesn't harm a thing, including your skin ?.

No harm...just makes it a bit harder.

[Carlos_M]

The Rope trick is huge but DO NOT push on the bottom edges of the windshield to try to get it to seat... It will shatter (twice!) and then I called a pro to do the 3rd one perfectly.  Good luck!

[Markster]

Ok deed is done. Installer has thirty years in business. Said it was intended to “keep the glass in”.  He assured me that the car does not go that fast - ?.  
 

we left it out. 
 

he said the mfgrs dit put shorter pieces in later on.  Just two.   Three - four inches top and bottom. 
 

They did not use silicone!  The body shops hate spray silicone so he does without. The only “lube” was spray glass cleaner and that was for the chrome trim piece.  Took two guys 1.5 hours.  They sure did “slap w cupped hand”  on the rear (not safety) glass to seat the gasket.  The front since laminated they did very little “slapping” on the glass to seat it into the gasket.  
 

I removed the top two half of the three piece dash to make it easier to get the lower front gasket in place. 
 

almost ready for Brisbane Swap Meet!!!
 

[John76]

On 4/18/2022 at 8:33 AM, '76mintgrün'02 said:

buy the BMW version

And buy them now!  Price has doubled since last March....ouch!