Need Midyear windshield sealer advice....

[Patrick T.]

I'm getting ready to reinstall my windshield, with a new weatherstrip, back into the '67 birdcage. Looking at the '67 GM shop manual, it states that one bead of body sealer should be applied to the frame with '3M-1170' body sealer.

After the windshield is installed in the frame, the manual says to apply 2 beads of '3M-6699-B' windshield cement to the outer portion of the glass and weatherstip.

Of course, this information is 35 years old and I doubt if 3M still manufactures these 2 types of sealers, and I only want to do this exercise once. Does anyone know what the restorer pro's use these days? Do they still use two different types of sealer? Body sealer sounds like some kind of non-hardening mastic. I don't see any vendors selling this kind of stuff. Any information would be appreciated. Patrick

[Joe C.]

Re: Need Midyear windshield sealer advice....

Patrick:

I used 3M Polyurethane Windshield Sealant. This stuff is expensive, at about $15 a tube, and sets up very quickly (you do not have much wiggle room), but is good enough to sustain a nuclear holocaust. Another product, which I found at The Home Depot, is called "Black Urethane Roof And Flashing Sealer". I used this to seal all my underbody components, but I am sure it is "good to go" for the windshield gasket. This stuff is less expensive, at about $5.00 per tube , and takes about an hour to skin over (easier to work with). I would recommend either of these products as being much more durable than the original "dum-dum". Problem is, that if, in the year 2525, someone wishes to remove the windshield, he will need a jackhammer.

Joe

[Timothy B.]

Re: Need Midyear windshield sealer advice....

Patrick,

I am ready to install a windshield in my 63 so I emailed 3M and gave them the part #'s for the sealer and windshield cement that is in my 63 assembly manual. The 3M company emailed back and informed me that none of the 40 year old materials are available anymore. The product they recommend is 3M auto bedding and glazing compound black # 08509. This product is non-hardening, pliable, water resistant, medium bodied for sealing auto seams and between windshield rubber and car body and it remains permanently soft. I have not installed mine yet so I can only relay the info 3M sent back to me,I hope this helps you out.

[Patrick T.]

Re: Need Midyear windshield sealer advice....

Thanks for the info guys. I've tried using 100% silicone before and it is bulletproof, but if you ever have to take the windshield out in one piece....that's another story. I will try to locate the 3M body sealer or if that's too much of a hassle, I'll try acrylic caulking compound with silicone, since it's more forgiving. Patrick

[Bill W.]

Re: Need Midyear windshield sealer advice....

bedding and glazing will work BUT it is very messy and will turn to liquid in the summer heat and sun and will run. Bill