C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome mold

[joe gushen]

I'm putting in my windshied in the next day or two. I have a 66 convertible. I got a new gasket and cleaned the windshield.

Question #1 Is there any sealant needed on the weather stripping itself? If so what is it that I should use and does it belong on the glass side or frame side?

Question #2 What is that white putty that I removed from the back of the chrome molding around the windshield? There was alot of it, what do I replace it with and how do I know how much to use? What is it's purpose?

Question #3 I have heard that these winshield installations are difficult in achiveing water tightness, Is there a specific problem area I need to look out for? What is the fix?

Question #4 Does the seam on the gasket belong at the top or bottom of the windshield? Is there an inside or outside to the gasket?

Question #5 Are there any websights that may have some good instructions?

Thanks
Joe

[James W.]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

Joe,

Below is a post from the board a while back regarding the subjest you are asking about. I coppied it since I will be installing a new windshield in a '65 convertible in the nest year or so. I hope this helps!

Regards,

James West

In Response To: Urethane Sealant around Windshield? - 1963
Mr. Whittington is right about urethane being used to "cure" a leak. It was not used until the backglass installations in '64 to my knowledge. Urethane does have a place in modern windshield restoration installations however. If you use a urethane and matching primer to bond the glass to the rubber gasket prior to installing, it eliminates several common problems. The glass to gasket portion of the seal can't leak. The rubber won't "pucker up" off the glass (especially in the lower corners). It eliminates the "bumpy", "wavy", look of the rubber gasket underneath the stainless trim. 3M urethane and primer is readily available at most auto parts outfits. Prime the inside of the gasket and wrap the gasket around the glass. Squirt a small bead of urethane underneath the exterior facing lip of the gasket. "Squish" out any excess urethane by squeezing the gasket all the way around the glass. Clean up the "ooze out" by wetting the areas thoroughly with water and using a clean, fresh, razor blade to skim the excess urethane off the glass and gasket. Allow to dry and cure at least 8 hours. Install the windshield. After install I seal around the clips with 3M flow grade sealant (pumper can), and then cap the entire outer perimeter with 3M Bedding and Glazing Compound. Then install the stainless and clean up the mess. It's tedious and messy but it looks great and won't leak. Good Luck.

[Tim E.]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

Joe - I recently put in the windshield in my '66 convertible and had to do the same research you're doing. Here's the method I settled on which has been leak free and worked well for me.

I used 2 3M products: Windo-Weld between the glass and the gasket and Bedding & Glazing compound between the gasket and the metal frame. Windo-Weld provides the sealing qualities James describes above using urethane but releases later if necessary and does not require curing time. One tube of each worked for me.

You'll notice an external lip on one long edge of the gasket. That lip goes up and forward. It provides extra sealing under the upper garnish molding. I followed the instructions in the service manual. Buy some 1/8" nylon rope and insert it into the metal frame groove of the gasket after you install the Windo-Weld in the glass groove of the gasket, the gasket on the glass, and the Bedding & Glazing compound in the metal frame groove. Both ends of the rope should be at the bottom center of the gasket.

Spray the interior surfaces of the gasket with Windex (for lubrication) and set the assembly in the opening. I gently pushed on the glass while my wife worked the ends of the rope from inside the car. Pulling on the rope will peel the gasket over the metal lip to the inside of the car. I found it easier to move the rope in a circular motion while pulling.

Once the windshield and gasket are in place, you may need to push or pull on the glass to get the gasket to lay perfectly flat against the glass. Since the glass is floating in gasket sealer at this point, you can move it a little.

I also used the Bedding & Glazing compound inside the moldings where you noted the white sealant.

Hope that helps...Tim

[Dan Bloemers]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

Mr. Gushen,

I authored the response posted by Mr. West. I have searched for the response I received from a question I posted regarding the factory original "gunk" that was used to seal the OEM windshields but had no success. To the best of my recollection the response was that the material is no longer available and that even if it was it would be very troublesome to work with.

I stand by my previous post that urethane is the best option to seal the gasket to the glass prior to installation.

I suspect that the suggested usage of the 3M(Flow Grade) Windo -Weld adhesive/sealant to seal the gasket to the glass may have resulted in some unwanted gaps or "warps" in the seal(particularly in the lower corners)for a previous respondent. I have abanonded that method.(although I sincerely hope he was successful)

I am open to direct contact(these threads are tedious).

Dan

[James W.]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

Dan,

I hope you didn't mind me reposting your response, I will be installing a windshield in '65 convertible in the next year or so and thought that you response was worthy of a repeat. I actually copied it into a word document so that I can reference it when it's time to install the windshield. Thanks again for the great info.

Regards,

James West

[Ken Edmunds]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

Joe, when you install your windshield, install the lower molding before you install the glass/gasket. The glass with the gasket applied will slip behind the molding saving you the headache of pounding it in and possibly damaging it. The currently available clips do not allow the molding to be instlled easily. I installed 2 windshields last week-worked perfectly.

[Dan Bloemers]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

No Problem James,

In my experience that works the best..Recent judging has revealed that the method prescribed may be a little too good... the judges docked points off the glass because it was "too good"..not original..not enough pits in the glass and the stainless fit too tight..I might need to loosen up a bit..Quality VS. Originality..I'm in a conundrum.

Dan Bloemers

[John H.]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

Why would judges take a deduction for "not enough pits" in the glass? The judging standard is "as the car was delivered", not "after 40 years of road rash"

[Mike M.]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

Dan: don't sandblast the glass. leave it be and if the next pair of judges deduct for lack of pits, take it up with the team leader and if that doesn't work, take it up with the judging chairman. mike

[Dan Bloemers]

Re: C2 Windshield Instalation/Putty behind chrome

The points may have been deducted for reasons other than pits not being present in the glass. I guess I just made that assumption when the shop I do the glass work for, "Corvette Sports" in Sheboygan Falls WI, notified me that they had lost some points because the glass had been deemed "too good". Sorry for any confusion.