Windshield seal and clips?

[Jim Dailey]

I am finally ready for a new windshield in my 63 convertible! I have searched the forums and read many threads and don't think I want to tackle this myself. I did post on another forum for reputable glass shops in and around Indianapolis, IN and got a couple recommendations. I spoke with them, and only one seamed to be up to the challenge. He suggested I have a new seal, and clips on hand. I have read many post's about seals that are too thick, and surround clips that don't work. I want to do this one time, so where would you recommend I purchase these parts to insure a quality part and fit?

[Rainer S.]

Re: Windshield seal and clips?

Jim,
I just installed a windshield on my 63 SWC.
Here is what I learned:
I bought the glass from Pilkington Classic, they have the tooling for the orig LOF glass.Ask for Randy. Price and shipping is good, they stand behind their product!
The w/s is a bit larger all the way around, so the seal and the clips are important.
The seal came from Corvette Rubber, good quality and good price.
The clips came from Paragon, good quality.
I am sure you will need all new clips, since I found, due to their design, the old ones break (1) tip off, all mine were broken.
You need (2) kind of clips, I used (22) clips, I think. You need about (14) to (16) narrow ones, and (4) to (6)wide ones.
Use the wide clips for the few places, where the frame is overlapped and thicker, the narrow ones will not go on.
Because the w/s is bigger than the orig one, make sure that the clips are seated against the frame, so they do not act like spacers. You may have to grind for them to seat.
Use nonhardening 3M bedding and sealing compound (don't remember the number, email me, if you want) You need 2 tubes.
Put a small amound of sealant in the seal, before putting the seal on the glass. At installation, put a beed of sealant around the frame, where the seal will touch.
Before installation, cover the dash with strong paper (painter's paper)
At time of installation, put a beed of sealant around the ouside of the seal, between the (2) small raised lips.
Have the glass installed by a professional person, as I found out...
Make sure the seal clears the clips. Your installer should know...
After installation, go around the outside lip whith the seal gun, sqeeze, until sealand comes out. The sealand wipes off easyly, we used "Wypall" waterless hand wipes.
Good luck, I learned alot from this installation, I can do the next one myself...

Rainer