1983 Dodge full-size van (yes, my brother's again). Windshield cracked. Scored a nearly new PPG tinted (yay) replacement windshield at the boneyard. Most glass shops in my area will not install customer supplied glass. I found a shop that would come to my house and install it, but they are an hour late and are jerking me around.

In the event the shop completely fails to do what they said they would (show up and install it), I am wondering what tools and materials I will need to replace the glass myself. The gasket and lockstrip are new (I paid for a brand new windshield, gasket, lockstrip, and professional installation a few years ago, but my brother broke that windshield and it's replacement to boot) and the old glass is still in place. It looks fairly simple to install the new glass, but I need to know what tools and what sort of sealant I will need. Also, what can I use to clean all of the old black sealant off the "new" windshield? I used a razor blade to get most of it off, but there are still little bits here and there.

Any and all tips are appreciated.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

I use gasoline to clean the old goop off the glass. On a warmer day, turn the front end to face the sun and let the rubber get softer and pliable. Using a rope slightly larger than the accepting groove for the glass, slide it in using a mixture of dish soap and water, put the bottom of the glass in the corners and using firm pressure on the glass, pull one end of the rope out and the rubber should slide over the glass, go the whole way around like that. The corners are a pain in the @$$...

I have done a few windshields in this fashion, it can either be super simple, or very time consuming and frustrating.

Good luck,
Seth

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Annabelle: 1970 Dodge Dart Hardtop
1991 Nissan 240sx (sileighty) Lots of mods
1974 Dodge Dart *Wrecked*

Well, supposedly the glass guy is going to appear sometime between 3 and 5 today, but I am not holding my breath. In the meantime I got the old busted windshield out using my fingers and a large flathead screwdriver. I am happy to see that the windshield frame is in good shape with no signs or rust. It just needs a good cleaning, a good clean on the gasket and new windshield, and it can all go back together.

What is the name of the black goo that gets squirted in the gasket channels to seal the gasket to the frame and the glass to the gasket?

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

No surprise the glass guy didn't show up and didn't even call. I got the old windshield out, cleaned up the gasket and the lip the gasket mounts to, and tomorrow I will stop by the auto body supply store on my way home from court. I will be looking for some sort of sealant I can squirt into all the gaps on the gasket to get it to seal up good as well as some sort of tool to make sliding the windshield in easier.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

I believe Butyl is the name of the black goop you're looking for. They carry it at my local NAPA, too. Other than that, I'm not much help as that's one of the few things I haven't yet done...

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Take this for what it's worth: I had a pro come out and install the windshield in my Swinger last year. He didn't use a drop of sealant. I asked him about it, and he told me all it does is make a mess. He did have experience with old cars, though.

The new windshield hasn't leaked a drop. Not saying his is the only way, just something to consider...

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vm

Western Wa gets a bit more rain than Texas, and my 83 fsm calls for a 1/8 inch bead of sealant in the gasket channels, so I will probably put a bit of butyl in the channels. Not too much, but enough to ensure a watertight seal.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

OK- somewhat new question.

I went to the autobody store this morning and they told me I shouldn't use butyl to install the windshield, but that I should use this urethane stuff instead. Not knowing any better I believed them and bought two tubes of urethane. I was getting ready to install the windshield and I discovered I didn't have the right caulking gun for the tubes of urethane. Then I started reading the instructions on the tube and it looks like this stuff is not intended for use in older vehicle where the rubber gasket actually holds the windshield in place. I looked online and urethane has 600 psi holding power vs. butyl's 60 psi holding power. I understand that due to differences in construction methods and the fact that the windshield is now a structural member of modern vehicles and that modern vehicles need the added strength of urethane to hold the windshield in. However, It is difficult enough to pull the windshield in my brother's 83 Dodge van when it is held in place with butyl. There would be no way of pulling the windshield and saving the gasket if the window was held in place with urethane.

So, what do you all think? Butyl or urethane? I am inclined to return the urethane and get some butyl since the gasket and sealing of the 83 van was designed or use with butyl. Given that my brother manages to go through a windshield every year (almost as high a ratio as he goes through transmissions!) I really want to be able to save the gasket if possible if I have to replace this windshield again.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

3M "Bedding & Glazing Compound". See here and here. And here.

You're right to pause; urethane isn't for use with gasketed windshields, it's for structural ones.

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一期一会
Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

I am of the same thought as you, BUT i am no glass expert. I know like 5 glass guys, and their thought on this IF you intend to ever remove it Butyl... They use Urethane for the most part BUT the Butyl on the older cars...

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MRO....

Cheap, Fast, Reliable.... Pick 2...

OK- I went to the local parts store and got two tubes of butyl caulking. I am proud to say my first windshield installation was a (messy) success. I couldn't have done it without the help of my Ma and my younger-older sister though. I tried the rope in the glass channel trick to get the windshield in place and the rope just pulled out. So we spent the next half our using a flathead screwdriver to CAREFULLY poke the gasket over the windshield from the back. It's done, it's watertight, I'm happy.

Thanks for the tips and for being sounding boards for me!

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.

Cool! Who needs a pro when you have your awesome family (and I do mean that) to help!

Ok, so now you know it fits...
Take it out, and try the rope thing again!

It is very impressive to look at someone that has done this umpteen times, like my grandpa.
He was installing windshields in buses for at least 30 years, and enjoys making me look dumb
Swoop! boing boing, swissh! and it is done.

Well, I am glad you made it, and it didn't crack.

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I have no idea what I am talking about.

Here is the tool I used to work both my windshield and rear glass into place. Soapy water and the tool made it pretty easy. I wasn't smart enough to figure out the rope deal on my own. I'm sure it works fine. I just need to see someone do it first.

Rick

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j38 ... G_0416.jpg

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2 Mopars come with Spark plug tubes. One is a world class, racing machine. The other is a 426 CI. boat anchor!

12.70 @ 104.6

Thanks. I am happy it is done, but I have no real desire to do another. I am sure that if i did this for a living I could get real good at it, but that isn't going to happen. I did need two other people to help me though. And that butyl stuff is freaking messy. The FSM isn't kidding when it says to use just a 1/8 inch bead of sealant. I thought I was being stingy with maybe a 1/4 inch bead, but sealant squished out everywhere. I am going to have to spend some time cleaning up the windshield trim inside the van.

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Casually looking for a Clifford hyperpak intake for cheap.