alshsh

Hi,
I just had a replacement windshield and new rubber seal installed in my 65 convertible and it leaks. I've run water
inside the wiper wells and I don't get any leaks but when I run water on the windshield I get leaks under the dash.
Has anyone else had this problem and what was done to correct the problem. The glass installer said they sealed
the windshield with a sealant and used the rubber seal I provided when they installed the new windshield. I have
had the car back twice before and each time they said they corrected the problem but I still have leaks. This last time
they sealed the windshield again and now I have leaks in different areas of the windshield. Can the water be coming
in where the fiberglass panels meet together in the window channel. Does anyone know of any glass installers or
corvette restoration specialists that would be located in NE Pa. area that I could take this to to have them correct
the problem.

Thanks,
Al

Cmacsvette

Al, my #1 question is, did it ever leak before you replaced the windshield? If it didn't, the following info is still good to know. If you have a assembly manual, it would also help to follow along. When you put the water in the vent wells, did you have the grilles off?(only suggest to see better) When you put the water on the glass, did you track the water running down the glass into the vent wells? When you put water in the vent wells, did you get the same areas wet, as did when the water ran naturally off the glass? Here's what I'm getting at. There is a possibility of several things here. There is 6 rivets that rivet the plenum to the lower windshield frame. Your surround is going to keep you from seeing most of them and the one align hole in the center under the hump. There is also 8 rivets that hold the windshield wiper transmission mounting brackets to the plenum and windshield frame. I've seen one or more of these 14 rivets leak around the heads. Also, I know of two midyears, where the factory forgot to seal the align. hole under the hump and or forgot a rivet. Now for the the bad news, they were both 65's. Now if you didn't have any water running in your car before this glass change out, put all I just said, away for a rainy day. (No pun intended) The fiberglass around your windshield frame is attached via bonding strips. The bonding strip is riveted to the steel frame and your fiberglass is bonded with an adhesive to the bonding strip. I'm assuming, (and yes, I know what that means :lol: ) that they used the correct sealant and spread it around the frame with some continuity. Because, there is a possibility, besides leaking around the #8 screw holes that hold the clips, that hold your SST trim on, the water can get between the bonding strip and the steel frame, or it could be getting into gasket and then getting between pinch weld of inner and outter lower windshield frame. I think anybody out there that has worked on these cars, will admit to this fact. Leaking windshields have rusted out many many vertical windshield pillars and lower windshield frames among other things!!!!!!! Al, bottom line, if this window didn't leak before, find a diff glass man and I realize you are looking. Take this info and other info the guys give you, when you go looking for another glass man or Vette shop. Hope this helps.
Good luck, Craig :cheers:

BTW, I remembered another one to watch out for. Sometimes, there will be extra holes in the windshield frame. These holes were intended to have a trim clip screwed into them. Sometime the spacing of the holes are to close and depending on how many clips the glass man had, he might not screw a clip in, or maybe there was never one there. Bottom line, if you don't seal these extra holes, the water has just found another path.


[Modified by Cmacsvette, 4:33 PM 10/5/2002]

joevette57

Been there done that.. (65 as well) My only cure was to stop driving it in the rain. :smash: :smash: :smash: