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I have, after 40 years, decided it is time to replace my pitted and scratched windshield. I have found a local shop to do the work and have the glass. Having never done a windshield on a corvette I am not sure what else I should buy and have on hand when the job starts. (I don't want to leave the car, I need to have it out and in, in one day so I can't just order things if I need them) I'm not concerend about trim etc I can do that after the glass is in. I know from doing other cars that some older cars used a large thick sealing gasket behind the windshield and another around the edge or on top the glass under the trim.
So you guys that have done this...is there such a gasket? I see various places selling a seal of some sort but is that just for under the trim? Does it go on before the glass is set? Does the glass just get bonded in like a modern car. The shop says they don't know if there is a gasket behind the glass and won't really until they start and they can't provide a gasket if one is required.
When it comes time to get the trim back on, what about retaining clips and such....are they just disposable items and I need to have a full set on hand? How many are there anyway? Is there someone that sells a 'windshield replacement kit with everything you need but glass'?
My windsheild in my 66 is coming out soon. The car is in for paint and the shop will be replacing the gasket but no new glass. I was at the same point you are. Others urged me to keep the original glass so I am. The shop is going to polish the glass very carefully with a kit I got from Corvette Central. Hope to get some of the wiper marks out but I know the road rash will still be there. While my windsheild and rear window moldings are out I had them polished. You might want to do that. I went through Long Island Corvette and purchased a front molding clip kit. I figured for nothing else just get some new ones in there. I also got their replacement gasket. I got both items in two days. As for the sealant somebody else is going to have to help you. The only gasket is the one that goes around the glass. Nothing around the moldings. In fact it is important not to get sealant around the clips so that the moldings will fit properly. Do a search for this forum and you will find more details on just this topic. Order a gasket and clips first. That's my advice.
My windsheild in my 66 is coming out soon. The car is in for paint and the shop will be replacing the gasket but no new glass. I was at the same point you are. Others urged me to keep the original glass so I am. The shop is going to polish the glass very carefully with a kit I got from Corvette Central. Hope to get some of the wiper marks out but I know the road rash will still be there. While my windsheild and rear window moldings are out I had them polished. You might want to do that. I went through Long Island Corvette and purchased a front molding clip kit. I figured for nothing else just get some new ones in there. I also got their replacement gasket. I got both items in two days. As for the sealant somebody else is going to have to help you. The only gasket is the one that goes around the glass. Nothing around the moldings. In fact it is important not to get sealant around the clips so that the moldings will fit properly. Do a search for this forum and you will find more details on just this topic. Order a gasket and clips first. That's my advice.
Is your car a coupe or conv? If it is a conv, consider this. The hardest part about installing the glass is reinstalling the lower reveal (outside) molding due to the poor quality of clips available. Yes, replace all clips whether coupe or conv. On a convertible, install the lower molding in the body and then install the glass/gasket assembly. The gasket is applied to the glass and then installed together. Any good glass shop will know how to do that. Ask them to intall the molding first as there is a good chance they will damge it trying to pound it in place with rubber hammers.
You may want to consider doing it yourself. I just replaced the windshield in my 67 Coupe. You will need a new windshield gasket and a new set of clips and screws (available at Long Island Corvette). If you do it yourself you will also need 3M part no. 08509 Bedding & Glazing Compound to seal the gasket to the steel channel (refered to as a gun grade body sealer in the Chassis Service Manual) and 3M part no. 08633 Windo-Weld Resealant (refered to as a windshield cement in the Chassis Service Manual). Be prepared to do some rust repair in the steel windshield channel (mine was pretty bad). Above all do not let anyone convince you that all you need is the new gasket to seal the glass. If you do not use the items I mentioned above it will leak for sure. The Chassis Service Manual has good step-by-step instructions on this procedure and how to apply the sealant.
I too have just had my front and rear glass removed for painting. The front takes a gasket. The back uses setting blocks and sealant. The shop should have sealant on hand. You can order the front gasket from Corvette Rubber. The rest of the parts, clips, screws and placement blocks can be ordered from LIC. A few vendors at various shows have suggested to go with American parts instead of imported repos. If you are worried about having the car in a shop, why not have the glass company remove and install the glass at your home? I had a tech come out and remove the glass. This gave me a chance to remove all the old clips, screws and sealant and thoroughly clean the recess. The tech will come back for the install after the car is painted. Jerry
I'm in the process of doing this. The clips I got from LIC included a note that specifically says the windsheild and gasket for 63-67 corvettes was designed NOT to use sealent and if it is used it will not allow the trim to fit properly.
My windsheild was replaced using the sealents and old clips and has to be redone for this very reason.
You may want to consider doing it yourself. I just replaced the windshield in my 67 Coupe. You will need a new windshield gasket and a new set of clips and screws (available at Long Island Corvette). If you do it yourself you will also need 3M part no. 08509 Bedding & Glazing Compound to seal the gasket to the steel channel (refered to as a gun grade body sealer in the Chassis Service Manual) and 3M part no. 08633 Windo-Weld Resealant (refered to as a windshield cement in the Chassis Service Manual). Be prepared to do some rust repair in the steel windshield channel (mine was pretty bad). Above all do not let anyone convince you that all you need is the new gasket to seal the glass. If you do not use the items I mentioned above it will leak for sure. The Chassis Service Manual has good step-by-step instructions on this procedure and how to apply the sealant.
I'm in the process of doing this. The clips I got from LIC included a note that specifically says the windsheild and gasket for 63-67 corvettes was designed NOT to use sealent and if it is used it will not allow the trim to fit properly.
My windsheild was replaced using the sealents and old clips and has to be redone for this very reason.
I purchased my channel gasket & clip set from Long Island Corvette 6 weeks ago. The clips have little o-rings glued to them and you do not use sealant on the clip screw holes. If you do not use sealant on the windshield channel (gasket) you will have rain in the car. Last year I had a local professional windshield company convince me of that. They did the job and guess what.... it leaked like crazy . Please refer to your Chassis Service Manual. It tells you exactly how to apply the sealants. Since I installed my new glass (and sealed it properly) I did a water test and it does not leak. Just my $.02 worth.
Good luck, Roy
Part#08509 to seal to the metal frame. Part#08633 is to be used for what?
3M part no. 08633 Windo-Weld Resealant is injected under the lip of the channel gasket where it covers the glass on the outside. It has a special applicator gun with a very fine tip. Inject a small bead around the entire perimeter (before you reinstall your S/S molding). It is a thick liquid and will wick its way in to the seal.
3M part no. 08509 Bedding & Glazing Compound is used to seal the gasket to the steel channel. This is applied (in a thick bead) with a caulking gun in the steel channel prior to installing the glass. When pulling the channel gasket/glass in with the rope it will give you a good seal where the rubber meets the steel. After the glass is set you apply another bead between the rubber gasket and the steel channel and then another small bead on top of the rubber gasket prior to installing the molding. The goal is to keep as much water out of the channel as possible.
Roy
Does anyone have part numbers for the various windshield seals/gaskets?
After reading this I am thinking maybe I might be better off going somewhere that specializes in mid-years and can do the windshield so it won't leak. I'm not sure of the cost involved but I am sure it will be alot more than the local windshield place. But I certainly don't want any leaks and no way I want to try to do it myself. Plus it sounds like I might need to do some channel clean up once the glass is out (at least inspection and rust sealing) and a specialist would be much more willing to do that over a glass shop....or maybe that mobile glass idea would be good, have them pull it...I clean it up and prep it and besure I have the right things to reseal it then call them back to put the new glass in.
As always just a matter of money....
There's only one windshield rubber seal - one piece, goes all the way around the glass. The best ones come from Corvette Rubber (www.corvette-rubber.com) .