Windshield shim height
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 82
Windshield shim height
I'm getting ready to set my windshield next week and was wondering about what height most installers are shimming the windshield up?
Did the windshield have a "dam" from the factory? If so, is it needed to look correct? How tight should the stainless trim fit to the windshield? Barley touching or pressing down tight? Its hard for me to tell exactly how the trim will fit, the top can't be pushed in place because it will lock in the clips.
Thanks Kevin
Did the windshield have a "dam" from the factory? If so, is it needed to look correct? How tight should the stainless trim fit to the windshield? Barley touching or pressing down tight? Its hard for me to tell exactly how the trim will fit, the top can't be pushed in place because it will lock in the clips.
Thanks Kevin
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,270
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Kevin,
Yes, the window was set using a damming strip originally.
Almost no one uses a strip any more.
The bead on the edge of the ss trim pieces should just lay against the glass. You should be able to easily slide a piece of paper between the glass and trim but see no gap.
Regards,
Alan
Section at windshield header/ no sealer visible
Mid-way passengers side a-pillar/ no sealer visible
Yes, the window was set using a damming strip originally.
Almost no one uses a strip any more.
The bead on the edge of the ss trim pieces should just lay against the glass. You should be able to easily slide a piece of paper between the glass and trim but see no gap.
Regards,
Alan
Section at windshield header/ no sealer visible
Mid-way passengers side a-pillar/ no sealer visible
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
I went threw this recently on my 1980. First of all You will need to decide if Your going to Glue the Windshield in or use Butyl ? Tape. When it came from the Factory it had the Tape. But the C3's were probably some of the last cars that used its it's a forgotten era. If You decide to go that route don't expect You Glass Shop to show up with it or even know how to use it. Both ways work and both have advantages over the other. Your new Windshield is going to be thinner than the original. With the Tape way of doing it You can measure the thickness of the tape and Glass and then install the Trim and figure out what You are going to need for Shims. Using the Glue method You just lay a thick bead in there and Go for it, lay the Glass on the Glue and install the Trim before the Glue sets up so that You can move the Glass around to line up with the Trim. When I did mine It took a couple of Windshields and we did both methods with different installers. On my 1980, there was no way to get it right, just a compromise. I have the Glass very close to the Trim in the Top center, and the Lower Corners, but there is a Gap in the Top Corners of about 1/4". I think the glass of today has more of a curve than the original. Late C3's use different Glass than early, and this might just be my car.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,270
Likes: 4,362
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi,
Just to clarify…. the 68-72 cars that I'm familiar with didn't use butyl tape to set the windshield.
The damming strip was necessary because a pump-able sealer called Thiokol was used. This sealer flowed enough so that the damming strip was required to contain the Thiokol, (dam it up), and prevent it from oozing out too far onto the glass surface where it could be seen from the interior and exterior of the car.
I'm really not sure how long this method was used, but I wouldn't be surprised if it continued through 82 production.
Regards,
Alan
This picture shows the original Thiokol and you can see the bead varies depending on how fast the worker was moving the nozzle it was flowing out of.
Just to clarify…. the 68-72 cars that I'm familiar with didn't use butyl tape to set the windshield.
The damming strip was necessary because a pump-able sealer called Thiokol was used. This sealer flowed enough so that the damming strip was required to contain the Thiokol, (dam it up), and prevent it from oozing out too far onto the glass surface where it could be seen from the interior and exterior of the car.
I'm really not sure how long this method was used, but I wouldn't be surprised if it continued through 82 production.
Regards,
Alan
This picture shows the original Thiokol and you can see the bead varies depending on how fast the worker was moving the nozzle it was flowing out of.
Last edited by Alan 71; Mar 7, 2014 at 02:16 PM.
