Replacing Windshield Glass
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2/9/2007 Once I acquired this project, and I decided to do a "full" restore, I decided I would replace the glass, and rubber seals around the windshield. As you see in this picture, its also missing the vacuum wipers as well.
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2/9/2007 I knew this would be one of the last items I would complete in my restore, so I had new glass made up with the ford logo (date June 45 = F Ford DE) from Marc Belanger from Quebec, Canada. It looks absolutely perfect. He shipped the glass is a tight wood box with plenty of padding (about $165 with shipping).
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2/9/2007 Here is a picture of the packing Marc provides when shipping the glass. Note: Marc does this custom glass as a favor to us jeep hobbiests (not his fulltime job). You need to give him a few weeks to prepare, and complete.
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2/9/2007 Remove the inner windshield from the windshield frame. The inner windshield slides out of the casing. I used a rubber hammer to help get it started. If its frozen due to rust, hit it with some penetrating oil, and tap it out.
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2/9/2007 Remove the screws in each of the corners of the top frame and in the middle. Make sure you remove all of the screws.
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2/9/2007 Once the screws are removed, the top frame should be loose. You can start prying it off. It should come off pretty easily, working it slowly.
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2/9/2007 You will see that there is an insert into each of the side frames, so once you get this off, your top frame will be free.
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2/9/2007 Top of frame removed.
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2/9/2007 Here, I turned the frame upside down and dropped it carefully on the ground to get the weight of the glass to drop down. My glass is pretty tight so, I wanted to get it started so I can start prying it out.
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2/9/2007 I just kept working it out, carefully, not wanting to make a big mess with broken glass. I used this screw driver to push the glass out, until it was far enough out I can tap it out with a rubber hammer.
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2/9/2007 I pried it out far enough to start tapping it out with a rubber hammer. I kept tapping it out until I could pull the glass out. Repeat these steps to get the other piece out. I started rushing it and ended up breaking my other side, so go slow. If it is really tight, then squirt some penetrating oil around the glass frame.
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2/15/2007 Now the pesky rubber seal. This was hard and frail around my frame. I broke the edges off all the way around, and shot some penetrating oil around the frame. I then got a small screwdriver and pried the rubber seal out.
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2/15/2007 Don't do this!!! I got that little screwdriver out and ended up jamming it into my thumb (notice the wrapped thumb. I ended up using a wire brush on my grinder and just shaved the rubber out. Piece of cake.
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2/15/2007 I took my wire brush on the grinder and removed all the existing rubber seal in the groves, then I continued and removed the 4 layers of paint. I did this prior to sandblasting, so it would take less time in the long run.
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2/15/2007 Next, I sand blasted the frame, primered and painted. Will install new rubber seal next, then the glass.
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2/19/2007 Now that the primer and paint are dried, I wanted to install the rubber seal that goes on the outside of the frame. I laid it out, and noticed that in order for it to fit correctly, it will need to be stretched.
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2/19/2007 It turns out, the easiest method I found was to use a small screwdriver to insert the rubber seal.
Stretch the seal from corner to corner and tilt one side of the edge of the seal into the grove. Use your small screw driver to push in about an inch on one corner then, do the same on the other side. The seal will now be in place for you to push the seal into the slot.
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2/19/2007 I read on the G503 site that others had used dishsoap to help get the seal to slip around the frame. I applied it, but turns out I didn't need it.
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2/19/2007 Done! It took maybe 10 minutes to complete. Because the seal was stretched out, it made it simple to use the small screwdriver to guide in the one side that was sticking out (WITHOUT pucturing it).
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2/19/2007 Now, inserting the glass. Take your sealer tape and surround your entire piece of glass. In my case, I had etched ford logo's, so I had to be careful to make sure I had the logo facing the proper direction (logo facing passenger, facing away from driver)
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2/19/2007 To hold the sealer tape in place, tape it down into place. You will cut all excess when bolted in. Press your top piece into place and install the bolts.
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2/19/2007 Hard to take a picture and show two hands, but here was my attempt. Take a nice new razor blade, and cut along the edges removing all excess tape. Complete it on both sides...and you are done.
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2/19/2007 You see here, that the excess rubber seal needs to be cut as well. Wait till you install it back on the windshield frame, then you can see how much to cut off. I had about 3/4in additional to leave on past the frame.
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2/19/2007 When you are all done, it will look great. Very clean.
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