Worked on the windsheild today......much swearing was involved, then the passenger side cracked. I have never had this much problem with a windsheild before. I'll get one on order and start over.
Dude, I feel your pain! Who do you order your glass from? Good quality glass is hard to come by. Thickness can be an issue when trying to fit glass. Corners that are one-gazillionith of an inch too big can be an issue. Poor quality rubber can screw up an installation. I know, I know, I'm preaching to the choir here. Russ, I admire your work. We, as enthusiasts, hobbyists, professionals (not me, but some) need to have a "gold" standard of parts and/or parts suppliers for these parts. There is such a lack of artisans any more that it almost makes one sick! The glass in my truck was pristeen, after polishing, but most of our trucks start off with either broken glass, missing glass or so neglected glass, that it needs to be trashed to begin with. We need to know who can deliver the goods. I rant, I rave, but, on occasion, I make a point! Ken
We appreciate your efforts! I don't mean to speak for others, but really~ The photos that you've posted and the comments and instructions have been priceless! (Especially for us visual learners!) You also give us hope. Like so many things that needs to be done (or redone) on these trucks, the windshield is just one more thing that I'll need to do, and your pictures will help me get 'er done! Sorry things didn't work out the first time, but I'm sure it will the next. Good luck, and thanks again! Paul
Trail Blazer Russ, I too am waiting for you to blaze the path, so I can install my windshield. It occurred to me that the hardest part would be holding on to the glass. I picked up this tool online for only about $20. Of course, the shipping and handling was around $12. Do you think this tool will help in the installation? Greg BTW, the glass in the photo is the old broken side window.
The glass really isn't hard to hold on to, once you get it in the rubber. Ack is coming today for a convention tomorow. He may stay and help me give 'er another go on Saturday morning. I have a steele gasket coming today along with another glass. Installing one without the stainless is a breeze, but of course mine has the stainless.......
Glass Installation The stainless shouldn't make it any harder.... I find my stiff nylon stick is equally important as having the correct diameter cord , of late I use plastic covered wire from the shop as it slips out easier as you're drawing it out (and the glass in) . The angle of pull makes alot of differance too , you can change it as needs be for that particular bit of grommet . I'm sure you know the proper drill : glass into rubber , trim into rubber , cord into rubber , install assembled glass into the body..
After much more swearing and gnshing of teeth, the windsheild is in. This has been by far the worst windsheild experience for me. The Steele rubber is a great product. the only thing I see is that it needs a little more rubber on the outside lip to seal against the body. It has ribs that go inside the window opening that should seal much better. Here goes..... Lay out the rubber, and install the trim in the little groove. Use lots of Windex here. Now work in the glass...lay the whole assembly on the hood on a blanket. Take time to pet the shop dog, Crickett. Feed rope around the groove, leaving enough to leed out the ends. I like a thicker rope, it doesn't cut into the rubber. Now set the whole thing up against the frame, lining up the center bar and the bottom lip should rest on the pinch mold. Begin in the center on the bottom and pull the rope to draw the rubber over the pinch. Pull at different angles, generally perpendicular to the rubber. After more pounding and colorful language, the glass wouldn't go in on the passenger side....the new glass, imagine that. I pulled it out and compared it to the origional broken glass, and found the cause. It is too big. I traced out the difference on the glass. Now make several straight cuts to make the curve using a cheapo glass cutter, then turn pane over and cut on the EXACT line on the underside. I used a set of adjustable pliers to grab and snap in small increments until both sides are broken all the way around. WEAR GOGGLES....this stuff flies.
Some say that you can squirt alcohol into the crack and light it to burn the plastic middle, I just used a razor blade. Cut the plastic and remove the leftovers. I highly reccommend shop vacing the whole area after this. It looks rough, but you can sand into shape with a belt sander. Go slow with light pressure so no heat or vibrations break your glass. Now reassemble in the rubber and start over. I found that the center section need a little influencing to get centered. I used a phillips head screwdriver through the center bar metal to pry to the center. If the trim pops out of the rubber, swear at it and gently influence it back in, I used a dead blow hammer in small increments, also more windex....everywhere. I'll end up sealing behind the rubber with some window setting urethane to make shure no leaks. This is a little easier with a helper to press the glass in for you, but my neighbors go running when my garage door is open, guess I abused them too much for heavy lifting in the past. Thank god it is finished. I assembled the front bumper with splash pan and fog lights. The bracket goes against the bumper, then the pan goes against that. Bolt brackets through frame here. Hold it up, line up one bolt, then repeat on the other side. Next put in the back bolts.
Congratulations, Russ! So, what you're trying to say is, you wouldn't want to do this for a living? Great photos with explanations again! I'm happy for you, and now I'm looking forward to doing the same to my ride. (I love to swear and throw things!) Would STP or Armorall lubricant maybe help things slide together a bit easier, or does Windex work just fine as far as that goes? Thanks, Russ! You da man!
I use a water based lube so that you don't have to contend with oils later if you need to seal it. Plus, Windex cleans as it lubes!
Glass Install I like a much thinner cord , flexible , plastic covered wire is great as it slips easily instead of ripping the inner lip off the rubber grommet . next time don't pull the cord paralell to the glass , pull it at 90° and then closer in to the glas as needed , you'll find it works better . Never , _EVER_ use armorall as it ROTS RUBBER . No flat washers under the bumper bolts & nuts ? . I envy how nice your truck looks .
Spent the day stripping/ cleaning the rear bumper brackets, then painting them. Then moved to the door windows. The driver's side needed to be re attatched to the regulator frame. Used the urethane, left it rolled up overnight, no problem. The passenger window......LOTS more colorful language. The window was extremely tight, so I removed it and tried to re install it. I cleaned the regulator out and lubed the hell out of it, but it still has a skip and a grinding noise. The old glass had a chip in the top front corner, so I smoothed it out with a grinder and sanding disc. The glass would not line up with the vent window frame at all, then broke when I almost had it. I took a trip to Dave's Truck Parts in Clairmont, NC for a new glass, only to discover that he only had green and tinted glass. DAMN. I bought a new regulator while there, and he is shipping a new one to me from someone else on Monday. I have never had so many glass issues as with this truck. AHH, well, thats mechanicing on old trucks......
WIndow glass didn't come in today, so I worked on the interior. I installed the Old Air A/C unit, and the dash stainless, The hidden unit looks good , with very little visible..Here is the unit. and all you see under the dash... This is the engine side... The wood side panels that dave made... Got the rear bumper installed.
It fits very well, I have instlled 3 of them, and I reccommend them. it is the hidden system from Old Air, through Jim Carter.
Russ, I LOVE the wood rails! That truck will be so sweet when your done! (Which doesn't look like you have that far to go to get her there...)
DAvidack4 is looking to start selling them. They are very nicely made. He is working out the logistics now.
Ad ac Good deal ~ now all I needs do is work up a mounting bracket for a good Sankyo compressor......
They have those too. They use Alan Grove Brackets. So far, they all fit nicely like they are supposed to .
Finally got the passenger side window in. First you must install the regulator in the door. Roll it all the way up. Now slide the window in the door from the top, engaging the regulator in the bottom track... Noe roll the regulator down all the way and slide the vent window assembly in. I find that you need to slide an arm in the bottom access hole in the door to manipulate the window into the felt window track of the vent assembly. Once they are aligned, bolt the frame in with these 2 bolts at the top of the door... Next the 3 small screws at the front of the vent frame... Now work the window up and down a few times and then install the garnish moldings. If you are adapting stainless, you will have to trim around the lower screws so that it will sit correctly. Don't forget the locating bolt at the very bottom of the vent frame.....It is a P.I.T.A!
