The windshield 'gasket' (what do you call that thing?). Windshield rubber?

The original windshield rubber (gasket) was weather checked (cracked) and leaking. I replaced it today. Man, that is a bear of a job as a one-man project. The manual (http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/shop/1948_51truck/51ctsm0105.htm) indicates that the last step is to seal the glass to the weather strip with weather strip sealant. But do you really have to do that with the modern windshield rubber? It fits the glass really tightly except for the center strip that divides the two panes of the windshield.

Lee Prairie

It is highly recommended. I failed to seal one of my cars and with a good rainstorm I can wash my feet before I get home.

Ray, do you recommend a technique for getting the sealant between the glass and the weatherstrip?

The holes in the center divider of the rubber don't line up correctly, so the center chrome bar can't attach. I'm having to drill them out.... I need to get one of my kids to help me.... one of us inside and one of us outside the cab.

Lee Prairie

There is a special gun that looks like an oil squirt can. It screws on to the container of sealer and you run the point inside the glass and rubber and squeeze while moving around the edge. After it starts to set up you need to do the cleanup work.

No one in town has a sealant gun. So I ran the tip of the sealant tube around between the rubber and the glass to seal the glass and between the rubber and the metal to seal the (outside) rubber to the cab. I'm not sure if I did it correctly. I guess the next rain will tell me.

I have a lot of 'clean-up' to do. The clean-up on the glass is easy... just use a razor blade. But the clean-up on the windshield rubber is harder to do.

Ray, do you have any suggestions? I used 3M weather strip sealant (not the super stuff) because that is what the manual said to use.

Lee Prairie

Lee,
Many years ago when I worked in a body shop we used a pump type oil can to dispense the windshield sealer. Seemed to work but every now an then had to throw it away when you don't clean it after each use.

3M also makes a weatherstrip sealer remover, kind of expensive, about $20. a quart but it is the best I have used.
Most glass shops in this area use the pump type can with the needle tip for sealing. The cans are throw away and they reuse the pump.

DD