VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - GENERAL Upholstery - Interiors & Glass Windshield Installation for 36 Std Coach

I am preparing to install a new windshield in my 1936 Standard Coach. I will be attempting this by myself and the gaskets and glass are all new. Any pointers or helpful hints before I start the process will be appreciated. I have read the Fisher Body Service Manual but I am sure there are some tricks to the trade or helpful hints hopefully. How large should the rope be that is used around the windshield? Particularly since I have never replaced a windshield of this vintage.

I replaced one once and used a 1/4 inch cotton rope. Also used oil to lube up the rubber. Don't use a hemp rope. The fibers come off. These new non-cotten type don't slide nice. Good Luck.

Windshield and back window have been installed about a week ago. It was real and it was fun but not real fun. The back window was the most difficult because the rubber would stick in the opening at the top but could not be pushed down because it was stuck in the opening. The glass/rubber is first set in at an angle on the bottom outside of the window opening. I could not get my hands on the top of the rubber to push the glass down so I ended up using my joint compound taping tools to push down the rubber after inserting them between the rubber and body at the top. Then I was able to push the window close enough to the outside of the body to get the rubber lip over the window opening. Thank God the front window was much easier. My daughter and I did the job. It took about 2 hours because we went very slow. I did not want to crack the glass for obvious reasons. Boy does it look a thousand times better. I used Steele rubber and it is excellent. I did both halves of the front winshield at one time. The rubber channel hold it together very well. I pit card board in the center so the glass would not rub. Then I inserted the center divider. I moved the glass apart using wood shims. I used alot of soapy water using a spray bootle to lube the rubber and glass in the divider and window channel. A 3/8th inch rope was used to pull the rubber lip over the body. At the back window it kept falling out because we could not get the glass close enough to the body until I used my joint compound knives. So we used a small standard screw driver to move the lip over the body. Whew, I am glad it is over!

Congrats on a successful job! It has been a long time but like you said, it's fun but not real fun.