VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 windscreen

Ok gents I think it's time for a new windshield I'm sure I can get the local glass company to cut me some glass. Don't how expensive It'll be but, where is the best place to get new gasket, chev's of the forties,,,any suggestions...Thanks...

The rubber channel can be purchased through several vendors. Am sure they are are made by Lynn Steel. Check out the Filling Station also.
Most glass companies will have the pattern for the glass.
Note that the Fleetline 2 door windshield is lower than the other models. The rubber channel is different between the models with chrome trim around the outside and those without.

Thanks Chev Nut I found some online from 135.00 and I did see that there were differences.

The local glass company said they could cut me some glass for around 40-50 bucks, I said that's not too bad but the gasket and and the center seal and a gasket for moulding sure do add up...

I hate to tell you this, but, getting and paying for everything is the easy part. Of all the things I did myself, this was at the top of my list for the aggravation factor!! . Even broke one piece. Getting that stainless in is a real pain. I wish I could tell you some secrets but I did not find any.

Don't be too surprised to find a fair amount of rust on that divider bar.

One thing, have the glass shop really smooth the edges.

Best of luck.

Yea I guess I should have some help...Guess I should look at the manual to see if it has any info on how to replace... I want to do it myself cause I want to polish up the stainless.

Yes, the '46-'48 Body Manual has step-by-step and also shows where to make sure you get plenty of sealer.
windscreen

So I'm lookin at the gaskets and it's telling me that I need the pinchweld gasket as well separately so how many gaskets does it take...I thought it was just one gasket for the windshield and the divider bar...

The pinchweld gasket is what holds the stainless trim in place. It slips over the pinchweld and the trim is fitted over it from the outside. There is another gasket that goes over the divider bar in the center and holds the vertical center trim piece in place. This center trim can be kind of difficult to force over that gasket. I used boiled linseed oil as a lubricant. Evidently this center gasket was never a good seal, even from the factory, because the center divider bar is rusted out on almost every old Chevy I have seen. The big rubber gasket goes around the glass and is pushed into place from inside the car. It is much easier if you get a couple of glass handling suction cups to grip the glass with. I use a couple of the Bondo suction type dent pullers which are the same thing and available at any auto parts store. I use 3M Auto Bedding and Glazing Compound for the sealer. It is thin enough to float into the nooks and crannies and cleans up easily with WD-40. This can be a dirty, sticky, frustrating, but not impossible,job. Requires at least two people and a certain amount of patience.

Man, under statement.

Randy, when I made my first comment, I was talking about removing ALL the weather strips and starting from scratch. That's why the remark about the stainless trim. If you do that it is as Latigo explains very well. That is also what I was talking about the center divider bar and rust. Also as Latigo mentioned.

That "one" gasket you looked at is just the one that holds the glass and is installed from the inside of the car. That is all that is required to change just the glass.

If you want to remove the stainless and polish it, then that goes back to my original thoughts and requires the other rubber as Latigo said.

In the manual, towards the back, pg. 172 talks about the pinch weld and stainless rubber.

Latigo also called it on the divider stainless with rubber. The old rubber is usually sooooo hard it is very difficult to get out of the stainless. Then to get back over the new rubber.

Not wanting to discourage you, just to be prepared.

I used the same sealer as Latigo. Works good but messy, big-time.

To clean-up the sealer, I used 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner (08984). It even removed some I got on my new headliner and didn't leave a stain.

Oh ok I was wondering how all those gaskets, seals went on there so I guess for now I could just replace the glass with a new seal and should be ready to go unless I go all the way with all new rubber for the stainless trim.. I didn't know that the glass came out from the inside of car...Thanks for the info Guys.....

well I'm in the middle of center stainless removal, But it broke on the top, How does the bottom come out of the rubber/trim here are some pixs.





can the middle trim be taken off without removing the trim around windshield.

That center piece is welded in. It is just rusted out as I mentioned in my post above. You will have to remove the windshield, cut the rusted piece out at the roof line and cowl and weld in a new one. You can get a new divider section from Chev's of the 40"s, part #4114574A.

Rock it side to side and pull up and out.

How did you remove the heads of the screws?

It is hard to tell from the pictures how bad it is right now.

Go ahead and remove the glass and the inside weather strip. It is going to be very hard after all these years. It is pretty much all "fused" together. Than we'll know a little more. Sorry, but this is common.

Did you receive any instructions with the new weather strip?

Thanks for all the tips as this is my first on this type of windshield..

Got new glass back from cutter, now I have to order my new gasket.

Finally got a new Gasket from steele rubber, gotta get that sealer and install....

Latigo,

I think I'll have to replace the divider on my 41 project. It may not have enough edge left to hold the stainless in place. It was rusty, too.

I didn't know that that part was available. So thanks for the information and part number,

When I took my glass out, I just busted it and then pulled the seal out. Gonna replace the glass anyway. So...

I've got the parts *except the divider) but I think now I'll let someone else install them. Given all the frustration you guys predict I'd probably end up either shooting the car or myself.

Thanks,

Charlie

Hi Charlie,

When I have a job I can not do myself, or don't want to do, I create a folder of info on how the job should be done. Then I take the info to the shop I trust to do the work. Most shops whether specializing in body work or glass replacement just don't have a lot of experience on our old cars. I assume part of my job is to educate them on the correct process, so they are not screwing things up as they do the installation.

Best wishes, Mike

P.S. I saw this picture on ebay, and thought of you!!!

41 convertible

Mike,

Its a great idea to do that. The first shop I took the 41 project to ask me if I had a body book. I did and it would have helped him I'm sure. His work wasn't the problem or the cost thereof, it was the "work-it-in" factor. Way too slow.

The second shop was too expensive. Good work and fairly fast. It specializes in old cars. It was the cost factor which, after seeing the car, was a little over four times their first quote. 4K vs 17K. At which point I became sick of the whole dang thing. Maybe somebody will have the wherewithal to finish it someday. I doubt I will. When I die, my missus says that she's a-gonna cash it in on a diamond. Seems I promised her one at some point in the project.

As to the reminder on ebay... That would pretty much say it all.

Charlie

Charlie,

Thanks for being a good sport about my teasing you. It's got to be real disappointing what you have gone through with your restoration.

Best wishes always, Mike

Getting ready to install my windshield, Just waiting on my son to help me with it...

Update on windshield, ARGH, ARGH,ARGH, It's going to the windshield shop....The rubber gasket got stuck on the upper right side where you'd staple your headliner to and was twisting the gasket so I tried to pull the rubber back around and CRACK..... $#@%$@$#%#^%#%$@%$#^%&^%&%^& I had to stop before I did more damage to something else...BTY it is a tight fit....