Installing 69 windshield - how to

[gt]

I have never installed the front or rear windshield on my 69 Dart. I don't have any spare glass. I asked a guy who does old cars as to how much he wanted to install the front and rear. I have new gaskets and the glass. He quotes me $250 each. In my mind I say F-U. So I decided to do it myself, it can't be that hard. My first time, by myself, it took me about three hours. But I saved myself $250 . I need to install the rear as well but will wait for a weekend or start after my son gets home from school as the rear is probably a two man job. One man inside and one outside.

I wrote this as somewhat as a 'tech article' for others to follow. There may be other or easier ways of doing it, but I thought this was the best in my opinion. When I do the rear I will post it as well if time permits.


This is how I installed my front windshield in the 69 Dart.
Using 3M green masking tape, place the tape all the way around the body to prevent any damage in the area of the windshield.
Carefully remove the trim as you will be reusing it. Get the proper tool so as not to distort the trim.
Open/unlock the rubber gasket all around the windshield.
ONLY USE PLASTIC TOOLS WHEN WORKING WITH GLASS.

Now you have to separate the glass from the rubber gasket. It will have rubber butyl caulk all around it. Use small amounts of varsol to loosen the butyl.
With the plastic tool start to separate the glass from the gasket.
Have a helper on the inside of the car pushing out GENTLY as you separate the glass from the gasket. If your helper pushes too hard the glass will crack and a new one will be required. Be careful!
Work all the way around the glass and the windshield will come out. Carefully remove the windshield and put it aside so that it does not get damaged.
Remove the rubber gasket from the pinch weld (body).
Remove all trim molding clips if necessary at this time.
Using a varsol soaked rag clean the body pinch weld until completely clean of all butyl caulk.
Reinstall all trim clips now. Use screws that have the wax around the threads to prevent water leaking into screw holes. If your screws don't have the wax around the threads, place a small amount butyl around the threads to prevent leakage. Use sparingly or you will make a mess.
A set of trim clips is about $20, I suggest that you use new ones, unless your old ones are in very good shape.
These trim clips can only be installed before the gasket is put into place, clips won't go on after gasket is installed.
Plastic tools used are from a glass shop and home made from an old toothbrush that I filed down to a usable thickness.

[gt]

Here is pic of the location of where the clips go.
I also put a mark on the masking tape to make it easier to see the location of the clips.
One of the drivers side.

[gt]

Clip location for the passenger side.

[gt]

Here is another.

[west]

 

[ski]

Good post. Were you able to re-use the gasket?

[gt]

Next, I got my rubber gasket and fitted it to the body  pinch weld and held the top of the gasket in place with the green 3M masking tape.
I now placed a bead of butyl into the cavity of the rubber gasket that connects with the pinch weld.
I stared at the sides first and then did the bottom.
I also ran a bead of butyl on the pinch weld where the gasket was going to grab it.
On the bottom the gasket does not fit into a pinch weld, it just sits there, so I place a bead on the the two sides where the gasket would come into contact. When you do this you will know what I mean. The bottom of the gasket will sit on top of three (if I remember correctly) raised tabs to keep the gasket in place along the bottom.
I now positioned the gasket into it's proper position on the sides and bottom.
Prior to doing the sides, loosen or remove the 'A' pillar interior trim as the inside portion of the gasket goes under it.
I then placed bead of butyl into the cavity for the top portion of the gasket as well as the pinch weld.
Now position the top of the gasket over the pinch weld and secure with a couple of pieces of masking tape for the time being.
Once the gasket is installed over the pinch weld all the way around, I placed a bead of butyl into the glass channel of the rubber gasket through out it's perimeter.
The windshield is now ready to install. Before doing so make sure that it is clean. If necessary clean the edges with varsol to remove any old butyl. If you need to do any repairs to the windshield, such as polishing it, now is the time to do it, or better yet right after removing it from your Dart.
Carefully place the windshield into the bottom glass channel of the rubber gasket and one of the sides.
You will have to use the plastic tools now to properly fit the glass into the channel of the gasket. Opening the channel with the tool to help the glass fit into the channel. Since I place butyl into the glass channel this process is just a little messy. A rag soaked with varsol should be ready for you to use as necessary to clean your hands, tool, body etc...
When working the glass into the channel try to go around the corner at the top before moving over to the bottom portion and the other side.
This is the order that I worked the glass into the channel. Half the bottom on the passenger side, up the 'A' pillar on the passenger side and round the top of the passenger side about one or two inches. I then finished the bottom on the driver's side and up the drivers 'A' pillar and round the top about an inch or two.
While doing this you must use the tools to open or position the channel so the glass will go in. I found that by rolling the tool (toothbrush) in the channel allowed it to work its way onto the glass. This is a slow process, and time should be taken as not to damage the rubber or glass.
Always trying to work clean, use the varsol rag as necessary.
While working the glass into it's channel a gentle tap on the windshield towards the gasket helps seat the glass into the gasket.
Once the bottom and sides were done I worked the top of the gasket. This part was the hardest to do as now the glass is a tight fit.
Again rolling the lip onto the glass and taking time is very important, and somewhat messy. When doing the top part ensure that the rubber gasket is going over the headliner on the inside. It will on it's own, but just make sure. The inside part of the gasket here is quite wide to cover the headliner, but check to make sure all is OK.
When the glass is sitting into the channel all the way around, a few gentle taps on the windshield to ensure that it is seated was done, being careful not to crack the glass. Again a little cleaning should be done.
Now the locking part of the gasket can be rolled into it's self. This part is not hard and only takes about 10 minutes using the plastic tool, the white one from the glass shop.
At this time make sure the gasket is sitting under the exterior trim clips on the bottom part of the install. Not all the way but just under the part that hooks onto the trim, here is a pic. Use the plastic tool to push it down. This helps the gasket make good contact with the body to prevent any leaks.

[gt]

At this point you can test with water if you want.
Or you can put the exterior trim on.
Before putting on the trim, I placed pieces of masking tape (see pic) on the windshield at the clip locations so I knew where to push down on the trim to make them hook up to the clips.
The one piece bottom trim goes on first.
Then the sides and the two-piece top part.
Be careful not to scratch your paint, it is easy to do at this point as the trim/moldings are sharp.
Now clean the glass inside and out a few times.
Retighten or reinstall the 'A' pillar interior trim.

[gt]

Here is the butyl that I used.
Windshield and body sealant. It is non hardening.
It is made by CR Laurence #7708
It cost me $8 US and $10 US for shipping to Canada.
I searched high and low for the correct product and had to buy it online before the guy would tell me who makes it.
I then searched to see if it was available in my area, and sure enough it was. At least when I need more I can pay for it in Canadian funds and pick it up myself.

[gt]

Ski.
I did not even try to reuse the old gaskets.
I could have because they were not that bad. But I thought after 38 years I should change them.

gt

[mopar66]

Would this procedure be the same for a 66 Barracuda??

[gt]

Mopar 66.
I am not an auto glass installer. But if it used the same type of gasket to secure the windshield in place, I would say Yes.
For your particular model there may be some specific details (possibly), that I did not mention that could be different from the 69.

If you are thinking of doing it yourself, don't be afraid. Just take your time and be careful.
I read some other posts a while ago, and a member was charged $50 to install the glass in his car. That deal you can't beat. If I was charged $50 to install the glass I would have had it done. But at $250 each, its a different story.

Good luck.

gt

[Ciscodog]

gt - did you have to buy the gun for the CRL or does it fit in a standard caulking gun?  Thanks!

[gt]

Ciscodog: It goes into a standard caulking gun.
I used one tube to do both the front and rear windows with a little left over.


By the way, nice puppies at the bottom of your posts.


gt

[harryhood]

gt:

Do you happen to remember if the clips stuck out much beyond the body? I'm the process of have my windshield reinstalled and am not sure if the clips are right -> http://www.bigblockdart.com/index.php/topic,22962.0.html

[gt]

The top of the clips sits flush with the body.

gt

[65 Hemi]

A big thanks for this post.  I'll eventually be changing out the broken windshield on my 69.  This will really help me a lot.  Where did you get your new gasket from, and how much was it?  Also where did you get the new clips from?  Anyone know who sells replacement windshields for 69 darts?? 

[gt]

I am in Canada. I got my gasket from National Moparts, its one of the big name manufacturers, don't remember the name.
The clips I got from him as well.
In the US you can try RT Specialties, or just do a google search for Mopar clips and you will find many who sell them, about $20.

gt

[65 Hemi]

Thanks again, I really appreciate your taking the time to put all that down in writing.