Re: Larry's 1951 Club Sedan Project

Posted by Larry51 On 2014/7/26 18:50:18

Recently fitted the new front windscreen. The mobile screen fitter came around (at last, after a couple of weeks delay) and we got it in with no problems. Not a real easy job, so I'm glad he was available to do it.

The instructions that came with the screen rubber seal reckoned you place the seal into the window hole then press the glass into the seal from the inside of the car, working around with maybe a hooked tool. Well, as my earlier post said, that wasn't going to work because the seal was smaller that the opening so wouldn't stay 'seated' in the window hole, and kept falling out.

Workshop Manual was saying to place the seal around the glass first then use the cord method to get the rubber lip seated correctly, pressing the assembly in from the outside of the car. That was a much better way to do it. We did it this way and in she went quite easily. Getting the round rubber compression strip in was tricky at the bottom of the screen, and the modern fitting tools the guy had were all too large to work in that confined space. So we gave the strip a good squirt of WD40 and worked the strip in with a hooked tool. Took around 20 minutes to get it in all around but good result.

Then we used the traditional black non-hardening screen sealant all round the seal (both edges outside). Mostly what is used nowadays is neutral cure silicone but the fellow agreed the mastic is better in some ways. It will prevent rust developing on the metal lip of the body. Just a lot messier to use than silicone.

My son and I had fitted the rear screen a while ago (doing it the hard way). It is toughened glass and I have a spare of it. Front screen is laminated, and I have no spare for it. So having an expert do it was the go. I am feeling a lot happier now this delicate job is done. Nice to have a new windscreen with no scratches.