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All,

What is a good sealant for use between the windshield frame and the stainless molding? There is a black residue that remained when I removed the windshield.

It definitely needs a sealant to prevent leakage!

3M sells a sealant for that specific purpose, check with any local automotive glass shop for the exact name or an equivalent or check the display at a good auto parts store. But I believe the sealant goes BENEATH the stainless trim, at the interface of the glass and rubber channel or the rubber channel to the steel (or both). Perhaps your windshield rubber channel is old and lost it's resiliency?

Actually, my rubber is in surprisingly good shape. The metal-to-metal (stainless to windshield frame) has the sealant residue that I want to renew when I reinstall the glass.

My windshield was broken in the distant past when a tree fell on the car prior to when I owned the car. I want to try for a leak free installation when I put the new glass in.

John from KC

Understood. Just remember the stainless trim is decorative and is not meant to contribute to the sealing of the glass.

Owen:

Thanks for the replies. I will look for the 3M product. I didn't want the sticky stuff that glues the glass down as is used on modern cars.

Just a note to clarify: The molding IS part of the weather sealing on a 22nd-23rd car.

The car windshield frame to the molding MUST be sealed (with sealant). The molding to the rubber could be ok without sealant (I saw no evidence of sealant residue). Probably the clamping force from the interior trim holds this seal firmly tight. The glass to rubber might be ok without sealant (I DID see evidence of residue there)but I will apply sealant there. The corners at the center post probably require sealant (my car has some damage to the rubber there).

John from KC

Just a note to clarify: The molding IS part of the weather sealing on a 22nd-23rd car.


Yes, perhaps you're correct on that, I was thinking of the 51 and newer windshields. Can't remember the sealing details on either of my Customs Eight bathtubs, but they both leaked where water puddled against the glass at the lower outer corners. Solution was to pull back the rubber from the glass and insert some sealant. I've seen this kind of puddling and leakage on a number of bathtubs which hadn't had the rubber replaced - seems a common thing.

I thought I would resurrect this topic rather than start a new one.

I need to glue the stainless trim strips to my front and rear windscreen rubber seals on my '51 Club Sedan. They sit on the rubber and engage in a tight slit in the rubber seal.

Despite contacting 3M Australia help line I cannot find any special product available here in Australia from them.

Contact adhesive might be ok if applied wet, but would not be suitable if applied in the "usual" way (that is - let both surfaces dry until tacky, etc), because the trim strip needs to be slid into the groove in rubber seal.

So I'm looking for recommendations please.

Good question. This sealant is what I am planning to use on the 47. It is common here and maybe in Australia too. I'd appreciate hearing any comments as to suitability from anyone who might have tried it.

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Howard, you show exactly what I was thinking of for this application. I had a '41 160 that had been restored in Phoenix, AZ. The two piece windshield glass was new as was the windshield gasket. The first time I had it out in an East Coast rainstorm it leaked pretty badly at both bottom corners. The leak on the left side drenched my left shoe and pant leg every time I operated the clutch. I guess they don't get much rain out in Phoenix. Anyway, I bought the flowable silicone at Pep Boys (now $4.99 here) and spread it along the windshield's lower edge. Unlike regular silicone that just beads where you put it, the flowable silicone soaks into the crevice between the gasket and glass. It stopped the leaks entirely. I'd recommend it to anyone dealing with this condition.

I used the pictured sealant material on my 1949 windshield successfully.