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I am trying to replace the cracked windshield in my 55 Pat. I have purchased 2 replacements which both seem short when installed with a new Steele rubber gasket. The replacement glass is almost identical in height to the broken one Im replacing which leads me to wonder if the gasket is wrongly sized. Has anyone had a similar experience and what was the solution. I have spoken to the rep at Steele and they denied that there were multiple gaskets or different sizes.

The replacement glass is almost identical in height

It's not obvious to me what the problem is, the replacement glass should be EXACTLY the same height as the original, unless you got a Caribbean convertible windshield which is noticeably shorter, about 2 inches.

I've not heard of problems installing windshields with Steele's gasket, the only problem we often hear of is the difficulty in reinstalling the stainless trim molding.

Wish I could help more.

My friend Paul in Las Vegas had this exact same problem with the windshield glass in his 1956 Exec 2dr which of course is the same as the 1955 Pat. By measurement, the new glass was shorter than the original. He solved his problem by extending the edge of the glass with JB Weld. Upon reflection, he said if he had to do it again, he would modify the windshield glass channel in the body instead. He tried two different NEW windshields and both were the same.

FWIW, I don't recall that the problem is the Steele gasket.

In addition to short glass, another factor might be the gasket is soft and glass is rolling it forward and dropping down a bit far. There was a bulletin 55T-10packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/STB/55T-10.pdf which suggested adding some clips to lower flange to prevent this from happening in operation and wonder if something like that might help now.

Quote:G'day dickR,
Although a PackardInfo member for some time see this is your first post, so

I invite you to include your '55 Pat in the Packard Owner's Registry here, together with a pic, any known history and how you acquired it?

the difference is 1/16 in. between 18 3/8 and 18 7/16....so it is not a Caribbean windshield. I will try to put clips in the lower part of the gasket to spread and strengthen it....Thanks for helping so far...