Windshield Installation

"Mac

Don't push as hard on the window while installing, the seal will jump over the metal lip easier. Push the window deeper in place once the seal has cleared the metal lip. You could try WD40 as lubricant or soapy water.

Go SLOW, and try different angles.. steeper string angle puts more force on the rubber.

No special tricks to it that I know of.

Jan

I used silicone lube on the install but it seemed it absorbed into the rubber about halfway thru. I thought that WD-40 would degrade the rubber? I think I'll try soapy water next time. A buddy of mine who recently got out of the Air Force that was into bugs too said he installed his in his super beetle with a small rope instead of string/twine. Wish he stayed in touch because now I have no idea how to get in touch with him for details....

Mac

"Mac

Good point. I usually bring that up :)

Let's see..

I have scanned a magazine article on this years ago.. wonder if it's still up...

Jan

Thanks Jan! I'll try it out this Saturday and hopefully be able to drive it to work on Monday to impress all my co-workers who have been hearing about this thing for a long time..... they might even quit ragging on me about it never getting finished!

Mac

Dish soap and water for the lubricant and some heavy insulated wire instead of twine to pull with. The insulation of the wire slides through the seal better than the twine/cord does.

...Use insulated wire or weed eater line instead of string. The vinyl will slide better on the rubber. Use two pieces. One for the lip that goes over the flange to hold the window in, and the second tuck into the grrove to pull the rubber seal out on the body side...it saves much work. I use windex or soapy water...usually windex. Side benefit is that you have the windex in hand to clean the window when done. Instal the seal on the window DRY. Only apply the lubricant at the last moment before pulling strings and installing. light pressure as stated. Too much pressure and teh string will not pull.

...Gareth

Thanks for the tips Micheal and Gareth...... will give it a shot this weekend. Wish me luck!

Mac

I use a coated wire, i.e., 16 ga. insulated, and run that around the inside of the rubber where the windshield flange will go.

Once the windshield is in the hole, have someone press it (not too hard) and I spray Simple Green or some other innocuous soap spray around the rubber and then SLOWLY pull the wire, rolling the rubber seal over the window flange.

This is a tedious and frustrating job the first time you do it, and after that, simple.

If you're tearing your rubber, there's too much pressure on the glass.

Thanks Randall, I'll try it tomorrow and let you all know how things turned out....

Mac