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Windshield rubber seal

Started by Hilarius, February 17, 2017, 10:10:07 AM

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Hilarius

I am presently restoring a 1952-60Special and I bought new windshield and rear window rubber seals from Steele's.
Now, trying to fit the original panes and the new seals into place, I found that it is impossible. Naive as I was, I first tried with the sealing compound in place and ended up in mess after an hour of trying to fit the unit in place.
After cleaning up I tried the same with just dishwasher detergent to aid in slipping the unit in. No dice!
Tried the same in the rear - same story. The rubber front and aft is too thick between the bottom of the glass channel and the bottom of the rubber where it sits in the body recess.
In my opinion the only way is to shorten the panes by about 1/8", maybe even a little more.
If anyone has had a similar experience, I'd gladly know about it. I assure you that I have made the installation according to the book, with strings and all, but I am sure the replacement rubbers are just too thick.

Also the bottom corners of the windshield seal, when pressed in where they belong right and left, shove the half round parts of the lower rubber (where the wiper transmission and the washer tube go through) too much to the middle so that those half round rubber parts cannot enter their corresponding cutouts  in the body. Those vulcanized cornes too, have to be worked thinner by shaving material off the outer rim to make them settle  deeper into the body corners right and left and so let the half round parts settle in their recesses.

Any opinion is most welcome!!

Hilmar.
Hilmar Schneider #26898
1930-162, "353", 4D-SDN-7P
1940-7567, 2D-CCP-2/4P
1948-7519X, 4D-SDN-5P
1952-6019X, 4D-SDN-5P
1973 Mercedes 107R, 2D-CCP-2P
2015 Cadillac SRX, 4D-SDN-5P

harry s

Hilmar, I had a similar experience with my 1941. I ended up removing some of the rubber material from the gasket and also having the glass trimmed as you mention. Bill Anderson, our chief judge had a problem with a 1953 Cad that he is restoring and had lengthy conversations with Steele. You may want to contact him for more insight. Good Luck,   Harry
Harry Scott 4195
1941 6733
1948 6267X
2011 DTS Platinum

Hilarius

Hi Harry,

thanks for the quick reply. So you had an alike experience. Doesn't surprise me much as Steele's reproduction quality doesn't stand up to their prices many a time.

I looked through the member list but could not find Bill Anderson there.
Maybe you could let me have his email address so I could ask him, as his 1953 experience must have been the same as the one I am having now, with the car bodies being identical, as far as I know. Unless he has worked on a 75 model.

Thanks again, Harry.

Hilmar.
Hilmar Schneider #26898
1930-162, "353", 4D-SDN-7P
1940-7567, 2D-CCP-2/4P
1948-7519X, 4D-SDN-5P
1952-6019X, 4D-SDN-5P
1973 Mercedes 107R, 2D-CCP-2P
2015 Cadillac SRX, 4D-SDN-5P

59-in-pieces

Hilmar,
The contact information you were looking for.
Have fun,
Steve B.

William C. "Bill" Anderson, P.E.
CLC Chief Judge and Director, Technical Services
c/o Anderson Automotive Enterprises
2198 Johns Hopkins Road
Gambrills, MD 21054
(443) 994-5455
Rivsrgr8@aol.com www.andersonautomotiveenterprises.com
S. Butcher

Hilarius

Hilmar Schneider #26898
1930-162, "353", 4D-SDN-7P
1940-7567, 2D-CCP-2/4P
1948-7519X, 4D-SDN-5P
1952-6019X, 4D-SDN-5P
1973 Mercedes 107R, 2D-CCP-2P
2015 Cadillac SRX, 4D-SDN-5P