C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

[Timothy B.]

Re: C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

Pictures of the clear windshield set in frame using a few strips of torn windshield gasket. It's difficult looking at the pics to see how close the corners are. If you snap a pic from a different angle it starts to look bigger than what it is.

Going to order a gasket from Corvette rubber and compare it's cross section to the gasket I used. Also going to lay the glass in the frame without the rubber gasket.

[Dino L.]

Re: C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

Holy cow, that is a lot of compound...the corners are always the hardest part of the install...you need soap water and skip the compound, go back an put some in once the windshield is set...your using a rope so that is good...gentle pressure in the corners and a hook tool or a plastic scraper. The windshield for c2 come from Pilkington Mexicali plant dot 177 even auto city...try a different windshield from PIlkington first it is possible the cross curvature is shallow making the circumference larger...don't nest them to compare that doesn't work. What ever you do don't sand or cut it, it can be done but it will quickly delaminates in time in the very corners you cut....patience, call a tech that is at least 50 years old from a glass company, a seasoned techs of txt era has roped in 100's, most windshields in 60-70 was roped in gasket sets.

[Timothy B.]

Re: C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

Thanks for the reply Dino, the sealant was not thick but once it gets smeared around it looks heavy. I will probably finish cleaning it up this weekend (what a mess)..

Even with just the rubber strips as shown in the picture above, the rubber is still flexed out away from the glass. I will post a pic of the weatherstrip cross section later today and will be interested if you think it's somewhat too thick.

Not sure where to go from here, maybe try the new rubber with this glass. After speaking to Pilkington and sending them pics they checked the other stock in the warehouse and seemed to think they all look like the glass they sent me.

[Dan B.]

Re: C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

I think what you are looking for is a 1/4 inch uniform overlap with the glass centered. Aside from all the sealer, it looks pretty close from your pictures actually, maybe the top corners are not exactly uniform but hard to tell with the sealer there. If you can get a decent dry fit with a new CR gasket, you will have your answer as to where to go from here.

[Timothy B.]

Re: C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

Cleaned the black sealer yesterday, it really was not much just smeared around.

My observations are that those windshield clips really pose a issue on a 1963 car getting the rubber pulled over the metal pinch welt frame. You don't suppose there was a reason why the clip style changed for 64-up cars. :-) The lower gradual curve where the thick clips go presents a big problem because the metal thickness is three layers plus the windshield clip thickness. The rubber wants to roll out here and as a result pull away from sealing flat to the glass. I would love to see a factory rubber windshield gasket and compare it to these reproduction gaskets.

The coupe has the clips on top and bottom where as the convertible has the clips only on the bottom, there is a big difference installing the glass fighting clips on both sides vs. only one side plus there is more space allowed by not having clips on the top.

One more thing I want to mention is that the service manual shows pulling the rope cord from the bottom and finish at the top. I believe they picture a convertible car but if you look at pilot line pictures it clearly shows the rope pull on a coupe starting at the top. I believe this may be better on the coupe because of the tight top corners with the clips on top.

In the end none of this may matter if the glass is to big, I am optimistic that the corvette rubber gasket will be better. In the meantime I will post some pics showing the glass set in the frame and without the black sealer it will be easy to see where it's tight.

Sorry for my long rant but in the future this also may help someone else, from my research many 63 coupe owners don't even know how the clips are arranged in the corners etc. I would never do it but you could make a case to use the later 64-up screw in clips as this would make the rubber sit much better around the frame but that's another discussion.

[Larry M.]

Re: C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

I want to re-open this old thread to see if there is any more comment from a slightly different slant. I just replaced a PPG with an Auto City windshield in a 64 Coupe. This car is low miles and is 99.99999% sure to be un hit. The pinch weld is basically perfect...no degradation or rust. The trim clips removed were generic and shorter. I had trouble accessing them to release and wound up cutting the old gasket out from the inside which in turn gave me room to pull the outside strip out from under the trim...end result...was able to remove the trim without any risk of damage.

On install using a Corvette Rubber 540 gasket and NO sealant....just soap and rope and a cotter pin hook...all went OK except the upper driver corner(like Tim's) which was a real issue...compresses the two clips in the top corner. It is so tight that is pushes the lower down and rolls the gasket so is stands away from the glass...badly.

On analysis...on the inside there is a header box on the bird cage with holes in it...on the passenger side you can insert the tip of your finger between the gasket and the box....on the driver there is no clearance. Just laying the trim end on the car between clips there is significant difference in the gasket reveal.

I'm doing some other stuff but once on the road I'm planning to "drive it across a cattle guard a few time and see if it will settle in but I don't think it will....I'm in no hurry.

As for measuring, I taped a piece of 8 1/2 by 11 paper on the glass butted to the gasket on both sides to try to get a symetrical measuring line and then measured top to bottom for the finished fiberglass opening and found the driver to be 1/8 narrower. This doesn't help but it also is not the entire issue.

The bottom line question is this....has anyone ever found a "quality issue with the bird cage weld up from side to side?

Something else I found prior to install...where the fiberglass is bonded to the cage at the top, mostly on the driver side, there is a ridge of bonding material which kept the clips from laying flat. I removed some of this or my issue would have been worse. If I take the glass back out I'll work on this some more but I don't want to risk damage. Also considering as Tim suggests grinding the windshield.

[Mark M.]

Re: C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

Hi Tim, I've installed a number of c2 windshields coupe and conv. I'm much better now than the first one. Less than a year ago I installed a windshield in a 65 roadster and it was the easiest one yet. The glass was Auto City Classics and the weatherstrip from Long Island Supply. I always install it at least once or twice with soap to check the fit of glass and the moldings before paint. Often a clip or the body needs adjusting so I know all fits well before paint. I tried the rope method but made a mess with the sealer. Now I found it easy to place a bead of sealer in the weatherstrip which is installed on the glass and is facing up on a stand. With a helper to start the placement on the lower pinch weld from the center carefully pushing the glass down as seal spreads around pinch weld. The tool I use is what makes it easy and versatile for me. A cotter pin removal tool. Theres many versions but the one I found best has less than a 90 degree angle. They look like a screwdriver with a squiggly bent tip and a point. I also polished the tip so it is not sharp. It easily pulls the lips back as you work the glass in. The bottom and sides go fast working back and forth and pushing the glass down. When it's down check the outer lip as sometimes it can start to roll under the clips. Just use the tool carefully pull the lip out and seat the glass down so theres more room for the corners. At this point I'm usually coming up to the corners which can be tight. Use the tip of tool to little by little roll the corner lip over the pinch weld. It can take some effort but once around the corners the top goes much better. With practice and patience it gets easier. Depending on how much sealer was used theres hardly any mess. The glass can be shifted a bit while installing by using open palms to slap glass in direction needed. Also take care not to get tool too deep as the tip could chip glass. Your glass my have an issue. If you need I could make a paper template of on one the original windshields I have. It won't show if a curve is off. Mark

[Mark M.]

Re: C2 1963 Windshield Installation Problems

Hey Larry, I just noticed I answered an old thread not looking at date. Need to put cheaters on sooner. Anyway as I mentioned that I recently used an Auto City windshield and Long Island gasket. It all fit well. The corners on the coupes can be real challenging to fit. The glass should have a little movement that can sometimes be pushed around and the gasket rolled on pinch weld. That corner may need work as you said. My guess is the birdcage was in a jig and welded but anything could be off. Checking symmetry sounds like a good idea.