Windshield Leak

[Clark K.]

I have a rare '65 L76 A/C Coupe that I am preparing for a national Top Flight try this summer. In order to recover some originality points, I had the 70s windshield replaced with the best new repro unit available.

After the shop installed the windshield, they told me to let the car sit in the (hot) sun for a day, put it in the garage to cool for a day, and repeat for a couple more times. Apparently, this process is used to allow the rubber windshield seal to conform to the windshield frame channel. I have done this but there are still some water leaks when I wash the car. Letting water pour on the car roof, with no pressure nozzle on the hose, water leaks from around the new windshield and drips down to the floor, wetting the carpet. I am assuming that these leaks are from the new windshield-install since the car didn't leak, before. Now, I can't leave the car out in the rain without worrying that the footwells will fill with rainwater! The shop owner tells me to bring it back to them and they will "shoot some sealer" into the problematic areas.

Is this normal to have water leaks around a new repro winshield rubber seal? Is it normal to follow the heat/cool cycle the shop recommended? Is sealer the correct fix for this?
-Clark

[Rob M.]

Re: Windshield Leak

Hi Clark,

I look forward to seeing the car in San Diego!

Regarding the leaking windshield . . . what process did the shop use to install the new windshield? I would first ask that question. I would also check the archives and read the thread started by Jack P. about installing the windshield. It was very detailed and he had some great pics of the process (less than a year ago). Personally, it doesn't sound as though it was installed correctly if it's leaking that bad.

Although, my '66 leaked (vert) a little when I drove it all day (500 miles) through one of the worst rain storms we had all year going to the regional in Sacramento last October.

Others will have suggestions as well. Good luck.

[Tom A.]

Re: Windshield Leak

If the windshield wasn't sealed all the way around at the glass to rubber and at the rubber to body it will leak. At the factory they shot sealer under pressure between the glass and rubber and glass and body. You can use 3M Bedding and glazing compound (non-hardening) with a caulk gun and a small tip cut. You will have to remove the moldings. Put the tip between rubber and other surface pushing it about 1/4 inch in and move around the perimeter. These joints were designed to be sealed with a non-hardening sealer. They will leak without it.

[Michael G.]

Re: Windshield Leak

Clark,

Tom is shooting you straight. If the w/s-rubber gasket is not sealed (properly) they will leak. On some ocassions even using w/s sealant they can still have minor leaks.....been there, saw that. The 3M bedding and glazing compound is the ticket.

[John H.]

Re: Windshield Leak

The two photos below show the original factory process of applying pumpable sealer between the glass and the rubber, and between the rubber and the body opening, prior to assembling the reveal moldings.


'63 0691024.jpg'63 0701024.jpg

[Patrick H.]

Re: Windshield Leak

The two photos below show the original factory process of applying pumpable sealer between the glass and the rubber, and between the rubber and the body opening, prior to assembling the reveal moldings.


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Great photos.
I think of how anally careful we are not to use any excess and not to think about scratching the glass... when in truth St. Louis just squirted it in there.

Any idea how they wiped off the excess? I doubt it was water based material that soap and water would clean up.

Patrick

[John H.]

Re: Windshield Leak

Great photos.
I think of how anally careful we are not to use any excess and not to think about scratching the glass... when in truth St. Louis just squirted it in there.

Any idea how they wiped off the excess? I doubt it was water based material that soap and water would clean up.

Patrick

Patrick -

I'm sure they just skived/wiped off the excess when they installed the reveal moldings; when a finished new car sat in the sun, the sealer would sometimes ooze out, especially from the lower reveal molding, requiring cleanup with a solvent; lots of dealer complaints on this issue.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Windshield Leak

Thanks John.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Windshield Leak

John's picture looks like a 63 door, take notice of that nice fit at the A pillar.