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By ejstith - 17 Years Ago
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Has anybody ever replaced the gaskets around the windshield or back glass on a '55-'56 Ford? Mine is leaking like a sieve. What's involved getting the trim off and on? Would I be better off taking it to a glass place and having it done? Do modern glass shops have a clue on old cars like this?
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By MoonShadow - 17 Years Ago
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The trim isn't removed until the rubber is off the windshield. My glass shop asked that I not bring them another one like it! You can do it yourself with some extra hands. Cut the inside of the old window rubber away, carefully loosen the glass and have a friend help you lift it out. After the glass is out remove the rubber from around the glass and then the trim. The trim is held by an L shaped groove in the rubber. If you spread it apart it will usually come out. If not, cut the old rubber away. Clean everything! Clean/polish the trim and install it in the new rubber before you fit the rubber to the windshield. Once the trim is correct and tight you can put the rubber on the glass. Installing back into the car requires a heavy string and some help. You place the string all around the groove in the rubber where it fits over the lip on the car. Place the windshield on the car and have your friend press down lightly in the area where you are working. By theory as you pull the end of the string is will fold the rubber over and onto the metal lip. But that's theory and it never seems to go that easy. Some motor manuals had instructions in the rear on installing glass. Hope this helps! Chuck in NH
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By Joe Johnston - 17 Years Ago
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To add to what Moonshadow has advised, I've used insulated wire (12 or 14 guage) instead of string. Go completely around the new weather strip with a bit of soapy water to make it slip a bit helps too. Overlap the string or wire by 2 feet or so along the lower edge and set this on the flange first. This is definitely a 2 person job, one guy holding and pushing the glass in while the person on the inside pulls the wire to get the rubber to flop over the flange. Go slowly and be patient and it will work for you. J
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By ejstith - 17 Years Ago
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Geeeze, this sounds like an ordeal. Thanks a ton ... My Ford manual may have something in it, don't know .. I'll look ... Thanks again .. Do you put any kind of sealant around the new gasket?
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By paul2748 - 17 Years Ago
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ejstith (12/3/2008)
Geeeze, this sounds like an ordeal. Thanks a ton ... My Ford manual may have something in it, don't know .. I'll look ... Thanks again .. Do you put any kind of sealant around the new gasket?
I would - rubber to body seam and window glass to rubber.
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By PWH42 - 17 Years Ago
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The 56 shop manual does show the procedure for the windshield and the back glass.Neither is fun,but not terribly difficult.Patience Patience Patience
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By Ted - 17 Years Ago
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I had a persistent water leak after putting the front glass back in my ’55 Customline and after removing the windshield a second time and doing another reseal, I would still end up with water in the front floor boards. I ultimately found that the water was coming in under the windshield wiper arm pivots where the original cork seals had dried up and shrunk. I ended up using RTV in lieu of the cork gaskets and the leak was fixed.
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By bird55 - 17 Years Ago
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I just did some glass install recently with the help of an old pro. He used trans fluid in the past!,but not on mine. On mine we used string and soap. Also DO NOT use the newer style sealant, get the old Butyl? or tar-like sealer in a caulk tube, it never sets up hard-which is what you want-it needs to stay flexible over time. Very messy.
As Ted says leaks show up other places too-heater cores, wipers. On t-birds the water can come up thru the windshield frame and out into the interior, regardless of the top seal or windshield seal.
It's amazing to me the difference the new glass makes now in my car. I can see! 
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