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Has anybody out there messed with removing or replacing the windshield?
I'm planning some projects for after the thaw.....I'd like to paint under the edge of the windshield seal.
I cant tell if there's a removable cover/molding over the seal or if it's all one piece, and if it's removable with out taking the glass out, then put the seal/molding back on.
The windshields are installed bonded with urethane, and quite difficult to cut out without breakage. If you've never done one you will run a good risk breaking it. If you're going to try DIYing it, look on YouTube for some pointers.
To save time, get a big hammer and hit a corner of the glass. Once you are the glass shop and while they are replacing the windshield, you can paint whatever you want.
If you reeeeeally have to paint it, I'll use spray paint with a long straw and try to stick it under the seal. You could use a rigid plastic tube to pry between the seal and the body and run the straw through the tube. The rigid tube will allow to slide through the seal.
I figured they were urethaned in place. If I had a few more chips, it may be worth changing out...
The straw idea may work. Iplan on painting the top this spring. I've read of folks lifting the edge with a putty knife and painting under the flange/seal...but I can't see it. I checked it out this past summer, and there is little to no flexibility in the edging. That's where i saw the rust color. Kinda like where a couple of painted edges are aligned to close, chip and tsat to rust, and the rust color runs down the body panel...
. It will be easy to apply with a syringe and it will flow to "attack" the rust. I use it to spray with a spray bottle under the frame. It is phosphoric acid based. There are several similar products like it, a quick google search will give you more information to decide if it will help in your case.
I used some ospho on a small section of a metal roof that had a silver asphalt base coating on it. The next morning there was a heavy dew on the roof. Later in the day I checked the roof and the area around the application was black as well as streaks where the dew must have collected enough to puddle and run off.
The moral of the story is that we have no idea what the chemical reaction will be with the seal itself.
Like GreenVan said, do some research.
I read it can also damage some paint finishes so be careful not to let it run down over the paint.
On the bottom of my passenger door where where the metal is folded over and spot welded, I noticed a piece of the factory seam sealer was chipped off under the door seal and there was a rust spot there. I chipped off a bit more and fond a little more rust right at the seam. I continued to chip it off till I got to good bare metal. Next I wire brushed the area off and then sanded it. Next I taped the area off with painters tape and used a rag dipped in Ospho but only enough to where pushing on the rag would cause some to soak down into the seam and not drip down the door on the good paint. After much research I also came across some professional body work sites that said to neutralize it before it dries completely so I used a wet rag dipped in water to rinse it off. Now mind you I was working on a small area. Next I used denatured alcohol to clean the area, taped it off, primed it, and then painted it.
Of course you know the proper way to do it if you were planning on keeping the van for years to come would be to remove the windshield, clean all the old seal material off to see whats under it, and go from there.. Of course you stand the chance of breaking the windshield when removing it. The older type window seals that used a putty rope like seal were much easier to remove without breaking..
I read it can also damage some paint finishes so be careful not to let it run down over the paint.
My van is painted with Monstaliner and I have a couple of spots that the brown turned gray that I think they got a few drops of the rust primer splashed on.
I use it without concern on the frame, but Annaleigh's comments are spot on.
I was considering what it would do the sealant. I need to clean and paint the rain gutter as well and there's sealer there as well.
Thanks for the suggestions and reminders.
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