I installed the windshield on my 48 with no trouble, so I decided to replace the de-laminating rear window. Awhile ago I replaced the rubber still using the old window, but it didn’t look good.

I bought a tempered glass from LMC. Yesterday I tried to install it, lots of soapy water, rope in the slot, but it simply won’t go into the opening. I compared the new glass to the old, and the new glass is about 1/32” taller.

Today I went to a glass shop and was told you can’t trim tempered glass, and that I should use pure silicon spray instead of soap. He also said I could actually hammer in it, it’s almost impossible to break.

I tried the silicon, and a rubber mallet, still no luck. I can’t get the glass to push straight into the slot, either the top or the bottom go, but not both. I pulled out the grinder and smoothed the metal in case it’s rust causing it to hang up.

I’m stuck. I could have a laminated piece of glass made by the local shop, but I have this tempered piece that I’d rather use.

Any thoughts?

pics

 

Try using wire instead of rope and it look pretty dry in the photos. Soak it down with silicone spray. Another option is the tire mounting lube, that stuff is super slick. I don't know if your doing it alone or not but a second person pushing the glass from inside would be beneficial. You will not get enough pull (in my opinion) from those cheap suction cups.

 

I agree that it looks too dry, I used dish soap and water when I put mine in. I had my wife put pressure on the glass as I pulled the rope switching side to side and when pulling the rope around the corners it helps to pull it in a circular motion to get the rubber past the metal frame..

 

Yea, it’s dry in the pics. I soaked it down first with soap, then with silicon spray. I can’t get it past the lip to even pull the rope.

Im afraid I may need to have a laminated glass made. I really wanted tempered for the safety factor.

 

I called chuck’s trucks. He has a guy who makes laminated for him, so I placed the order.

It’s great to have someone as knowledgeable as Chuck.

 

It's also easier to do it from the inside where you can brace yourself against the dash and the back of the seat when pulling the rope.
Slick down the rope with Vaseline too.

 

Thx for taking the time to answer, but that simply won’t work. The windshield goes in that way, but the back window will not go in the opposite way.

My issue isn’t pulling on the rope, it’s getting the gasket to fit inside the window opening. According to 2 different auto glass guys and Chuck, if the window isn’t perfectly sized for the opening it won’t work.

My thought is if the window from Chuck is also too large, it can be trimmed because it will be laminated, not tempered.

 

Looks like you might be pulling too much of the inside rubber flap through the window frame if that rope is still in the groove

 

That's the problem. The groove you see should be flush with the frame, the gasket simply wont go in the window frame because the window is too tall, by about 1/16". I showed it to a local glass guy whos been in business over 40 years, he said it'll never fit. 1/16" to big, it won't go in, 1/16" to small, it'll fall out. There's very little room for error. He recommended laminated because it can be trimmed to fit. He said in the old days they'd cut the glass slightly large, then use a belt sander to get a perfect fit.

 

If the groove I see closest to the inside on the left is the groove that supposed to fit the window frame the rope should be in it. I see the rope on the outside..

 

That's correct. The rear window installs in the reverse of the front, the rope on the outside.

 

I see lots of weld around that window frame...are you certain that the opening is OEM size? If so, I would fit the rubber into the opening without the glass to verify the fit of the seal. Once the rubber is in place you can take measurements of the glass opening to compare with the glass that you are trying to install. A template can be made from a sheet of 1/8 inch masonite and used to verify the fit in the cab opening. I had all my glass cut by a local shop based on templates that I provided to them.

 

No I’m not sure the opening is OEM size. There were lots of dents on the roof which could’ve very well bent the window opening. I think that’s unlikely though, it doesn’t seem distorted.

The weld is for the 3 point seat belts. It was welded with the old glass in place. I ground down the welds as best I can, and the old window fit with this rubber. Unfortunately the old glass was delaminating and cracked.

Good idea on the Masonite. If I have trouble with the glass from Chuck’s Trucks I’ll make a template using the new glass, and trim to fit. Then I can have a local shop trim the glass.

 

I am probably full of crap, but if that was a 53-56 gasket, which I know it isn't, I would say that gasket is backwards. They don't show a picture of the gasket in the early years catalog but in the 53-56 catalog, Mid-Fifty shows a picture of the gasket you can use to compare to your gasket. Below is a excerpt from their catalog which is good information. On another note I see in your picture that the gasket seam is on the driver's side, it really doesn't matter but for only aesthetics I would put the seam in centered on the bottom (or top if you prefer).

STANDARD REAR WINDOW Please read this! Rubber looks like this • The rubber is the same all around, there are no corners • The standard rear glass is larger than the opening • The standard rear glass is installed from INSIDE of truck • You are pulling rope from OUTSIDE of truck (B) • The larger part of the rubber (D) goes INSIDE truck • The smaller part of rubber (C) goes OUTSIDE truck If you install it backwards, then call and tell us there is something wrong with rubber or that glass is too big for hole, etc well then... We know you did not read the directions, and, you owe us lunch. If you are a professional glass installer, we will be expecting dinner NOTE: Wrap around rear window installs like windshield, both are installed from outside of truck. In this order; rubber on glass, trim in rubber, entire assembly into truck, from the outside! (C) Lip outside cab (A) Glass groove (B) Cab groove Rope goes in this groove (D) Lip inside cab.

 

How is glass 'shaved'? I have seen it ground with a whetstone but not familiar with shaving