The windshield in my truck has a ton of cracks in it and I have the one from the 75 supercab that is perfect. Both are still in the trucks. How hard is it to swap em myself?

 

Not too hard but easy to break and you can have leaks. Takes two people. I paid $45 to get an old pro to help me change mine out two weeks ago.

 

Once you have one good winsheild & one good gasket ,,,put the gasket on the windsheild on a table ...put a closeline size rope in the groove on the gasket where the pinch weld will fit ..Set the window in the opening with a helper ,,soap up the gasket with fantastic or something similar ,,have the assistant put a little pressure on the glass where the rope ends come together,,start pulling on one end of the rope as the assistant follows outside putting light pressure on the glass in the same area you are pulling on the rope ,,,the gasket will almost fall into place ....

 

You guys are making this sound way too easy. I just watched a pro put one in my truck using a brand new gasket. Took him about an hour and a half. Getting the winfow in want' the problem. The time was spend making the window and gasket look right. Worked his a$$ off getting it adjusted. by the way he said absolutely do not use soap or anything else to lube the gasket, as that moisture is forever trapped underneath the rubber against the steel. By the way, new windshield installed, under $200 bucks.

 

I personally like free better

 

Free is good, but sometimes, a few bucks up front is cheaper in the long run.

 

A pro an hour and a half? Hell I can put mine in within that time frame and I'm no windshield expert. I basically do the same as Action does except I use weed wacker line. It is plastic and slides better in the rubber. The last windshield, my Bronco, I used an old telephone wire because I was out of the other stuff. I never have used any lube to put in a windshield. Hardest part was getting the last corner set in place. I also have a small hook tool I use in case it gets a little stubborn.

 

I attempted to install a used windshield in my 77 F150 and it was a real PITA. Just trying to puit the gasket on the window was a workout. I was going to have my brother-in-law help me install the windshield, so I called and told him to stop by in 15 minutes, so I could have the gasket on the windshield and we could just install it the truck. Well when he got there I had not even been able to get the gasket on two sides of the windshield yet. We both fought with it for about 45 minutes just to get the gasket on and when we attempted to install it using the rope method mentioned earlier we ended up breaking the windshield trying to install the last corner. I was not too PO'd since after getting the window istalled and in direct sunlight I saw that the used window was really pitted and had a couple of small chips in it as well. After that I decided to have a new window installed by a professional. They installed my new window in my truck at my home for less than $200 and the guy had it in less than 25 minutes and it looks great. The installer preferred to use silicone spray when installing these gasket style windows, but since I still needed to paint my truck I told him I did not want any silicone on my truck. He used a foam glass cleaner to lubricate the gasket and that worked just fine. I did install my own rear glass in my truck w/o any problem a couple of times, but I believe paying a professional for the windshield installation is money well spent. If they break it or it leaks they will fix it on there dime.

 

Good ideas but no one mentioned the chrome trim around the window. from what I read in the shop manual. you need to take the old window out, clean up the channel and then put the chrome trim on the new rubber gasket and then put it on the glass and then pull the rope out and install it in the channel. Anyone done that yet. My windshield is good and my chrome is good but I have a leak and want to fix that while making sure there is no rust on the channel. I am a little hesitant to break the windshield or screw up the chrome.
JIM

 

Yeah I was gonna ask how to get that stinkin chrome on there i tried and cant get it to go in even with wd40.

 

The chrome trim has to come out to remove and put in after installing a windshield. With the trim in there it does not allow the gasket enough flex to get it installed properly, at least that is what I have found.

Easiest way to install the chrome is with the tool. I used to have a link for that tool but can no longer find it. I know it was posted here in a thread a long time ago.

What I use is a small pic and a small straight head screwdriver. I install about 4" in the lower lip and then use the pic to lift the top lip up and the screwdriver to push the chrome strip in. It's a pian but after you get the hang of it it does not take to long.

 

Ranger 429,
I hear what you are saying, but the shop manual says to put the chrome in first and then pull the rope out through the inside of the window. Or in other words, pull rope out from the interior. That way the chrome can be placed in the rubber seal and the glass. I just have never done it. It also says to use a knife (read utility knife) to cut the rubber seall off on the inside and push the window out. Then replace the rubber seal on the glass and place chrome in the channel on the rubber seal and then put the rope in the grove and place the window in the frame and pull rope out from the interior side. Has anyone done this this way????

 

No, I have not. I have done probably 3 or 4 windshields in 78-79's and never broke a one. I also have never cut the gasket to get it out and have always reused it wiht no water leaks. I know when I have put them in the chrome lock strip would be in the way of allowing the gasket to flex properly to get it installed. Trial and error I guess but my way has worked for me.

 

These windshields are a PITA to do but its also a good learning curve. My last go around I just had SafeLite auto glass do mine for $112.00 installed. I bought the rubber for 20.00 online.

 

Its a lock strip most likely...Leave it in the gasket ,,use the rope trick...

Or put it in before you put the gasket on the glass ...

I have removed plenty ,without breaking the glass ...99 time out of a 100 ,I was working Alone ...