Can anybody suggest a good shop for installing a windshield in Chicago? or a way of searching out a place. I read all of the threads on installing the darn thing and have had no luck. It is like some parts of the glass shrank and other parts expanded in the hour or two that it was out. I cant seem to get the top in tight enough, when I start pulling the cord out it barely catchs the lip and that is with enough presser to make one nerves about breaking the glass. then the bottom sits so low that you cant get the lip to pull up enough to go over the metal, if I move it up then the top isnt even in the framing any more. This is in a 58 F100 by the way and I have been fairly patient so far, seeing that I have put the string in that channel 3 time (and getting it in the channel isnt the easiest thing either). I would love to still do this myself but am afraid I wont be able to without breaking the glass. If I take it to a shop it should be fun driving their with no windshield.

 

you need someone to help hold it in place, roughly centered while you pull the string.. and you pull the string parallel to the glass not at 90 degrees from the glass.. this causes the gasket to move the most.. I started at the top, and then pulled the bottom in when I did the windshield on the 55. haven't done a 58 tho Sam

 

You mean that when you are pulling the cord out of the top you pull straight down or close to it and when doing the bottom striaght up, right?

 

Correct

Sam

 

I am still having the hardest time, like I said the windshield doesnt seem to fit anymore. Has anybody used a national chain type windshield installer, over the phone everybody I call sounds so iffy about the year of the truck and if they can do it. The prices have ranged from $100 to $250+, just want it in. I am starting to loss driving days now and that is really crappy. Any help is welcome, especially from anybody in or around chicago who has done this or had somebody do this for them. If you are around the north side of chicago and want free beer (oh and help me get this in) feel free to volunteer.
Thanks
Cbass

 

HEY CBASS
I did not realize that you had a 58 untill now did you get my e-mail?? send me some pix man i need some inspiration about now. MATERS CAB CAME OFF TODAY!!!
LATER 58 FORD

 

I'm gonna be in Chicago 1st & 2nd week in July.
hopefully you'll have it in by then.
if not, I could maybe come give a hand.
JML

 

vintage56- I have this week to try to get it in, then I am out of town for a week, so there is the potential that it wont be in by the begining of July,. I will take you up on that offer if I havent figured it out by then. Thanks for the offer and I will let you know.
58 ford- I got your email, thanks I will let you know in the near future. When do you need to know by?
cbass

 

Cbass
No problem i was thinking of going up the first or second week of july,as i have too p/u parts for my 58 also. Good luck with the windshield i have done quite a few different ones if i was closer i would offer too give you a hand!!
later Andrew

 

So I finally got the windshield in and man was it a pain. I have read (after I bought and started installing) that the LMC gaskets are not the best and after trying to install it I can only say it cant get much harder and there must be easier ones. I also read that DC makes his own and does so at a higher quality level then all others. If I have to put in new ever again, someday I am sure, I will be getting them from DC. I also finally got the door seals in and had to adjust the strike plate on both sides to get them to fully latch without slaming. I saw in another post that somebody had done this and slowly moved them back to the original point as the seal got broken in. This is the method I will be trying. Lastly I have the bare spots painted and they look kind of crappy because I could not get the paint to match up. Hard to match 50 year old faded original paint but I did get a nice smooth paint that is not blended that well and will not be. All I really wanted was to protect the metal for a few years while I drive it around and save up money to restore it. It will always be my daily driver and the current condition makes it so I can park it anywhere without worrying. Thank so many of you for your help and if anybody needs helpfull hints on getting a crappy gasket on a windsheild or doing a so-so touchup job feel free to ask. (I will post pics even though they are shameful, you have to share the good and the bad)

 

This is a old thread but I drove the truck in the rain for the first time since getting the windshield in and I had a small amount of water seeping in on the glass side of the gasket? It is a brand new gasket and it is fully installed is there a way of figuring out where the water is coming from?

 

You can sit inside and have somebody slowly move a garden hose around the windshield, starting at the bottom . Finding the leak and fixing it will be 2 different things.I Did you seal the glass to the gasket with butyl first ?

 

Do the 58 have the inside trim like the 53-56 which is on the dash and fits up against the bottom of the window seal, I had mine to tight and it pushed the windshield out and caused it to leak I just loosen the screws and it was good.

 

Yes, jaye I have that trim. I will try loosening it a bit and see if that solves my problem.

sjahnke, everything I have read says that these are sealer free installs, so no I did not put bytul in first. I would be afraid of getting it on the glass and have it look like sh*$. I am terrible with caulking so I would assume that I would be no better with butyl on a gasket.

 

I was just going by my 1953 shop manual, hopefully they have improved on the design