Installing the Windshield

[bajacalal]

I hope I posted this in the right place...

I bought a new (its actually used) windshield and its frame for my 1975 to replace the badly rusted frame and the cracked glass.

Does anybody know the trick to installing this? I looked all over this place but did not find much.

I tried lowering the frame into position with the glass installed but I could not line the rubber gasket up with the metal rail that goes under the windshield right in front of the dash.

My Haynes manual says to put the frame on then slip the glass into rubber trim. Use a rope to pull the lip of the gasket out of the way while working the glass into place. Ok, I have done this on other cars rear windows, no big deal but the Fiat windshield just seems too big. I have the metal frame installed on the car and I have the rubber gasket installed into the frame. I was able to securely attach the rubber gasket to the " Y " shaped metal rail in front of the dash. I placed a rope on the underside of the gasket and pulled one end of the rope out while pushing the gasket down. The rubber strip is now securely gripping the Y shaped rail like it should.

So now I have the frame on and the rubber in place, easy enough. I cannot get the glass to fit, it's too tall and wide. I even tried to loosen the frame so I could raise it up more but I am afraid to pull the rubber off the body where I will not be able to easily reattach it.

Has anyone done this before? Please help.

[So Cal Mark]

boy, you've discovered one of the hardest jobs on a Spider. It's definitely a two-person job. I've never tried an install with putting the glass into the rubber after it's installed. Make sure the rubber is clean and flexible and well lubricated

[jprisbe]

I replaced my windshield a year ago, by myself, and here is what I did.

1. Installed the glass into the gasket.
2. Slid the gasket and glass "completely" into the frame
3. installed the chrome trim piece into the channel on the lower portion of the gasket.
4. Taped the bottom of the gasket (and chrome trim piece) to the bottom of the glass with masking tape so it stays in place.
5. Used more masking tape to hold gasket and glass in frame.
6. Lifted the whole thing in place and set it on the "y" rail.
7. Secured the ends of the frame to the car but did not tighten completely.
8. Adjusted the whole unit (glass, gasket and frame) left or right so it was centered
9. Used a bent screw drive to work the rubber gasket lip over the "y" lip.
10. tightened down the frame.

I'm sure two people would have made it easier, but I was quite surprised how well it went.

[ventura ace]

Thanks for the explanation, John. I'm not clear on what is meant by the 'y' rail and the 'y' lip. WIll that be readily apparent to me as I get into the job?

Alvon

[jprisbe]

Yes it should be readily apparent.

It's more of a groove but bajacalal described it as a "y" shaped metal rail so I stuck with his description.

There is a lip on the gasket that you need to pull over the lip of the "rail" so it seats completely and stays in place.

I replaced the gasket at the same time and needed the tape to hold the bottom of the gasket on the glass.
It wanted to fall off if I didn't.

Point number #3 is very important. You cannot get the chrome trim piece fulled seated in the gasket if you put the windshield in place first. The trim piece, when installed in the gasket, actually helps to support the windshield and allows the gasket to lay flat against the outside of the glass.

[bajacalal]

Thanks guys.

When I started into that project, I thought it would be a piece of cake, a "bolt on affair". I thought I would be done in under an hour. Attaching the rubber to the "Y rail" was not so hard. I used put rope under the gasket and used that to pull its "lip" out and into place, grabbing the rail. I call Y shaped because if you were to cut a cross-section of it you would see something resembling a Y.

Anyway, I will have to try this again once I´m back.

I am out of the country right now- in southern Baja no less.

[fiatS2000]

La Paz or Cabo?

[bajacalal]

La Paz.

Just got back last night.