68-72 windshield installation advice

[Greg L.]

I was wondering if those of you that have installed these windshields (69 in my case) could give me some advice or tips to help with the install and make it look proper.

I realize that buytal tape is out so I bought two tubes of urethane from a glass place so I should be good there.

I have a damming strip but it's not an original type so I'm not sure if I should use it anyways or go without...

One big issue I can see is getting the glass to sit at the right height so that the trim fits properly. The windshield that was in it was about .250" thick but the repop one is only .200" thick. Not that it matters much because the windshield had been replaced before and the rubber blocks/spacers were never reinstalled... So what's a good way to get this height set right?

As always, thanks guys!

[Pete B.]

Re: 68-72 windshield installation advice

Greg, You are going to need setting blocks. The butyl tape kit has them. It is very important, as you indicated to get the spacing right or your windshield will set too low. I did a "dry run" without glue. I set the WS in then mounted the molding I then pushed the glass out from inside and trimmed blocks to achieve the best gap. It really was not hard.
As I recall I just used blocks across the header maybe 3. The bottom for obvious reasons did not need any thing. Do keep in mind, you have one chance once you load up the glue...or you have one heck of a mess.
Do take the time to do this, or you will be looking at the excess gap and kick yourself!

[Bill L.]

Re: 68-72 windshield installation advice

The other are to review is making sure the dash pad is even all the way across. It should almost be touching the windshield or at a minimum the gap should be the same all the way across.

Bill

[Greg L.]

Re: 68-72 windshield installation advice

Thanks Bill, I never thought of that.

Pete, how thick was your windshield? Thin like mine or thicker like the old days? Did you install the glass so that it was pushing against the trim or just barely touching it? I'm a little hesitant to push too hard with this thin glass...

[Robert M.]

Re: 68-72 windshield installation advice

Should the dash pad be installed before you set the windshield?

[Terry M.]

Re: 68-72 windshield installation advice

It is not necessary. The upper dash pad can come and go with the windshield in place. If you have the dash pad already out I would leave it out until the windshield is installed. If the dash pad is installed there is no need to remove it, unless you think there is a chance some of the windshield sealant might get on the dash pad.

[Dick W.]

Re: 68-72 windshield installation advice

For your car I would stay with the butyl tape. Makes it a lot easier to replace the W/S later on and is not needed on a 1969 for structural integrity