Windshield replacement on old and vintage cars

[Robert06]

I'm restoring a 1972 Toyota Corolla and I had the windshield - and the gaskets for the windshield and back glass - replaced. This car uses a thick rubber gasket between the glass and body on both front and back glass. Amazingly I was able to find a source for the windshield and the gaskets.

The Problem:
The installer claimed the new windshield was slightly smaller than the original (by about a 1/4" in in width) and told me to get another windshield.
The source for the windshield (Binswanger Glass) said it was the correct size - an FW224 from PPG - and should be identical to the original. I had Binswanger come out and install it. They said there was some gap but blamed it on the gaskets. They said they solved the problem by centering the glass in the gasket and using urethane to fill the gaps. The windshield assembly was then centered in the glass channel and any gaps were filled with urethane. The original back glass was replaced with it's new gasket and seems to fit fine.

Questions:

1. How common is it for windshield glass to be a bit off in size?

2. Is it more likely to be the glass or the gaskets that were not fitting properly?

3. Is it an acceptable solution to fill the gaps in an ill-fitting glass with urethane?

I did have another auto glass place look at the car. They said substantual parts of the windshield had NO urethane in there.
The reason I'm asking now is that a water leak has developed in the lower right corner of the windshield. So its looks like I may be dealing with this problem of "fit" again.

I haven't taken the car back to Binswanger yet, I wanted to check the source of the leak further in case the water is getting in somewhere else than the windshield.

Any comments or help would be appreciated.

[Lee]

1971-3 Corolla 2d/4d Sedans and Wagon Take the FCW 224. The 2d Coupe
(model # KE25L OR TE27L) Takes FCW 242. If you have the correct w/s for your car the weather strip is probably small. To fit this properly we use rope as a spacer between the glass & w/strip to center the glass in the opening.
The weather strip holds the glass in the car, it does not seal the glass/body. The w/strip needs to be sealed between glass and w/shield and body and w/strip to prevent leaks and bond glass to body. Urethane is the strongest sealer out there and does a good job. Take the car back and tell them its leaking. Any reputable shop will guarantee their work and fix it for you. You may have to get a new seal if the urethane wont pull away from the w/strip.
It's sad to say that most of todays installers don't know about older cars and how to properly install glass in them. Good Luck!!

[bill4117]

One thing I am unsure of.... Did you purchase the windshield and gasket from seperate vendors????
If you purchased both from the same people that installed them it should be under warranty. Most glass companies will offer no warranty if they don't supply ALL materials used in the replacement.

Second if I remember correctly urethane is the only sealant/adhesive that can be used in gasket set windshields. Even in cars that had no urethane or silicone from the factory urethane is supposed to be used in EVERY replacement according to NGA.

[Robert06]

Thanks for both your replies!

My car is a 1972 Corolla 2d Sedan, body style KE20. It would take the FCW 224.
I'm guessing the "C" in "FCW" simply refers to "clear" and that its basically the same as an FW224?

Unfortunately I did get the glass and the gaskets from different vendors. The windshield came from Binswanger Glass, who installed it, the gaskets came from Scotts Old Auto Rubber (mail order).

Since another glass place looked at it and found almost no urethane around parts of the windshield, I might get Binswanger to a least shoot some extra urethane in there to seal it.
However, I don't know if that would be a good fix for the structural integrity of the glass/body seam. Don't want the thing to pop out in a crash.

[Lee]

FCW= Foreign Car Windshield. This should be sealed.

[Robert06]

Argggh! Does anyone know what to do with rubber windshield gaskets?
I took my 72 Corolla back to Binswanger Glass and was told by their installer that he'd "shoot a little glazing" around the bottom of the windshield to stop the leak. When I ask about using urethane, he said rubber gasket installations were designed to be removable so the gasket could be reused. So he didn't recommend urethane - maybe a little glazing or butyl.

I called back and talked to the counterperson (he had turned me over to the installer.) I told him what his installer said and he seemed surprised, saying that urethane is supposed to be used on all installations. He asked me what the installer meant by "glazing" - I have no idea. He said he would talk to the installer.

Anyway I think I'll be taking the car somewhere else.
If their installer doesn't know any better than this, can he be trusted to apply urethane correctly? Even if I request it?

I may look up a car restoration shop. Or at least a place that does only auto glass. I may have a better chance of finding someone who knows how to deal with rubber gasket installations.

If anyone has suggestions on where to check next it would be appreciated.

Robert

[Glasseye]

Re - rubber windshield gaskets
What the installer told you was correct, rubber windshield gaskets were meant to be reusable. Why? - most windscreens being fitted into cars ( other than US spec.) were made of Toughened glass that shattered. The rubber gasket allowed the old glass to be cleaned out and gasket used again in refitting the new one. US spec. deemed that the front windshield be fitted with Laminated glass and be bonded to the body to prevent it popping out in an accident. Rather than design a new assembly, the Japanese simply applied urethane sealant to glass & to body to meet spec. Cars other then US spec were fitted using a mastic sealant normally Arbomast autograde or in many cases using no sealant whatsoever, these were known as wet seal gaskets and had a drainage system built into the aperture.

[Robert06]

Originally Posted by Glasseye

Re - rubber windshield gaskets
What the installer told you was correct, rubber windshield gaskets were meant to be reusable. Why? - most windscreens being fitted into cars ( other than US spec.) were made of Toughened glass that shattered. The rubber gasket allowed the old glass to be cleaned out and gasket used again in refitting the new one. US spec. deemed that the front windshield be fitted with Laminated glass and be bonded to the body to prevent it popping out in an accident. Rather than design a new assembly, the Japanese simply applied urethane sealant to glass & to body to meet spec. Cars other then US spec were fitted using a mastic sealant normally Arbomast autograde or in many cases using no sealant whatsoever, these were known as wet seal gaskets and had a drainage system built into the aperture.

Thanks Glasseye,

My 1972 Corolla is a US model (I'm in the US.) So that can account for the differing opinions. The installer was correct - but it seems urethane would have to be used to meet US specs.

I could probably get away with just having sealant shot in to stop the leaks.
But I'm wondering if this a good idea from a legal and safety point?
Maybe I could just have someone shoot in some urethane and make everybody happy?

[Lee]

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...VSS/index.html