window frame

[chimp koose]

I am seriously considering putting in fixed glass for the front windshield in my T coupe . I do not want to fix my window frame .I may also slightly raise the top of the window as well . How wide of a "landing strip " is needed around the perimeter of the window opening to allow for bonding the window in place ? I am just trying to figure out how I will do this , I was thinking of putting in a couple of adjustable vents above the window , under the visor to get airflow through the interior with possibly another pair at the back of the cab that vent to the rear of the car to get air circulation through the cab .

[idrivejunk]

3/4 inch is probably the average width of most window beds. I would call 1/2" the bare minimum.

[chimp koose]

Thanks , 3/4" it is then! I am thinking about raising the top of the windshield but I am not sure how far to go . If I raise it to be even with the top of the side windows it may be difficult to put a wiper motor up there and the visor would get cut down to nothing . I will have to think on this one for a while.

[idrivejunk]

If you're gonna cut a windshield anyway, could you have a half-round cutout wiper notch at the top? So you could mount the motor lower but raise the top the rest of the way across. That make any sense?

[idrivejunk]

This is a sunny day only rig but look how skimpy the window bed is. Thats more like a half inch. Minimal!

[Beck]

This has been a while so I may not be 100% correct.

I removed the frame in my 34 Plymouth. That resulted in the channel being too deep for the windshield to glue into. I believe I used some 1/2" ()extruded aluminum U-channel to space it out. I'm thinking from a shower door? I cut it several times at the corners and shaped it around the opening (not 90 deg). At the bottom I bevel cut the sharp corners. I don't recall what I did on the exposed flat on the inside of the glass. The sides and top would have been covered with upholstery. The bottom at the front of the dash would have been exposed with the dash painted.

[chimp koose]

I guess that will be the next question , how deep to make the inset for the glass ?

[idrivejunk]

About the same if'n you ask me. But I reckon that depends on what type of molding you'll use. The amount of inset is usually as deep as the bed is wide, generally speaking.

[enjenjo]

If you want the glass to set flush with the outside, the recess has to be as deep as the thickness of the glass, plus the thickness of the butyl tape you are setting it on. If you are using a rubber or plastic trim insert around the glass you need to leave room for that too.

[Beck]

For some reason I am thinking I used Dodge Dakota rubber trim. Others may have more suggestions. This trim has a T that inserts between the glass and the frame. It gets glued in with the urethane when installing. The 3M super window urethane is great but wow what a cleanup during install. That black just spreads and gets bigger. Have a box of latex gloves and a lot of rags handy. I used paint thinner or acetone to help the cleanup.

[chimp koose]

That butyl tape sounds like a less messy way to do this . I am thinking of using some aluminum trim around the window just to cover the window mounting ledge . I have seen  it made from aluminum used in making shower installs.

[idrivejunk]

Just remember that butyl mounted windows had big metal moldings hanging over the edges for more than just looks. Wreck on a hot day, out pops the glass sometimes. Late model butyl mount fixed side glass is bolted. Urethane won't pop or sag but paint can. Use your adhesive whichever you decide on, over epoxy on bare steel only. No paint in window beds is the new rule in the glass installation world. They apply a single-component urethane glass primer to glass and bed just before laying the urethane bead.

[enjenjo]

You can use a narrow strip of Butyl, with a bead of urethane next to it on the outside, and get the best of both worlds.

[idrivejunk]

You can use a narrow strip of Butyl, with a bead of urethane next to it on the outside, and get the best of both worlds.

That is how the windshield and back glass in my 69 GP are mounted. The butyl can serve as a dam for the urethane.

[Beck]

That is exactly what I did also. The glass in all my fiberglass bodied cars was done that way. I don't know how I secured the aluminum U channel in the 34 Plymouth before using the butyl and urethane. The butyl comes in different thicknesses I think.